This park lies about 100 km by the road southeast of Otjiwarongo. The birdlife in this semi arid region is richly diversified because the plateu is an effectively ‘isolated’ patch of broadleaf woodland on Kalahari sandveld, in a sead of mixed thornbush savanna. The nearest comparable habitat is in southwestern Bushmanland, the Omuramba Omatako River having served as a corridor to the plateu.

The Waterberg Region too is part of the main settling area of the Herero people. In August 1904 about 40 000 Herero men, women and children under the leadership of Samuel Maharero were surrounded by 1600 German colonial soldiers under the command of Von Trotha at the Waterberg almost perished.

Only a few Herero were able to escape through the Kalahari desert to Botswana. A military cemetary acts as a reminder of the tragic events.

The plateu rises 420 metres above the surrounding plains on the north and southwest sides and gently slopes away towards the northeast. A sandstone layer of about 120 metres results in steep cliffs on the edge overlying the plateau.

Rising unexpectedly above the Acacia savanna, the plateu with its sheer orange cliffts is inhabited by both species of rhino, roan, sable, buffalo, leopard, eland, giraffe, as well as a diversity of other species. Activities include walks, guided game viewing drives, a four day hiking trail and wilderness trails.

The park was established in the early 1970s as a sanctuary for the rare and endangered game species of the Caprivi, for which an extensive relocation programme was carried out.

Visitors can’t drive up to the plateau in their own vehicles, but can explore the plateau by foot by means of self guided wilderness trails or by on guided game-viewing excursion vehicles offered by conservation officials.

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