Weenen is a small, off-the-beaten-track game reserve, home to both white and black rhino and several antelope species. Visitors to this little-known reserve tend to have the place to themselves. A wildlife shelter overlooking a small waterhole and a vulture-feeding site are some of the attractions.
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Best Time To Go
- June to September (animals at waterhole)
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High Season
- Never (The reserve is never busy)
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Size
- 50km² / 19mi²
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Altitude
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898-1,306m /2,946-4,285ft
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Pros & Cons
- Beautiful scenery and great birding
- Little visited park
- Inexpensive self-catering accommodation in the park
- Malaria-free
- Not many big safari animals present
- Low visitor numbers have resulted in lack of maintenance
- Small game-drive circuit
Wildlife
Of the Big Five, only rhino is present in the park. White rhino is sometimes spotted, but black rhino tends to stay in the thick bush. Other re-introduced wildlife includes giraffe, red hartebeest, eland, zebra, kudu, common ostrich and common reedbuck.
Scenery
The main habitat of Weenen is grassland and acacia bushveld, iconic of the African bush. The Bushman's River flowing through a gorge in the reserve is the main scenic landmark.
Weather & Climate
The weather and climate of Weenen is comparable to that of South Africa in general. More info:
Best Time To Visit
Weenen can be visited throughout the year, but the best time for wildlife viewing is during the dry months of June to September. The end of the Dry season (from August to September) is a great time for a visit because there is little water left in the bush, so wildlife tends to concentrate around the waterhole.
Getting There
Weenen is situated off the N3 between Johannesburg (430km/267mi) and Durban (160km/100mi). It can easily be incorporated in a self-drive itinerary including that part of the country.
Health & Safety
Please read our vaccinations and malaria page for South Africa and our general wildlife viewing safety precautions page for more info: