Marakele National Park - South Africa

Marakele National Park - North West - South Africa

The Marakele National Park in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains, as its Tswana name suggests, has become a 'place of sanctuary' for an impressive variety of wildlife due to its location in the transitional zone between the dry western and moister eastern regions of South Africa. Contrasting majestic mountain landscapes, grass-clad hills and deep valleys characterize the park. Rare finds of yellowwood and cedar trees, five metre high cycads and tree ferns, are some of the plant species found here. All the large game species from elephant and rhino to the big cats as well as an amazing variety of birds including what’s probably the largest colony of endangered Cape vultures (more than 800 breeding pairs) in the world, have settled here.
Marakele National Park is currently divided into two parts (namely the +/- 2500 ha ‘Kwaggasvlakte’ section and the Greater Marakele National Park), by a public gravel road (the Hoopdal Road). Most parts of the park are only accessible by 4x4.


Camps
Tlopi Tented Camp
Tlopi is the name that the locals call the river, which feeds the dam on which the camp is situated. The name Tlopi is derived from the word Motlopi, which is the Tswana, name for the tree, Boscia albitrunca or “witgat”. Its common english name is Shepherd’s tree and it is is quite common on the banks of the Tlopi river.This tented camp was formally located some 15 km to the northeast on the banks of the Matlabas River. It was moved partly for contractual reasons, but also to concentrate the park's accommodation on the park periphery.
Bontle Camping Site
Bontle is also a Tswana word that means beautiful. This camping site is located adjacent the park's new reception and administration offices. These are located at the former entrance gate to the picnic area at Kwaggasvlakte.
These names are the outcome of a consultative process locally and park management feel that the names are very applicable.


Areas of Special Interest
A narrow tar road takes visitors up to the top of the Waterberg massif. Views and scenery are spectacular. One is also in the proximity of the vulture colony and these large birds will soar past at close quarters.


5 Things to Seek
Cape Vulture – the park hosts one of the world’s largest breeding colonies of this endangered species. While birds may be seen in the air catching thermals anywhere in the park, the drive up to the Sentech Towers is nearest to the colony and close encounters with these enormous birds will leave visitors breathless.
African Elephant – while some elephant had been previously reintroduced into the park, it was the release of the Tuli elephants in 1999 that captured the public’s and media’s imagination. Rhino – Marakele has a high density of both rhino species and most visitors should see these animals, particularly the more gregarious and diurnal white rhinoceros.
Kudu – as browsers these antelope are in their element at Marakele. Look out for the bulls with their magnificent spiral horns.
The not-so-often-seen-elsewhere antelope species such as reedbuck, mountain reedbuck, eland and tsessebe can be found here.



Axperience an African Safari at Marakele with Lathita Expeditions.

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