Vaalwater is a town in the Waterberg District Municipality of the Limpopo province of South Africa. It is situated on the R511 road, some 120 km north-west of Polokwane. Vaalwater is the main gateway to the Welgevonden Game Reserve. The area around Vaalwater has a long history of human habitation, with archaeological finds dating back to the Stone Age. Vaalwater was originally established as a mission station by the London Missionary Society in 1856. Today, Vaalwater is a popular tourist destination, due to its proximity to the Welgevonden Game Reserve. The reserve is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including the Big Five. Other points of interest in the area include the Marakele National Park and the Wolkberg Wilderness Area.