Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway is located in the malaria-free Welgevonden Game Reserve, nestled in the Waterberg Mountains, approximately 3.5 hours from Johannesburg. This luxurious retreat offers exceptional service and understated elegance.
LOCATION
Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway is located in the malaria-free 36,000 hectare Welgevonden Private Game Reserve, set within the UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere, less than 3 hours north of Johannesburg.
Welgevonden Nature Reserve
The Waterberg Biosphere: a hidden treasure of South African Heritage: In 2001, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) designated the Waterberg area of South Africa as a recognised Biosphere Reserve. Welgevonden Private Game Reserve, our home, is located in the heart of this Biosphere, and adjoins Marakele National Park.
The UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere Reserve is a 6,500 square kilometre (650,000 hectare) paradise named after the water-rich nature that the low mountain ranges and escarpments produce in an otherwise arid region. As one of three major mountain ranges in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, the Waterberg Mountain Range also contributes to a major water catchment area of the Limpopo Basin.The unique nature of the mountainous region, coupled with the water-rich soil, produces an abundance of flora and fauna that are endemic to this region. According to UNESCO, the Waterberg’s rich biodiversity is evident with the presence of more than 5,500 species of plants, of which 43% are endemic to South Africa. The region is also home to at least 18 threatened plant species, 18 mammal species 11 bird species, 4 reptile species, 4 species of fish, and one butterfly species that are all deemed of the utmost importance for biodiversity conservation. From a socioeconomic perspective, the region is equally rich and unique. The Waterberg has been inhabited over hundreds and thousands of years and is home to one of the most important San rock art areas in South Africa. Today, more than 80,000 people live in the Biosphere Reserve.The ideology of a Biosphere Reserve is to preserve both the socioeconomic and environmental distinctiveness of the Waterberg region, helping to strike a balance between the pressures of economic development, the need to generate direct benefits to the local communities, and the conservation of the area’s natural resources. As tourism is the primary source of income in the region, the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve Committee—an organisation set up after a five year consultation process with all stakeholders concerned—is tasked with ensuring that the needs of all stakeholders are dealt with in an equitable manner.
Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway is privileged to contribute to the innovative conservation of the UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere through Welgevonden Private Game Reserve’s pioneering conservation model. Through industry-leading, innovative conservation management, Welgevonden itself is home to more than 65 mammal species, including the famous Big Five, cheetah, brown hyena, caracal, aardwolf, and over 300 different bird species. Located just two and a half hours away on road, or a mere 45-minute by flight, from Johannesburg, the UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere’s accessibility and malaria-free status make it one of the finest places to watch wildlife, soak in the wilderness, and experience a hidden gem of South African heritage. As South Africans around the country are waiting with abated breath for the next opportunity to travel, we encourage everyone to explore the hidden treasures of our exceptional country.
At Clifftop, we believe that successful ecotourism must generate sustainable outcomes for the environment, for the surrounding communities, and for our commercial viability at every stage of our guest experience. We reaffirm our commitment to creating an exceptional experience that will generate sustainable benefits for the local community, for tourism, and for the conservation of our country’s inimitable heritage
Access is either by:
Access by road: An easy drive on mostly highway and excellent provincial roads. Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway is accessed via Welgevonden East Gate or, in the event of heavy rains and flooding, via Welgevonden Main Gate.
Access by air: Fly directly from either OR Tambo International Airport or Lanseria Airport to the reserve landing strip. Guests are collected and transferred to the lodge. Guests are collected and transferred to the lodge, located a 1 ½ hour drive from the landing strip. Alternatively, the lodge has two helicopter landing pads
Welgevonden Game Reserve is ideal if combining a safari with other destinations in Southern Africa.
- Getting to Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway by Road
- Getting to Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway by Air
- Gate Fees
- Gate Entry and Transfer Information
Traveling from Johannesburg/Pretoria:
Please note that GPS coordinates can be unreliable. For a smooth journey, follow the directions below:
- Take the N1 North from Johannesburg or Pretoria.
- After approximately 120 km from Pretoria, you’ll reach the Kranskop Toll Plaza.Take the R33 off-ramp (stay in the left-hand lane) toward Modimolle (Nylstroom).
- Continue straight on the R33 through Modimolle (Nylstroom), heading toward Vaalwater.
- Once in Vaalwater, stay on the R517 (R520) toward Thabazimbi. You’ll pass a Spar and Total Garage on your left.
Important: As you pass through Vaalwater, call the lodge at 014 755 4920 (or 011 516 4367 if the landline is unavailable) to confirm your arrival and ensure timely collection at the Main Gate. Note: You will lose cell signal after leaving Vaalwater. - Continue on the R517 (R520) for 24 km after Vaalwater. Watch carefully for the Welgevonden Main Gate sign/turnoff on your left.
- Turn left at the Main Gate and proceed to the security boom, where you’ll park your vehicle. Your guide will be waiting to transfer you to the lodge.
Fly directly from either OR Tambo International Airport or Lanseria Airport to the reserve landing strip. Guests are collected and transferred to the lodge (a 90-minute transfer within the reserve). Alternatively, the lodge has two helicopter landing pads. Please note a flight plan and permission need to be obtained from Welgevonden Game Reserve no less than 72hrs prior to landing.
Transfers
Please note that we are delighted to arrange a transfer on finalization of your reservation with our preferred transfer company. Kindly send us your flight details, should you wish for us to book a transfer for you we will gladly add this onto your Proforma Invoice.
Conservation fee of R295.00 per person, per day, is applicable and payable at the lodge upon departure.
Gate Entry and Transfer Times
- Check-in/Arrival at Welgevonden Main Gate: Between 11:00 and 13:00.
- Check-out/Departure from the Lodge: Guests must depart the lodge by 10:00. Please allow 60-90 minutes for the transfer from the lodge to the Main Gate.
Important Notice:
Late Arrivals, Early Departures, or Transfers Outside Designated Times:
Any arrivals, departures, or transfers outside the specified times (11:00–13:00 for arrival and 10:00 for departure) must be pre-arranged with the lodge.
- A fee of R1,500 per vehicle will apply for these special arrangements.
- Please contact the lodge well in advance to make the necessary arrangements and avoid any inconvenience.