Two dams, a waterfall with a name that's fun to say, and a patch of wooded foothill worth an afternoon. Nwanedi Nature Reserve sits in Limpopo, east of the hot-springs town of Tshipise and north of Thohoyandou, where rocky summits of the Soutpansberg rise over slopes thick with trees.
The reserve's centrepiece is a pair of reservoirs built in 1964: the Nwanedi and Luphephe dams, side by side, each fed by its own mountain stream and joined by a channel. The two rivers meet inside the reserve, and the water they hold does double duty — it irrigates nearby farms and keeps wildlife going through dry spells.
For visitors, the draw is simple. This is a place to set up a picnic on the shore, unpack the flask and let the afternoon run long. Birders should bring binoculars: raptors patrol the rocky peaks above the water, while closer to ground level you'll find fever trees, yellowwoods and tree ferns — the sort of greenery you only really notice when you're not in a hurry.
Then there's Tshihovhohovho Falls, tucked into the foothills. Older guidebooks describe a footpath leading to it, so if access is open when you visit, the sensible plan is a walk to the falls first, lunch by the dams afterwards, then an unhurried hour watching whatever turns up along the shoreline.
One thing to know before you set off: refurbishment work at the reserve is going out to tender in July 2026, so facilities may be in flux. Limpopo Wildlife Resorts, which manages the reserve, lists picnicking, camping and angling among the activities, but it's worth phoning ahead on 015 293 7339 or 015 293 8766 to confirm day entry, gate hours and what's currently open. If the falls are your priority, ask which route visitors should use and whether there's enough water flowing to make the walk worthwhile.
Why bother with a relatively low-key reserve when Kruger is a drive away? Precisely because it's low-key. Nwanedi suits travellers who like their wildlife-watching self-paced: no queues at sightings, no timetable beyond gate hours, just water, birds and shade. If you're already staying near Tshipise — popular for its hot springs — or in Thohoyandou, it's an easy half-day or full-day outing with its own personality. Pack a picnic, check ahead, and give it the afternoon it deserves.
