Welcome to our world
The Dabchick Wildlife Reserve (DWR)
The Dabchick Wildlife Reserve (DWR) is situated in the Waterberg region of the Limpopo province. The reserve is roughly two-and-a-half hours’ drive from O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
DWR is over 1 000 hectares in size, which allows us to be involved in various conservation projects, as well as cater for visitors who want to experience the African wilderness and all its inhabitants, big and small. We offer the choice of luxury accommodation or a more rustic experience, according to your tastes.
Activities
Dabchick Wildlife Reserve
Dabchick Wildlife Reserve offers different activities and accommodation, according to your needs – experience the bush in the comfort a luxury tented camp, or attend specially designed courses in a rustic tented bush camp.
Accommodation
Luxury Tented Camp
The Luxury tented camp which currently accommodates 12 people is situated on a plain with views of the mountain/and or bush. The camp is unfenced so you can safely experience nature up close and personal. All our themed tents have electricity, lights, hot water and flush toilets but individual tents have different features. Please note that the tents and lapa are non-smoking areas.
Luxury Tented Camp
These spacious themed tents with Zebra and Giraffe themes respectively have 2 x ¾ beds, a bath and shower.
Exquisite Cuisine
The luxury tented camp offers full catering in a thatched Lapa, which also has a lounge with a fireplace and a bar.
Honeymoon tent
This spacious flagship tent whose theme celebrates our iconic bird.
Why we do what we do
The mission to conserve wildlife, protect biodiversity and make Africa a safer place for animals and ecosystems.
𝘿𝘼𝘽𝘾𝙃𝙄𝘾𝙆 𝙒𝙄𝙇𝘿 𝘽𝙄𝙍𝘿𝙎
𝐃𝐖𝐑 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡!
July 2026
☀️Marico Sunbird (𝘾𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙮𝙧𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙨)
𝐈𝐔𝐂𝐍 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬: Least Concern
🔍 𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
The Marico Sunbird is one of southern Africa’s most striking nectar-feeding birds. The breeding male is unmistakable with its iridescent metallic green head and throat, chestnut breast band and bright yellow pectoral tufts, while the female is more subtly coloured with olive-brown upperparts and pale yellow underparts. Although small in stature, this energetic bird is often revealed by its persistent calls and rapid movements between flowering shrubs.
💡 𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖?
🪶 Unlike some other sunbirds, it is largely sedentary and highly territorial, especially during the breeding season when males sing conspicuously from prominent perches.
🪶 Sunbirds are among Africa’s most important pollinators, transferring pollen between flowering plants while feeding on nectar. Their long, curved bills and specialised brush-tipped tongues are perfectly adapted for tubular flowers.
🪶 Although nectar forms most of their diet, Marico Sunbirds also feed on spiders and insects, particularly when raising chicks.
🏞 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 & 𝐇𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐓
The Marico Sunbird is widespread across southern Africa, favouring open woodland, savanna, bushveld and well-vegetated gardens. It thrives wherever flowering shrubs and trees provide a reliable source of nectar throughout the year. In the Waterberg, it is especially associated with flowering aloes, wild dagga (𝘓𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘴), honeysuckle and mistletoes.
🪺 𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 & 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆
The female constructs an untidy oval or purse-shaped nest using fine grass, bark fibres, lichen, leaves and spider webs. Hidden among dense vegetation, the nest usually contains two eggs. While she builds and incubates, the male often remains nearby, singing from exposed perches to defend his territory.
🌍 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄
Although the Marico Sunbird is currently classified as Least Concern, healthy populations depend on indigenous flowering plants that provide nectar throughout the seasons. Conserving natural woodland and planting nectar-rich indigenous species in gardens and reserves helps sustain not only sunbirds but many other pollinators that underpin healthy ecosystems.
🗨 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡
“𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘰 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳. 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘳-𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘻𝘦𝘯. 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺 𝘫𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘋𝘢𝘣𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦.”
— Drs Peter & Pamela Oberem
Peter Oberem
🦆 Dabchick Wildlife Reserve offers outstanding bird watching and photography. Book your stay now!
