Waterberg Plateau Park
🇳🇦 Namibia
🦌 Dik-dik and Hyrax on the PlateauWaterberg Plateau Park is a protected tropical savanna rising steeply above the plains of central Namibia. This massive sandstone tableland stands apart from surrounding parks through its sheer cliffs and densely wooded plateaus, creating an isolated upland refuge for diverse regional wildlife.
-20.340° S 17.353° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
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Waterberg Thick-toed Gecko
Pachydactylus waterbergensis
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Southern Giraffe
Giraffa giraffa
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Kirk's Dik-dik
Madoqua kirkii
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Verreaux's Eagle
Aquila verreauxii
📊 Most Spotted
Red-billed Francolin
Pternistis adspersus
Grey Go-Away-Bird
Corythaixoides concolor
African Red-eyed Bulbul
Pycnonotus nigricans
Rock Hyrax
Procavia capensis
Chacma Baboon
Papio ursinus
Common Warthog
Phacochoerus africanus
African Grey Hornbill
Lophoceros nasutus
Green-backed Camaroptera
Camaroptera brachyura
Pale-winged Starling
Onychognathus nabouroup
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis nitens
Kalahari Tree Skink
Trachylepis spilogaster
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Rock Hyrax
Procavia capensis
Chacma Baboon
Papio ursinus
Common Warthog
Phacochoerus africanus
Greater Kudu
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Banded Mongoose
Mungos mungo
Springbok
Antidorcas marsupialis
White Rhinoceros
Ceratotherium simum
Common Eland
Taurotragus oryx
Gemsbok
Oryx gazella
Honey Badger
Mellivora capensis
Khama
Alcelaphus caama
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Red-billed Francolin
Pternistis adspersus
Grey Go-Away-Bird
Corythaixoides concolor
African Red-eyed Bulbul
Pycnonotus nigricans
African Grey Hornbill
Lophoceros nasutus
Green-backed Camaroptera
Camaroptera brachyura
Pale-winged Starling
Onychognathus nabouroup
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis nitens
Pririt Batis
Batis pririt
Acacia Pied Barbet
Tricholaema leucomelas
Cape Turtle Dove
Streptopelia capicola
Crimson-breasted Gonolek
Laniarius atrococcineus
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Kalahari Tree Skink
Trachylepis spilogaster
Ruben's Sand Lizard
Pedioplanis rubens
Wahlberg’s Striped Skink
Trachylepis wahlbergii
Bushveld Lizard
Heliobolus lugubris
Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko
Chondrodactylus laevigatus
Leopard Tortoise
Stigmochelys pardalis
Puff Adder
Bitis arietans
Three-lined Grass Snake
Psammophylax tritaeniatus
Stripe-bellied Sand Snake
Psammophis subtaeniatus
Variable Skink
Trachylepis varia
Damara Skink
Trachylepis damarana
Southern African Python
Python natalensis
Recent sightings in Waterberg Plateau Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Springbok Migration
Large herds of springbok move across the plateau in search of fresh grazing, often seen in open plains and rocky outcrops.
2Chacma Baboon Troop Gathering
Baboons congregate near water sources and fruiting trees, creating noisy, social groups that are a highlight for visitors.
3Rainy Season Bird Explosion
The plateau becomes a chorus of avian activity, with migratory birds arriving and resident species breeding, filling the air with calls and color.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Springbok Migration
- 2Chacma Baboon Troop Gathering
- 3Rainy Season Bird Explosion
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
In the rock crevices, we spot rock hyraxes, a first for us on this trip.
Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any rhinos, but we did see some other amazing animals like giraffes, oryx, eland, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest, and kudu.
As we slowly wound our way up the gentle slopes, passing a beautiful kudu, we watched as the sun slipped behind the plateau – drawing us from warm light into its sweeping shadow.
Of course, I missed the Rüppel’s Parrot, but Richard saw it flying by at speed.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Waterberg Plateau Park?
The most likely sightings are Red-billed Francolin (seen by about 90% of wildlife watchers), Kirk's Dik-dik (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Grey Go-Away-Bird (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), African Red-eyed Bulbul (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Rock Hyrax (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers) — among 683 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Waterberg Plateau Park for wildlife?
May has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Waterberg Thick-toed Gecko in Waterberg Plateau Park?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Waterberg Thick-toed Gecko sighting in Waterberg Plateau Park, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Southern Giraffe in Waterberg Plateau Park?
Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Giraffe sighting in Waterberg Plateau Park, based on 28 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Kirk's Dik-dik in Waterberg Plateau Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Kirk's Dik-dik sighting in Waterberg Plateau Park, based on 58 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Verreaux's Eagle in Waterberg Plateau Park?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Verreaux's Eagle sighting in Waterberg Plateau Park, based on 74 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
GoodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
ExcellentHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
