Plateau Views at Waterberg Namibia
“Hello Mr Hog? Mr Hog are you there? We’re here to chat to you about your home and life insurance.”
We couldn’t resist making a little joke after encountering the most adorable (and large) warthog living in a manhole on the way to our mountainous suite at the Waterberg Resort.
Having visited over 2 decades ago as a child, it felt a special time to be back at Waterberg having recently lost my father just after his 69’s birthday. We visited her together as a family so many NWR resorts have a special place in my heart.
Views from the Plateau
Determined to climb the mountain, the city slickers that we are geared up with all our tech and made the move along the large, orange and green rocks. The walk was fairly comfortable to start, before becoming increasingly difficult – as encountered by “Dotty” and “Fred”, elderly American folk we met have way up the hill.
“Don’t touch me. Don’t touch me!” Ah, the overfamiliarity of a wife yelling at their husband after years of marriage. Nothing like a steep face mountain to bring out the tention in a long marriage.
I suppose me yelling, “I can see you! I know you’re flying that drone!” – when I could not, in fact, see them and had no idea who was flying a drone. But my loyalty to Namibia kicked in and I started reprimanding visitors on the mountain side of the famous plateau.
By the time we rounded the corner and found “Dotty and Fred”, with Fred announcing, “I’ve never touched a drone in my life!” The shame of yelling at elderly folk quickly overtook my patriotism. Bashfully apologising and moving along, we eventually met the culprits at the top of the mountain.
A dutch couple claiming “they didn’t know they were allowed” despite the gianormous and many “No drones allowed” signs at all entrances to Waterberg and Namibian National Parks in general.
(It’s an issue I’ve encountered in Cape Town as well. “I’ll be on the plane home before they catch me” mentality and I suppose it hurts because it’s true.)
Nonetheless, I tried my best and my reprimand did result in them shovelling off in a short time. Eventually, “Dotty and Fred” made it up the mountain and we ended up having a lovely chat before our descent.
Having eyed the pool from the top of the mountain, we were a bit disturbed by the colour, only to realise the pool had been painted natural colours! So don’t avoid if it you are keen for a swim. It’s cold but refreshing after a mountain climb.
Historical Dinners and Breakfasts
One of the best features of Waterberg is the restaurant and bar. An old police hall, it really encapsulates a bygone time and transports guests to yesteryear.
The food was also particularly good at Waterberg (when comparing to other NWR locations where the food isn’t bad, it was just best at Waterberg).
Scanning the dozens of photographs along the dining room hall, we could imagine the wild parties that must have kicked off in the bar next door. Having grown up in Namibia, I have a faint clue about the “wild animals” of Namibia.
Suites
As for our suite, simple, but comfortable. A bathroom nearly the size of the room (no bath) is hidden behind the main wall. A small bar fridge for the odd leftover and an outside table for morning listening sessions with the symphony of birds, monkeys, warthogs, mongeese and other small creatures of the plateau.
Family Friendly
Waterberg is a family friendly NWR Resort that makes a lovely location to camp, enjoying a fire in the evenings or staying in the chalets. Guests can enjoy the walk ways around the resort to observe birds and other small creatures. The surrounding areas are also incredibly beautiful and this is a lovely pitstop when road tripping through Namibia.
