Waterberg Plateau Park

🇳🇦 Namibia

🦌 Dik-dik and Hyrax on the Plateau
🌍 #52 Global · 4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #33 in Africa #34 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

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Waterberg Thick-toed Gecko ★
LC

Waterberg Thick-toed Gecko

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Pachydactylus waterbergensis

30–40% · Possible
Southern Giraffe ★

Southern Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa giraffa

60–70% · Likely
Kirk's Dik-dik ★
LC

Kirk's Dik-dik

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Madoqua kirkii

80–90% · Very likely
Verreaux's Eagle ★
LC

Verreaux's Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila verreauxii

40–50% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Red-billed Francolin
LC

Red-billed Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pternistis adspersus

90–100% · Very likely
Grey Go-Away-Bird
LC

Grey Go-Away-Bird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corythaixoides concolor

80–90% · Very likely
African Red-eyed Bulbul
LC

African Red-eyed Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus nigricans

80–90% · Very likely
Rock Hyrax
LC

Rock Hyrax

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Procavia capensis

70–80% · Very likely
African Grey Hornbill
LC

African Grey Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophoceros nasutus

70–80% · Very likely
Chacma Baboon
LC

Chacma Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio ursinus

70–80% · Likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

60–70% · Likely
Green-backed Camaroptera
LC

Green-backed Camaroptera

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Camaroptera brachyura

60–70% · Likely
Pale-winged Starling
LC

Pale-winged Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Onychognathus nabouroup

60–70% · Likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

60–70% · Likely
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
LC

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis nitens

60–70% · Likely
Pririt Batis
LC

Pririt Batis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Batis pririt

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Southern Giraffe ★

Southern Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa giraffa

60–70% · Likely
Kirk's Dik-dik ★
LC

Kirk's Dik-dik

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Madoqua kirkii

80–90% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Rock Hyrax
LC

Rock Hyrax

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Procavia capensis

70–80% · Very likely
Chacma Baboon
LC

Chacma Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio ursinus

70–80% · Likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

60–70% · Likely
Greater Kudu
LC

Greater Kudu

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

40–50% · Likely
Banded Mongoose
LC

Banded Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mungos mungo

40–50% · Likely
Springbok
LC Endemic

Springbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Antidorcas marsupialis

40–50% · Likely
White Rhinoceros

White Rhinoceros

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ceratotherium simum

40–50% · Likely
Common Eland

Common Eland

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Taurotragus oryx

40–50% · Likely
Gemsbok
LC Endemic

Gemsbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oryx gazella

40–50% · Likely
Honey Badger
LC

Honey Badger

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Mellivora capensis

40–50% · Likely
Aardvark
LC

Aardvark

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Orycteropus afer

Insufficient data
Khama

Khama

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alcelaphus caama

30–40% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Verreaux's Eagle ★
LC

Verreaux's Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila verreauxii

40–50% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Red-billed Francolin
LC

Red-billed Francolin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pternistis adspersus

90–100% · Very likely
Grey Go-Away-Bird
LC

Grey Go-Away-Bird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corythaixoides concolor

80–90% · Very likely
African Red-eyed Bulbul
LC

African Red-eyed Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus nigricans

80–90% · Very likely
African Grey Hornbill
LC

African Grey Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophoceros nasutus

70–80% · Very likely
Green-backed Camaroptera
LC

Green-backed Camaroptera

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Camaroptera brachyura

60–70% · Likely
Pale-winged Starling
LC

Pale-winged Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Onychognathus nabouroup

60–70% · Likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

60–70% · Likely
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
LC

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis nitens

60–70% · Likely
Pririt Batis
LC

Pririt Batis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Batis pririt

50–60% · Likely
Acacia Pied Barbet
LC

Acacia Pied Barbet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tricholaema leucomelas

50–60% · Likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

50–60% · Likely
Crimson-breasted Gonolek
LC

Crimson-breasted Gonolek

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Laniarius atrococcineus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Waterberg Thick-toed Gecko ★
LC

