Marakele National Park - Marakele National Park
Marakele National Park is located in Marakele National Park. Find out more about Marakele National Park here.
Marakele National Park
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 whats 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
# Reception Office
# Bontle Camping Site, and
# Tlopi Tented Camp.
Origin of Camp Names
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 Shepherds 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.
SANParks has entered into a contractual agreement with Marakele Pty. Ltd. which owns property to the north of Marakele and were included into the system as contractual partners.
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 worlds 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 publics and medias 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.
Facilities:
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