Waterberg Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2001, in South Africa. The Waterberg Biosphere Reserve is in the Bushveld district of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. As the name implies, the Waterberg serves as a water reservoir for this arid region. The area consists of low mountain ranges and escarpments with poor soils and a relatively low level of economic activity. Vegetation is dominated by veld types characteristic of mountainous savannah areas, creating rich biodiversity with more than 5,500 species of plants. The area has been inhabited for hundreds of thousands of years and is one of the most important San rock art areas in South Africa. Tourism is the major source of income. People also practise cattle raising and crop production, and are increasingly switching from game farming to eco-tourism.