May 2010 - For those in Limpopo, who have the privilege to call the Waterberg district home, it is a stunningly beautiful place and best known as a bushveld wildlife destination with a wonderful wide range of species and habitats on offer. Few people manage to experience the vastness of the Waterberg or its most scenic aspects as primarily a complex and seemingly obtuse network of dirt roads serves the area.

Waterberg can best be described as a large 'inverted saucer' stretching from Modimolle and Mokopane in the east as far as Thabazimbi and Lephalale in the west. Within the central core is a vast basin plateau dissected by numerous rivers, principally the Mokolo, which rises in the southern hills, and the Palala (Lephalale), which rises in the southeast.

The Waterberg Meander route, which has a total of 22 points of interest, was officially launched on 24 March 2010 at the Telekeshi Cultural Village near Masebe Nature Reserve with the help of the Europe Union, Waterberg District Municipality and the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment & Tourism.

After UNESCO officially designated the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve as part of the worldwide body of biosphere reserves in 2001, the Waterberg Meander Route was then created, with the assistance of LEDET. The EU donated R2.1 million while the Waterberg District Municipality donated R900 000 bringing the total amount to R3 million. A total of 13 projects are still underway.

Early that morning, guests and stakeholders were taken on a tour of some of the route's sites such as the Masebe hiking trails where Clive Walker from the Clive Walker foundation gave a brief background of the area, which boast 350 different bird species, rock paintings, a treasure trove of archeological, biological and cultural diversity and vast ancient landscapes with great scenic beauty.

Dr. Rupert Baber, chairperson of the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve and Project Coordinator and editor of "The Waterberg Meander Route VOL 1", in his presentation mentioned that the Waterberg biosphere which is one of 400 biosphere reserves in the world, is one of the most unspoilt natural places in South Africa. The meander route has 2 days worth of routes and is going to contribute to the growth of the tourism sector in the province.

Many speakers amongst them LEDET Senior General Manager for Environment and Tourism, Mr. Charles Maluleke emphasized the change that the route will bring to the area as well as the importance of marketing our tourism products internationally. "Our mission is to promote and sell ourselves to the world" he said.

The message that resonated throughout the event was that there is over two thousand plant species that grow in the Waterberg, with many beautiful flowering trees, shrubs and bulbs between the months of November and February. There is also a great array of bird species. Almost half of the 350 birds found in the Waterberg are resident all year round, including the largest colony of Cape vultures in the world.

It therefore makes sense for the department to encourage people to visit the Waterberg Meander Route 'sites of attraction. The state owned Masebe nature reserve which is just a stone throw away from the Telekeshi Cultural Village is also neighbour the African Ivory Route also nearby.