The Waterberg, Limpopo, South Africa is a UNESCO designated Biosphere. A great diversity of wildlife and habitats are found here. Bushmen paintings and ancient sites can also be seen on the reserve. Jembisa has 7km (4 miles) of the Palala River running through the middle of the reserve, it is excellent for fishing and riverside walks.
At Jembisa, guests can set off on mountain bikes with a ranger for game spotting, or take a game drive. On this malaria free game reserve in Waterberg, Limpopo, South Africa there are common sightings of Rhino, Giraffe, Hippopotamus, Livingstone’s Eland, Kudu, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Bushbuck, Impala and Crocodile.
Bush Baby, Porcupine, Aardvark, Caracal, Leopard and Brown Hyena can be seen on night game drives. Lion, Buffalo or Elephant are not present on the reserve. This allows greater opportunity for interactive bush experiences like camp-outs, biking, walks and Rhino tracking. Jembisa lodge staff can take guests to neighbouring reserves for half-day game drives to see the Big Five if they wish.
Directions to Jembisa
Jembisa is approximately 3 hours North of Johannesburg by road. The roads are good with only the last 10km (6 miles) on sand road. Transfers can be arranged by road, and also by air via the use of a local, private airstrip.
Airstrip GPS Co-ordinates
23:54.25 S / 28:23.59 E
Length: 1 200 metres Surface: Hard dirt, fenced one side
From Johannesburg International Airport
Take R21 to Pretoria for about 20 minutes. Take the N1 highway North towards Pietersburg / Polokwane. Turn off at the Kranskop toll gate (third toll gate) to Nylstroom / Modimolle. Go through Nylstroom / Modimolle to Vaalwater (± 60km or 37 miles). In Vaalwater turn right at the stop street towards Melkriver (there is only one stop street in Vaalwater). ***See directions for River Cottage only if going there. Go ± 42km (26 miles) and turn left onto a gravel road marked Melkriver School / Lapalala. After 6km (4 miles) turn right (there is an old Cape Dutch farm house on the right hand side) and pass the Rhino Museum. From the Rhino Museum drive 3.3km (2 miles), the main entrance to Jembisa Lodge will be on the right.
From Jembisa to the Cottages except River Cottage
Kingfisher Cottage: Continue past the main entrance to Jembisa. After 1km (about half a mile) the road bends to the left. At the bottom of the hill, the Kingfisher gate will be on the right. Kingfisher entrance is before the Palala river bridge. Podica Chalets: Continue past the main entrance to Jembisa. After 1km (about half a mile) the road bends to the left, go over the Palala River Bridge and through the electric gate. Drive another 1km (half a mile) and keep to the right of the fork and follow the Podica signs.
River Cottage
*** If driving to River Cottage, do not take the Lapalala turn, but stay on the Melkriver Road from Vaalwater until reaching a T-Junction. Turn left at the T, and approximately 2 km (just over a mile) on the left hand side there is a farm gate. This is just before crossing the Palala River. Someone will be waiting at the gate.