📩 Reservations: reservations@dabchick.co.za
🌐 More info: www.dabchick.co.za
🌿 Rewilding Programme
www.dabchick.co.za/new-dabchicks-rewilding-programme/
📍 As custodians of biodiversity, we are committed to preserving habitat, raising awareness and supporting collaborative conservation action.
🎼 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 & 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬
eBird Species Page:
ebird.org/species/marsun2
📷 Photo © Nico Fourie
Waterberg Biosphere Reserve
Waterberg Tourism
Rewilding Africa Global Rewilding Alliance
BirdLife South Africa
BirdLife International
The BIG BIRD CHALLENGE
#ConserveWildlife #ProtectBiodiversity #Africa #DabchickWildlifeReserve #ProtectWhatMatters #RewildingSouthernAfrica #BirdsOfSouthernAfrica #CitizenScienceMatters #ConservationInAction #MaricoSunbird #WaterbergBiosphere #LifeThroughWildlife
𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 🥂🥂
Today we wish Dr Pamela a very happy 70th birthday.
Thank you for your exceptional contribution to conservation and biodiversity. Your leadership, passion and unwavering commitment have helped shape a stronger future for wildlife and wild places.
May the year ahead bring continued adventure, good health and many more memorable moments in nature.
Happy Birthday, Dr Pamela! 🥂🌿🦏
Waterberg Biosphere Reserve Waterberg Tourism REWILDING Southern Africa
#HappyBirthday #Conservation #Biodiversity #WildlifeConservation #AfricanWildlife #NatureLeadership #rewilding
𝐃𝐀𝐁𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄
𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩…
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚…
At Dabchick Wildlife Reserve, every experience is designed to connect you with Africa’s wild heart, its remarkable wildlife and its conservation future.
Whether you’re exploring the African savanna, sharing stories around the campfire, photographing exceptional birdlife, or contributing to rewilding initiatives, every moment has purpose.
🦏 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐄
𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙎𝙖𝙛𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙨
Experience unforgettable encounters with iconic wildlife, including White Rhino, Giraffe, Buffalo, Blue Crane and the Southern Ground Hornbill, while discovering why protecting these species matters.
👩🏻🍳 𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄
𝙎𝙖𝙛𝙖𝙧𝙞 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙛
Join Chef Tarryn around the fire for a unique culinary adventure where African flavours, local ingredients and great company come together beneath the stars.
📷 𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄
𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙋𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙮 & 𝘽𝙞𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜
From passionate birders to experienced photographers, Dabchick offers extraordinary opportunities to capture the beauty and diversity of Southern Africa’s wildlife.
🌱 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐄
𝙍𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 & 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣
Become part of something bigger. Learn about habitat restoration, species conservation and the projects helping to restore Africa’s wild places.
👉 Explore the Rewilding Programme: www.dabchick.co.za/new-dabchicks-rewilding-programme/
REWILDING Southern Africa Rewilding Africa
Global Rewilding Alliance
🔥 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙗𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮
More than visitors, our guests become part of a growing community united by a shared passion for wildlife, conservation and authentic African experiences.
⸻
🌍 𝙇𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙. 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙘𝙮.
Discover a destination where every safari, every meal, every photograph and every conservation initiative contributes to a wilder future.
𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝘿𝙖𝙗𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚.
Waterberg Biosphere Reserve Waterberg Tourism BirdLife South Africa
📍 Limpopo, South Africa
📩 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
📧 reservations@dabchick.co.za
📧 peter.oberem@dabchick.co.za (copy on enquiries) or WhatsApp: +27 (0)82 821-6577
🌐 www.dabchick.co.za
⸻
🛎️ 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠.𝐜𝐨𝐦
www.booking.com/hotel/za/dabchick-wildlife-reserve.en-us.html?
#DabchickWildlifeReserve #LiveTheWild #LeaveALegacy #ExploreTasteCaptureRestoreBelong #SafariChef #WildlifeSafari #BirdPhotography #Birding #Rewilding #Conservation #EcoTourism #VisitSouthAfrica #LifeThroughWildlife