Waterberg Thick-toed Gecko

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Pachydactylus waterbergensis

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Kalahari Tree Skink
LC

Kalahari Tree Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis spilogaster

50–60% · Likely
Ruben's Sand Lizard
LC

Ruben's Sand Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pedioplanis rubens

50–60% · Likely
Wahlberg’s Striped Skink

Wahlberg’s Striped Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis wahlbergii

50–60% · Likely
Bushveld Lizard
LC

Bushveld Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Heliobolus lugubris

30–40% · Possible
Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko
LC

Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Chondrodactylus laevigatus

30–40% · Possible
Leopard Tortoise
LC

Leopard Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Stigmochelys pardalis

30–40% · Possible
Puff Adder
LC

Puff Adder

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bitis arietans

Insufficient data
Three-lined Grass Snake
LC

Three-lined Grass Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Psammophylax tritaeniatus

Insufficient data
Stripe-bellied Sand Snake
LC

Stripe-bellied Sand Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Psammophis subtaeniatus

Insufficient data
Variable Skink
LC

Variable Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis varia

Insufficient data
Damara Skink
LC

Damara Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis damarana

Insufficient data
Southern African Python
LC

Southern African Python

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Python natalensis

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Tandy's sand frog
LC

Tandy's sand frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Tomopterna tandyi

Insufficient data
African Clawed Frog
LC

African Clawed Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Xenopus laevis

Insufficient data
Red-Banded Rubber Frog
LC

Red-Banded Rubber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Phrynomantis bifasciatus

Insufficient data
Boettger's dainty frog
LC

Boettger's dainty frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Cacosternum boettgeri

Insufficient data
Giant bullfrog
LC

Giant bullfrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Pyxicephalus adspersus

Insufficient data
Power's Toad
LC

Power's Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Sclerophrys poweri

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

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
LC Endemic

Springbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Antidorcas marsupialis

40–50% · Likely
🦌

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
LC

Chacma Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio ursinus

70–80% · 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
LC

Crimson-breasted Gonolek

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Laniarius atrococcineus

50–60% · Likely
Pale-winged Starling
LC

Pale-winged Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Onychognathus nabouroup

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
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
5–10
10–20
10–20
40–50
50–60
70–80
Southern Giraffe
30–40
50–60
60–70
70–80
80–90
60–70
60–70
40–50
70–80
50–60
50–60
40–50
Kirk's Dik-dik
70–80
80–90
90–100
90–100
80–90
60–70
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
60–70
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
Rock Hyrax
60–70
30–40
70–80
50–60
80–90
80–90
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
40–50
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
Chacma Baboon
60–70
70–80
70–80
80–90
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
40–50
70–80
Common Warthog
70–80
60–70
20–30
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
70–80
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
Pririt Batis
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
40–50
20–30
50–60
Animal Events
🦌 Springbok Migration
🦌 Chacma Baboon Troop Gathering
🐦 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

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

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
850 Global average across 296 parks
25 Threatened 13 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
74%
📊
Coverage (198 species at ≥5% of 683 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
29%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (7 bird, 5 mammal)
46% Global avg
65%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 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)
15 Global avg
31
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
40

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Waterberg Plateau Park?

The most likely sightings are Red-billed Francolin (seen by 90–100% of wildlife watchers), Grey Go-Away-Bird (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Kirk's Dik-dik (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), African Red-eyed Bulbul (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Rock Hyrax (seen by 70–80% 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 32% of wildlife watchers report a Waterberg Thick-toed Gecko sighting in Waterberg Plateau Park, based on 6 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Southern Giraffe in Waterberg Plateau Park?

Yes — about 64% of wildlife watchers report a Southern Giraffe sighting in Waterberg Plateau Park, based on 24 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Kirk's Dik-dik in Waterberg Plateau Park?

Yes — about 83% of wildlife watchers report a Kirk's Dik-dik sighting in Waterberg Plateau Park, based on 53 days of visitor records 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 46 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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