Heritage View Birding Retreat
Delareyville
Grassland biome · Brown hyena · Black backed jackal
Can support BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,000 a night
4 km away
Where to stay near Barberspan Nature Reserve
One of South Africa's most important inland waterbird sites, a Ramsar wetland in the North West
North West, South Africa
Malaria-free
About Barberspan Nature Reserve
Barberspan is a large natural pan in the North West grasslands, one of South Africa's first Ramsar wetlands and a site where tens of thousands of waterbirds have been ringed since the 1950s. In a good summer the water carries flamingos, pelicans, both species of grebe, ducks in their thousands and a long list of waders passing through on migration. It is a birding destination first: hides, a bird observatory, and quiet, rather than scenery or big game. The reserve sits near Delareyville, and the closest stays are small farm stays and guesthouses in the surrounding district.
Things to do: Bird watching · Waterbird counts · Fishing · Walking
Wildlife near Barberspan Nature Reserve
What people record most across North West. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across North West, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Stay in & near Barberspan Nature Reserve
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
No stays are linked to Barberspan Nature Reserve yet. These are the closest ones we have, by straight-line distance from the park, so check the drive before you book.
Dream Lodge
Magaliesburg
Savanna biome
Can support Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital
From R 450 a night
191 km away
Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge
North West
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
201 km away
Phefumula Country Retreat
Magaliesburg
Savanna biome · Meerkat
Can support BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,000 a night
205 km away
Thakadu River Camp
Madikwe
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
209 km away
40 Acres Guest Farm
Magaliesburg
Savanna biome
Can support BirdLife South Africa
From R 4,150 a night
210 km away
When to visit Barberspan Nature Reserve
Most of the rain at Barberspan Nature Reserve falls from December to February, peaking in January at about 97 mm. The dry season runs from May to September, with little or no rain. November is the hottest month, with average highs of about 30°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 3°C.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 97 | 29 | 18 |
| February | 79 | 29 | 17 |
| March | 56 | 28 | 15 |
| April | 48 | 24 | 11 |
| May | 13 | 23 | 7 |
| June | 12 | 20 | 3 |
| July | 4 | 20 | 3 |
| August | 5 | 23 | 6 |
| September | 8 | 27 | 10 |
| October | 32 | 29 | 13 |
| November | 52 | 30 | 15 |
| December | 81 | 30 | 17 |
Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 1354 m above sea level. Weather data from Open-Meteo.com (opens in a new tab) (ERA5), CC BY 4.0.
Getting there
26.5500° S, 25.5800° EOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Barberspan Nature Reserve wild
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
- Built into every booking
- A conservation share
- Where it goes
- Local causes & communities
Barberspan Nature Reserve: your questions
Where is Barberspan Nature Reserve?
Barberspan Nature Reserve is in North West, South Africa.
Is Barberspan Nature Reserve malaria-free?
Yes. Barberspan Nature Reserve is in an area recorded as malaria-free, which is why it is a common choice for families with young children and for a first safari. Malaria risk can shift with the season and the year, so confirm current advice with a travel clinic before you go.
What wildlife can you see near Barberspan Nature Reserve?
In North West, commonly recorded species include animals such as Tsessebe, Serval, Blue Wildebeest, Sable Antelope and birds including Tree Pipit, Great Sparrow, Kalahari Scrub Robin, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
When is the rainy season at Barberspan Nature Reserve?
Most of the rain at Barberspan Nature Reserve falls from December to February, peaking in January at about 97 mm. The dry season runs from May to September, with little or no rain. November is the hottest month, with average highs of about 30°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 3°C. Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 1354 m above sea level.
When is the best time to visit Barberspan Nature Reserve?
The best time to visit Barberspan Nature Reserve is Nov-Mar (summer waterbirds), Apr-Jun.
What is there to do at Barberspan Nature Reserve?
Popular activities at Barberspan Nature Reserve include bird watching, waterbird counts, fishing, walking.
Parks near Barberspan Nature Reserve
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Pilanesberg National Park
North West, South Africa
Pilanesberg National ParkNational Park · 210 km
Volcanic crater Big Five park
Big Five
Madikwe Game Reserve
North West, South Africa
Madikwe Game ReserveGame Reserve · 212 km
Malaria-free Big Five destination
Big Five
Mafikeng Game Reserve
Game Reserve · 77 km · North West, South Africa
Historical town game reserve
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Barberspan Nature Reserve.
Malaria-free parks and game reservesNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in North WestAll protected areas