MARAKELE NATIONAL PARK

March 2022

Marakele is one of South African National Parks (SANPARKS’) hidden gems. This is a beautiful well-kept park that is far less commercialized than some of the other National Parks. At Marakele you will find a peaceful and tranquil bushveld experience with moderate temperatures year-round, lots of wildlife and friendly professional staff.

Bookings at this park are made through the SANPARKS website. The website is easy to navigate. There was some difficulty in getting registered on the website, it kept on rejecting some personal information, but once your online registration is completed you can make the booking.

Marakele is situated in the Waterberg mountains in Limpopo Province and approximately 260 kilometers from Johannesburg. The nearest town is Thabazimbi. Traveling from Johannesburg on the N1 North, you can reach Marakele via Brits (R511) or Bela-Bela (R516 later joining the R511), both roads eventually join the R510 that will lead you straight to Thabazimbi. The park is approximately 10 kilometers outside of Thabazimbi.

Arriving at the park reception you will find friendly staff and once your booking is processed you are supplied with a map of the park. Directional signage inside the nature reserve is detailed and sufficient. All roads are well marked. The roads inside the park are kept in good condition and consist mostly of gravel and some tar roads. Most primary roads can be navigated with a normal car.

The park is divided into two separate sections connected by a tunnel. At the foothills of the Waterberg Mountain, you will mostly find several species of antelope and smaller game. Once you pass through the tunnel and security gate towards the mountains, you enter big five territory.

Marakele caters for a variety of needs when it comes to accommodation. There are standard bush camps, tented camps and luxury tented camps. For those campers that enjoy camping in their own tents or caravans, you will be camping at Bontle camp. This camp has 36 stands arranged in three clusters.

The stands are not marked or pre-assigned so you can drive through the park and choose a spot. Stands are not perfectly level. Most of the stands have partial shade or full shade with a few in direct sun. Although temperatures are moderate, the days can get hot and the trees provide good protection against the sun. You will find a build-in braai and household type electrical socket at your stand with shared water tap and dustbin.

Each of the three clusters of stands come with shared bathroom facilities, scullery and washing areas. There are separate ablutions for men and woman each with its own private showers. The ablution facilities are cleaned throughout the day and well maintained. There were no problems with water pressure and hot water is readily available.

You will not find any convenience stores inside the park so make sure that you stock up prior to visiting the park and remember Thabazimbi is just 10 kilometers from the park should there be any emergencies. There is a lovely picnic spot located on the Bontle side of the park with its own ablution block. Tables and chairs are provided at the site. Day visitors can also make use of this facility.

There are lots of wildlife in the park. During our stay Zebra visited the campsite two evenings in a row and grazed five meters from the tents. There was also a family of warthogs that on several occasions grazed nearby our stand. There is no shortage of bird life so make sure you bring your binoculars. If you want to see the big five you must cross through to the other side of the park making use of the tunnel that connects the two sections of the park. Here you will see rhino, elephant, and other larger animals.

A sunset drive is a must when visiting this national park. The tour starts at around four in the afternoon and ends around eight in the evening. The route passes through spectacular scenic areas in the park, going deep into the Waterberg mountains, eventually stopping at a lookout point with spectacular sunsets. The staff at this park are very professional and helpful. The park ranger that took us on the sunset drive was very knowledgeable.

During the early hours of the mornings and in the afternoons you can find monkeys and baboons passing through the camp site. They are a bit of a nuisance but play an integral part in keeping the ecosystem going. Make sure that your food and other valuables are stowed away in a safe place like a car or containers that are monkey proof. Don’t feed the animals in the park.

If you want to experience the Kruger National Park on a smaller scale then visit Marakele National Park. At Marakele you will find a peaceful and tranquil bushveld experience with moderate temperatures year-round, lots of wildlife and professional friendly staff. This National Park is highly recommended.

What to expect: Expect a peaceful and tranquil bushveld experience with moderate temperatures year-round, lots of wildlife and friendly professional staff.

Website: www.sanparks.org

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