Leobo Observatory Private Villa is surrounded by the diverse Waterberg region and overlooking the Palala Valley, the 8,000-hectare reserve is encompassed by rugged rocks, mountainous areas, bushveld savannah, rivers, gorges, an abundance of wildlife and rich in archaeological history and Bushman paintings. Teeming with plains game, as well as hippo and buffalo it is one of only a handful of sole-use private reserves in Africa, allowing guests full access to the entire estate and all its facilities.

This magnificent, malaria-free destination provides the setting for an exclusive lodge where there are an exclusive private house, the Observatory, designed by award-winning architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, positioned on the side of the escarpment overlooking the valley. The emphasis here is on a personal experience as opposed to a more commercial one found in any other luxury hotel in the world. At Leobo, things are done a little differently. The accommodation is rented exclusively to one group at a time and guests are made to feel completely at home, indulging in as much of everything on offer as they please. There are no daily programs or time restrictions; guests are entertained by the team of staff as friends of the owner, and activities seamlessly blend into one another until you have done so much more than you ever imagined possible.

Owned by an English couple with a huge imagination, sense of adventure, 6 children of their own, and a sense of humour, Leobo delivers a completely unique African experience. Call it the Apres Safari if you like. They believe in more than game drives and will give you a once in a lifetime experience that you’ll be talking about for years to come. You don’t need to be adventurous or an adrenalin junkie, just a family or a bunch of friends who believe in enjoying themselves and value quality time together in a private setting.

The Observatory, designed by award-winning architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, is a masterpiece, ideal for couples or for families. This remarkable house is state-of-the-art, with breath-taking views and the ultimate in luxury. Serviced by a butler, cleaner and chef, it also has a heated infinity pool, jacuzzi on the roof, fully stocked bar, wi-fi, music system, inside and outside living areas, sunken fire pit and library. There is an automated Observatory that is perfect for stargazing.

The house sleeps 6 adults and 3 children in 3 Luxury Suites and 1 Kids Room. Each Suite features a super king-size bed, en-suite bathroom with a bath and both an indoor and outdoor shower. In 1 of the Luxury Suites, the bathroom adjoins the kids’ room. The kids room features a triple bunk bed and is equipped with a cot.

Leobo Private Reserve affords the guest the opportunity to get involved in exciting escapades, like darting a buffalo from a helicopter to treat its injury, fighting a bush fire with the rangers or tracking a leopard without any limits on time. The sheer freedom of going off on your own expedition to explore the surroundings and doing what the spur of the moment offers is exhilarating in itself. This differentiates this particular destination from all others and makes the adventure that much greater.

There is an abundance of wildlife and birdlife at Leobo, and viewing can be done from a Land Cruiser, quad bikes or via bush walks, all with a professional guide. The reserve predominately has plains game as well as Hippo, Crocodile and a small herd of Buffalo. The concept at Leobo is very activity-based with guests being able to go anywhere on the reserve and feel safe. Whilst Leobo has plenty of stunning African wildlife to enjoy, they know no trip to Africa is complete without seeing the iconic Elephant, Rhino and Lion. They have therefore teamed up with a neighbouring Big 5 reserve and can take guests for a 3-hour game drive there in search of the more dangerous animals. The reserve is only 50 minutes away and much of that is game driving through the bush. Even though there is a lot of adult fun to be had, Leobo Reserve is built around the enjoyment of families. Your kids will love being on the reserve and learn so much – from seeing the tracks of a giraffe to feeling the velvety-soft leaves of the “loo paper” tree; from walking on a rock-hard ant hill to holding a lizard.

Leobo Private Reserve is a veritable feast for all the senses, an inimitable space with its bespoke interiors and African cutting-edge style that somehow does not impact the beauty of the Waterberg. As a result of the owner’s spirit of adventure together with the visionary architectural design, this unique destination will undoubtedly leave you spellbound.

About Leobo Private Reserve & The Waterberg

 Surrounded by the diverse Waterberg region and overlooking the Palala Valley lies Leobo Private Reserve, a 12 000-acre estate encompassing rugged rocks, bushveld savannah, natural streams and an abundance of wildlife. The Waterberg, rich in archaeological history and Bushman paintings, is considered to be one of the geological wonders of the world. It offers a mosaic of exceptional scenic landscape, a fascinating cultural heritage, an abundance of wildlife species and many nature-based tourism opportunities.

The Waterberg-range, incorporating many rivers, streams and swamps, stretches for 150 kilometres in a long arc from Thabazimbi in the West, Nylstroom in the centre to Potgietersrus in the east. Apart from the spectacular scenery of the mountains themselves, there are many game sanctuaries, nature reserves and farms. The 75 mammal species include big game such as elephant, lion, white and black rhino, hippo, leopard and buffalo. African python and the Nile crocodile are also resident, and it is a birdwatchers' paradise with more than 300 bird species.