Marakele National Park

Marakele National Park is situated in Limpopo in the northern part of South Africa and is most easily reached by road from Pretoria. The park forms part of the Waterberg Biosphere, a mountainous, 260 km2 reserve that also includes Stone Age archeological finds, and discoveries related to human evolution. 

Visitors to Marakele can expect to find a wide range of plains antelope like kudu, waterbuck, eland, zebra, sable, tsessebe and more. The park is also home to elephant as well as both black and white rhino. The animals range across the park’s varying landscape, feeding on around 765 plant types – all the while keeping an eye out for Marakele’s predators: lion, leopard, African wild dog, and brown and spotted hyena. Smaller carnivores include black backed jackal, bat-eared fox, Cape fox, caracal and genet.

While bird watching in the park is a year-round treat, the migratory season between November and April offers a particularly rich opportunity to spot some of the park’s 280 species. Buff-streak chat, Cape rock thrush and half-collared kingfisher are just some highlights of the locally abundant residents, the list of which also includes raptors like jackal buzzard, common kestrel and Verreaux’s eagle.

An undoubted highlight at Marakele also involves birds: the park is home to the world’s largest colony of the endangered Cape Vulture. 800 breeding pairs nest on the cliffs of the Kransberg mountains and can be seen soaring gracefully on the thermals created off the area’s dramatic crags. Best of all is that you can observe them from a relatively close distance – take a drive to the Lenong viewpoint and stand atop a 1200m peak to see the magnificent vultures and other large birds circling and swooping above and below you. Be sure to check the condition of the road before you go, as it’s a steep ascent.

If it’s water birds and waders you’d like to tick off your list, then plan to spend some time at the Bollonoto Dam and bird hide.

You can bookend each day at Marakele National Park with a guided game drive or bush walk, where experienced and knowledgeable rangers will provide insights into the plants and animals of the area. 

An adventurous way to experience Marakele is by taking on the park’s 4×4 eco trail. Reserved for experienced drivers and 4×4 vehicles only, the route is a three-day excursion into the unspoilt core of the Waterberg Biosphere. 

Stay in rustic, unfenced camps, face challenging driving conditions and discover more about the area’s fauna and flora with the help of a park guide who you will take on the trail with you.

Accommodation at Marakele is available at two rest camps. The Tlopi tented camp offers fully-equipped safari tents with a private bathroom, kitchen and verandah. You can also opt for Motswere guest cottage at Tlopi, a fully self-contained and standalone former farmhouse with space for eight guests in four bedrooms. 

Bontle rest camp offers similar safari tents, as well camping facilities with communal ablutions and kitchen. There is also a swimming pool available.

Note, Marakele is divided into two sections, east and west, but they are both accessible once you enter the park through the entrance gate on the western side.