Weenen game reserve

Overview–southafrica

Weenen Game Reserve

Weenen is a small, off-the-beaten-track game reserve, home to both white and black rhinos 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 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.

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.

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sept

Jan

Feb

Mar

Nov

Dec

April

Oct

Rates

From: $204 to $1,223 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: June to September (animals at waterhole)

High Season

From: Never (The reserve is never busy)

Size

From: 50km² / 19mi²

Wildlife & Animals

Of the Big Five, only a 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 include giraffes, red hartebeest, eland, zebra, kudu, ostrich, and common reedbuck.

General Wheather

The weather and climate of Weenen is comparable to that of South Africa in general.

May to September –Winter

MayKruger & Around: This month brings the end of summer. Rainfall dwindles down. Temperatures are pleasant; typically 12°C/54°F in the morning and 27°C/81°F in the afternoon. Cape Town & Around: Rainfall increases with the start of winter. It cools down to an average of 20°C/68°F in the afternoon.
June, July & August Kruger & Around: Morning game drives in open vehicles will be cold, so it's advisable to pack warm winter clothing. The average morning temperature is 10°C/50°F. Afternoons will be pleasant with temperatures around 26°C/79°F. Rain is extremely rare. Cape Town & Around: There is regular rainfall and cloudy skies are common. Mornings are usually around 8°C/46°F and afternoons around 18°C/64°F.
September Kruger & Around: The heat gradually builds up to about 29°C/84°F in the afternoons, and the first rains bring relief from very dry conditions. Mornings are pleasant with temperatures of around 14°C/57°F.Cape Town & Around: Cloudy conditions are common, but daytime temperatures increase gradually at the end of winter. Afternoons reach temperatures of around 19°C/66°F.

October to April –Summer

October & November Kruger & Around: It gets warmer and it starts to rain more often, mostly in the afternoons. Temperatures are between 18°C/64°F in the morning and 31°C/88°F in the afternoon. Cape Town & Around: The average afternoon temperature in November is a pleasant 24°C/75°F. Most days are sunny and it only rains sporadically.
December, January & February Kruger & Around: These are the wettest months, characterized by torrential downpours in the afternoon. The heat can be oppressive with average afternoon temperatures around 32°C/90°F with high humidity. Peak temperatures are much higher. Cape Town & Around: The weather is lovely; afternoons are around 26°C/79°F and the skies are mostly blue. It still rains occasionally, but usually not for long.
March & April Kruger & Around: Rainfall decreases, and it slowly gets cooler. This continues in April, which has lovely, clear weather. The nights get a bit colder but are still pleasant at about 18°C/64°F. Daytime temperatures are around 30°C/86°F and humidity drops in April. Cape Town & Around: It cools down at the end of summer. The average high in April is 23°C/73°F and it drops to about 12°C/54°F at night. Rainfall and cloudy conditions increase, but there are still many lovely days.

Prons

Beautiful scenery and great birding
Little visited park
Inexpensive self-catering accommodation in the park
Malaria-free

Cons

Not many big safari animals present
Low visitor numbers have resulted in a lack of maintenance
Small game-drive circuit

How To Get There

Weenen is situated off the N3 between Johannesburg (430km/267 mi) and Durban (160km/100 mi). It can easily be incorporated in a self-drive itinerary including that part of the country.