The Waterberg Living Museum in Limpopo has been opened by Clive Walker, one of the best known conservationists in southern Africa.

The museum, which focuses on natural and cultural history, has six galleries, each devoted to a specific theme. The Memory Museum holds Walker’s collection of photos, art and artefacts. The Past ‘n’ Present exhibit showcases more than 50 specimens from three million years ago until modern times and other rooms cover the history of rhinos and elephants, showcasing the skulls of two mammoths 4 000 years old.

The Livingstone Lounge serves light meals and drinks. A craft brewery, next to the licensed tea garden, is still under development, and will sell uniquely Waterberg beers.

The museum is 100km from the Makapan Valley World Heritage Site, part of the Cradle of Humankind. The Makapan’s Caves are home to some of the greatest palaeontological records and hominin fossils in the world.

Welgevonden Game Reserve, also in Waterberg, supports the museum by encouraging young students to visit the exhibits to learn about their cultural and natural history and heritage.