Doorndraai Nature Reserve - South Africa

For those wishing to spend a sweltering afternoon in the relief of a cool breeze while enjoying the relaxation associated with fishing, there is only one place you need to go with a multitude of species that can be lured to the hooks of keen anglers.

Nestled contentedly on the foothills of the Waterberg Range, this 7,000-ha nature reserve lies close to Limpopo's major highway, half an hour's drive from Mokopane and Mookgophong. Doorndraai boasts a wide variety of woodland habitats such as acacia, hillside broad-leaved woodland and riverine woodland.

Around and below the Doorndraai Dam is a range of grassland types and more open savannah biospheres. Wall, rock and riverine habitats occur.

Game found on the reserve includes tsessebe, Sable Antelope, Mountain Reedbuck, kudu, bushbuck, Blue Wildebeest, leopard, impala and steenbuck. Sightings of duiker, klipspringer, waterbuck, zebra, giraffe, warthog, bushpig, Brown Hyena, genet, African Wild Cat, Black-footed Cat, aardvark, hedgehog, Honey Badger and otter are common.

The reserve is also a renowned birding site and the dam a prime angling spot. Water activities on the dam include boating, skiing, parasailing, windsurfing and canoeing. There are 2 two-day hiking trails on the reserve and visitors are accommodated in four camping sites.

Highlights: Doorndraai Dam, Angling, Birding, Hiking, Game drives, Boating, Picnicking