The Waterberg is a table mountain of red sandstone, some 200 million years old, and its cliffs rise up to 250 metres above the flat bush savannah east of Otjiwarongo. On top is the Waterberg Plateau Park, protected since 1972, originally for the eland. Today it covers 405 square kilometres.
- area of the park
- 405 km²
- above the surrounding plain
- up to 250 m
- year of protection
- 1972
- from Otjiwarongo
- about 90 km
White and black rhino have been reintroduced to the plateau. There are also buffalo, about 1,600 in May 2018, along with sable, roan and tsessebe, leopard and cheetah. You may not drive yourself on top. You reach the plateau on foot or on a three-hour guided game drive, in the morning or late afternoon, booked at the camp office.
At the foot of the cliffs is the state-run Waterberg Rest Camp, formerly Bernabé de la Bat, operated by Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR). You book it directly with NWR. Into the 2000s the Waterberg was the last refuge of Namibia's Cape vultures. They have died out there, but more than 200 other bird species live in the park.
Trails from the camp
From the camp you can walk without a guide. An easy 3.9-kilometre loop links several short paths, among them the Aloe Circle, the Fig Tree Walk and the Mission Way. Along the way stand the ruins of the house of the missionary Olpp. The direct climb to the viewpoint on the rim takes about 45 minutes. Reception hands out a map of all the trails.
The best hiking months are May to November. Guided walks of about three hours also go up onto the plateau. Further trails run on private land next door, for example at Waterberg Wilderness.
The Waterberg in 1904
On 11 August 1904 German colonial troops under Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha attacked the Herero at the Waterberg. More than 60,000 people had gathered there with their herds, fighters and their families alike, and after the battle they fled south-east into the Omaheke, a sandy desert. On 2 October 1904 Trotha ordered that every Herero within the German borders be shot.
Around 80 per cent of the Herero died in the years that followed. Historians classify these events as genocide. There is a German military cemetery at the Waterberg, and in 1984 a memorial plaque for the Herero who fell was added. On 14 August 2004 the German minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul apologised in nearby Okakarara.
Today, as of October 2026Since 1 April 2026 the Waterberg has been a premium park: foreign adults pay N$ 280 a day, up from N$ 150, and children under eight go free. The fuel station at the camp had supply failures in 2025, so fill up in Otjiwarongo.
- Time needed
- one night, better two with a game drive or a hike onto the plateau
- Cost
- park fee N$ 280 per day for foreign adults, game drive extra (as of October 2026)
- When
- May to November for hiking; early morning for the climb to the viewpoint
Our tipWalk up to the viewpoint before breakfast, it takes about three quarters of an hour. Book the plateau game drive at the office as soon as you arrive.
Places to stay in Otjiwarongo and Waterberg
AdvertisementThe links lead to trivago. If you book through them we receive a commission; it does not influence the selection. Prices are examples for the night shown.
Aloegrove Safari Lodge
29 km from the town centre
- Pool
- Restaurant
- Parking
- Air conditioning
from €213per night on 23 November 2026
Check prices on trivago
Hadassa Guest House
36 Lang Street
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €78per night on 23 November 2026
Check prices on trivago
Lion's Den Guesthouse Otjiwarongo
C38, 5km outside Otjiwarongo
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €59per night on 15 November 2026
Check prices on trivagoWaterberg Plateau: frequently asked questions
Can you drive yourself on the Waterberg Plateau?
Private cars are not allowed on top of the Waterberg Plateau. You get up there on foot or on a three-hour guided game drive booked at the NWR camp office.
What animals live on the Waterberg Plateau?
The Waterberg Plateau Park has reintroduced white and black rhino, buffalo, sable, roan and tsessebe, leopard and cheetah, plus more than 200 bird species.
What happened at the Waterberg in 1904?
On 11 August 1904 German colonial troops attacked the Herero at the Waterberg. The Herero fled into the Omaheke, Trotha ordered their annihilation in October, and around 80 per cent of the Herero died. Historians classify this as genocide.
How long is the walk to the Waterberg viewpoint?
From Waterberg Rest Camp the direct climb to the viewpoint on the rim of the plateau takes about 45 minutes. It is coolest there in the early morning.