Waterberg Plateau Park

🇳🇦 Namibia

🦌 Dik-dik and Hyrax on the Plateau

🌍 #39 Global · 4.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #26 in Africa #27 in Savanna & Grassland

Southern Africa, Namibia 683 spp. recorded

Waterberg 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

Waterberg Thick-toed Gecko

Pachydactylus waterbergensis

30–40% · Possible

Southern Giraffe

Giraffa giraffa

60–70% · Likely

Kirk's Dik-dik

Madoqua kirkii

80–90% · Very likely

Verreaux's Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

40–50% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Red-billed Francolin

Pternistis adspersus

90–100% · Very likely

Grey Go-Away-Bird

Corythaixoides concolor

80–90% · Very likely

African Red-eyed Bulbul

Pycnonotus nigricans

80–90% · Very likely

Rock Hyrax

Procavia capensis

70–80% · Very likely

Chacma Baboon

Papio ursinus

70–80% · Very likely

Common Warthog

Phacochoerus africanus

70–80% · Very likely

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

70–80% · Very likely

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

60–70% · Likely

Pale-winged Starling

Onychognathus nabouroup

60–70% · Likely

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

60–70% · Likely

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

Lamprotornis nitens

60–70% · Likely

Kalahari Tree Skink

Trachylepis spilogaster

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Southern Giraffe

Giraffa giraffa

60–70% · Likely

Kirk's Dik-dik

Madoqua kirkii

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Rock Hyrax

Procavia capensis

70–80% · Very likely

Chacma Baboon

Papio ursinus

70–80% · Very likely

Common Warthog

Phacochoerus africanus

70–80% · Very likely

Greater Kudu

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

40–50% · Likely

Banded Mongoose

Mungos mungo

40–50% · Likely

Springbok

Antidorcas marsupialis

40–50% · Likely

White Rhinoceros

Ceratotherium simum

40–50% · Likely

Common Eland

Taurotragus oryx

40–50% · Likely

Gemsbok

Oryx gazella

40–50% · Likely

Honey Badger

Mellivora capensis

40–50% · Likely

Aardvark

Orycteropus afer

Insufficient data

Khama

Alcelaphus caama

30–40% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Verreaux's Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

40–50% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Red-billed Francolin

Pternistis adspersus

90–100% · Very likely

Grey Go-Away-Bird

Corythaixoides concolor

80–90% · Very likely

African Red-eyed Bulbul

Pycnonotus nigricans

80–90% · Very likely

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

70–80% · Very likely

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

60–70% · Likely

Pale-winged Starling

Onychognathus nabouroup

60–70% · Likely

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

60–70% · Likely

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

Lamprotornis nitens

60–70% · Likely

Pririt Batis

Batis pririt

50–60% · Likely

Acacia Pied Barbet

Tricholaema leucomelas

50–60% · Likely

Cape Turtle Dove

Streptopelia capicola

50–60% · Likely

Crimson-breasted Gonolek

Laniarius atrococcineus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Waterberg Thick-toed Gecko

Pachydactylus waterbergensis

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Kalahari Tree Skink

Trachylepis spilogaster

50–60% · Likely

Ruben's Sand Lizard

Pedioplanis rubens

50–60% · Likely

Wahlberg’s Striped Skink

Trachylepis wahlbergii

50–60% · Likely

Bushveld Lizard

Heliobolus lugubris

30–40% · Possible

Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko

Chondrodactylus laevigatus

30–40% · Possible

Leopard Tortoise

Stigmochelys pardalis

30–40% · Possible

Puff Adder

Bitis arietans

Insufficient data

Three-lined Grass Snake

Psammophylax tritaeniatus

Insufficient data

Stripe-bellied Sand Snake

Psammophis subtaeniatus

Insufficient data

Variable Skink

Trachylepis varia

Insufficient data

Damara Skink

Trachylepis damarana

Insufficient data

Southern African Python

Python natalensis

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Tandy's sand frog

Tomopterna tandyi

Insufficient data

African Clawed Frog

Xenopus laevis

Insufficient data

Red-Banded Rubber Frog

Phrynomantis bifasciatus

Insufficient data

Boettger's dainty frog

Cacosternum boettgeri

Insufficient data

Giant bullfrog

Pyxicephalus adspersus

Insufficient data

Power's Toad

Sclerophrys poweri

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Chacma Baboon Troop Gathering

Apr

Baboons congregate near water sources and fruiting trees, creating noisy, social groups that are a highlight for visitors.

Chacma Baboon

Papio ursinus

70–80% · Very likely

🦌

Springbok Migration

FebMayJunJulSepOct

Large herds of springbok move across the plateau in search of fresh grazing, often seen in open plains and rocky outcrops.

Springbok

Antidorcas marsupialis

40–50% · Likely

🐦

Rainy Season Bird Explosion

JulAugSep

The plateau becomes a chorus of avian activity, with migratory birds arriving and resident species breeding, filling the air with calls and color.

Crimson-breasted Gonolek

Laniarius atrococcineus

50–60% · Likely

Pale-winged Starling

Onychognathus nabouroup

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

Waterberg Thick-toed Gecko

10–20

10–20

10–20

10–20

10–20

10–20

10–20

10–20

10–20

40–50

50–60

80–90

Southern Giraffe

30–40

60–70

60–70

70–80

80–90

60–70

70–80

40–50

70–80

50–60

50–60

40–50

70–80

80–90

90–100

90–100

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

Verreaux's Eagle

50–60

20–30

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

30–40

40–50

40–50

30–40

30–40

Red-billed Francolin

80–90

70–80

80–90

90–100

90–100

80–90

90–100

90–100

90–100

90–100

90–100

90–100

Grey Go-Away-Bird

80–90

80–90

60–70

80–90

90–100

70–80

80–90

90–100

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

African Red-eyed Bulbul

80–90

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

90–100

80–90

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

40–50

70–80

60–70

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

40–50

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

40–50

70–80

80–90

60–70

30–40

80–90

70–80

80–90

60–70

60–70

70–80

50–60

70–80

70–80

African Grey Hornbill

60–70

60–70

50–60

70–80

60–70

60–70

50–60

70–80

80–90

60–70

60–70

80–90

Green-backed Camaroptera

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

Pale-winged Starling

40–50

50–60

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

80–90

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

Fork-tailed Drongo

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

80–90

50–60

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

40–50

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

Kalahari Tree Skink

60–70

50–60

60–70

80–90

60–70

20–30

60–70

40–50

20–30

60–70

60–70

30–40

Animal Events

🦌 Chacma Baboon Troop Gathering

🦌 Springbok Migration

🐦 Rainy Season Bird Explosion

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class

🦌 Dik-dik and Hyrax on the Plateau

🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

442

🐒 Mammals

107

🦎 Reptiles

115

🐸 Amphibians

19

683 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

25 Threatened 13 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

75%

📊

Coverage (198 species at ≥5% of 683 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

29%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (7 bird, 5 mammal)

47% Global avg

65%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

113

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

31

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

40

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