Tucked away near the quiet town of Vaalwater in Limpopo, Waterberg Farmstay offers a peaceful escape surrounded by nature, flowing water, and the relaxed atmosphere that makes the Waterberg region so special. Our recent trip there was mainly focused on fishing, but after the heavy rains and flooding in the area, the river conditions were far from ideal.
Despite the challenges, the experience turned out to be an enjoyable and memorable getaway filled with beautiful scenery, exciting fishing moments, and comfortable accommodation.
Accommodation
Waterberg Farmstay has quite a few options when it comes to accommodation. We stayed in one of the comfortable chalets situated at the top of the resort, which offered a quiet, private atmosphere. The chalet was neat, and well-maintained, making it the perfect place to relax after long hours spent at the river.
But the resort really shines with respect to the camping areas and ablution facilities. Everything was neat and well looked after, with lush greenery around the campsites giving the place an almost tropical feel. The atmosphere throughout the resort was peaceful and welcoming, making it clear that a lot of care goes into maintaining the property.
There is also small shop and entertainment area in the middle of the resort where you can purchase necessary supplies including ice, wood, bait, and even beer 🙂
Fishing
The recent rains had caused the Mokolo river to flow heavily, with strong currents and murky water making fishing conditions quite difficult. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that the river was carrying a lot more water than usual. We were there primarily to catch bass on our little rubber duck, but that was not possible at all, so we focused on carp.
Finding good spots and keeping bait in place became a challenge, especially in the faster-moving sections of the river. Although the fishing was slow at times due to the conditions, patience eventually paid off. We managed to land a few decent barbel (on biltong), which brought plenty of excitement. There were also a few strong runs that kept us on our toes and reminded us that there were definitely fish active in the river despite the difficult conditions.
So no carp in the end. And even though we tried for bass from the side we had no luck there either, but we always knew that was going to be futile.
Even when the rods were quiet, it never felt disappointing because the environment itself was so enjoyable. Trips like these remind you that fishing is often about much more than just catching fish.
Summary
Waterberg Farmstay near Vaalwater provided a relaxing fishing getaway despite difficult river conditions caused by recent flooding. With neat accommodation, beautiful scenery, and a few hard-earned barbel catches, it turned into a memorable Waterberg experience.
(2 days)
barbel x5 (small\medium)
