​Overview – Weenen GR

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip lives in South Africa and has authored many guidebooks to African destinations, including ‘The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa’.

Philip lives in South Africa and has authored many Africa guidebooks, including ‘The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa’.

Philip is the author of many Africa guidebooks, including ‘The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa’.

Philip is author of ‘The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa’.

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.

Best Time To Go June to September (animals at waterhole)
High Season Never (The reserve is never busy)
Size 50km² / 19mi²
Altitude 898-1,306m / 2,946-4,285ft

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

Weenen GR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

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, 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:

Want To Visit Weenen GR?

Weenen Operators

Weenen GR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Lizzie Williams  –  
South Africa ZA

Lizzie is a reputed guidebook writer and author of the Footprint guides to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

A pleasant bush drive in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands
1/5

The small Weenen Game Reserve covers an area of typical inland KwaZulu Natal acacia grassland, and the distant blue peaks of the Drakensberg make a pleasant backdrop. Weenen is an excellent example of how a severely degraded habitat can be...

Full Review

Latest User Review
Ronel van Zyl  –  
United Kingdom UK
Reviewed: Apr 11, 2012
3/5

Beautiful wilderness and great place to see wildlife. Don't have lion and elephants.

Full Review