Vaalwater is the central village of the Waterberg area, the heart of the Bushveld region. The Waterberg has been described as South Africa's best keep secret. Its rugged beauty, together with its diversity in plant and animal life, has led to the development of several exciting eco-tourism projects such as the biosphere reserve – the Waterberg Nature Conservancy – the amalgamation of conservation areas in order to protect more than 150 000 hectares of the Waterberg-habitat.

The Waterberg-range, incorporating many rivers, streams and swamps, stretches for 150 kilometers in a long arc from Thabazimbi in the West, Nylstroom in the center to Potgietersrus in the east. Apart from the spectacular scenery of the mountains themselves, there are many game sanctuaries, nature reserves and farms, many offering accommodation.

Waterberg Biosphere Reserve is situated in the Bushveld district in the Limpopo Province of South Africa and was established in 2001. The Waterberg, as the name suggests serves as a water reservoir for this arid region. The area consists of low mountain ranges and escarpments, (from 800 to 2000 meters in altitude) as well as a network of rivers, streams and lakes, which make the Waterberg so appealing.