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3. Marakele National Park

Imagine yourself sitting on the wooden deck of yout safari tent in the Marakele National Park in South Africa, watching the clouds drift by as they stage an ever changing play, duplicated in the water’s reflection.

Thrilling to the sight of the Cape vultures as they effortlessly ride the currents, looking down on yellowwood trees and huge cycads and tree ferns.

Being filled with wonder as the fiery orange sun changes into a spectacular blood red ball and languidly dissolves into burnished copper as it sets behind the mountains and an air of tranquility descends.

At the time of its proclamation in 1994 the Park was known as the Kransberg National Park, named after the Kransberg mountains, which are part of the Waterberg mountain range.

Shortly after the Park was renamed to the Marakele National Park.

Find out more about this national park with its stunning scenery:

Sunrise over the South African bushveld
Marakele National Park in South Africa - copyright © Arno and Louise Meintjes
The Park,...

“Marakele” is a word in the Tswana language, meaning “ Place of Sanctuary”. This wild and remote nature reserve certainly delivers what its name implies. Lying in between mountain ranges, it is a perfect setting for an unforgettable African bush experience.

LOCATION,...

Number 2 on the map below shows the location of Marakele National Park near Thabazimbi, together with the locations of the other 19 national parks in South Africa.

Of the 23 National Parks in SA, Marakele National Park stands out with its beautiful landscape and scenery. The Park is situated in the southwesten part of the Limpopo province, in the heart of the Waterberg mountain range and about 12 km north-east of the town of Thabazimbi.

It lies within comfortable reach of Johannesburg and Pretoria, a distance of 250 km. the GPS coördinates are S 24º31.860' and E 027º29.896'.

BIRDING,...


The endangered Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres)
Marakele Park in South Africa
The birding enthusiast will find Marakele National Park a true birder’s paradise, with an amazing variety of bird species. Topping the list is probably the Park’s biggest birding attraction, 800 breeding pairs of the endangered Cape Vultures, the world’s largest colony of cape Vultures.


Colony of the endangered Cape Vultures
Marakele National Park in South Africa
You can watch these great birds high up in the African sky anywhere in the Park, gliding from one air thermal to the next, always on the lookout for food. Apart from the vultures, the park is also an excellent place to look for raptors, with many species using the uplift generated off the cliff faces of the Waterberg to ride thermals.

You should look for African Harrier Hawk (Gymnogene), Jackal Buzzard and several eagle species, including Verreaux’s (Black), African Hawk, Black-chested (breasted) Snake and Brown Snake Eagle.


The Jackal Buzzard
Marakele Park in South Africa - copyright © South African Tourism
You will spot many more bird species in the Park, such as the Cape rock thrush, Mountain chat, greater Double-collared sunbird, Mocking chat and Swee waxbill on the high grounds. In low bushveld and woodlands you are likely to see the Purple roller, Brubru, White helmetshrike, Black cuckooshrike, Whitecrowned shrike, Blackcheeked waxbills and Blue waxbills, to name but a few.

VEGETATION,...


Beautiful mountain scenery inside marakele Park in South Africa
The natural beauty of the landscape in the Marakele National Park is awesome, from low-lying plains covered with bushes and trees and grassy wetlands, to aloe-covered slopes, wooded canyons, towering sandstone cliffs and the windswept grass plateaus of the Waterberg mountains.


The beauty of the South African Savannah
Marakele Park in South Africa - copyright © Arno en Louise Meintjes
The Park is home to 765 different plant species, including some rare and Yellow-Wood and Cedar tree species. Another rarity in the Park is the Waterberg Cycad (Waterbergbroodboom in the Afrikaans language). It is endemic to the Waterberg region and grows up to 5 meters tall at an altitude of 1450 meters.


Herd of Elephants drinking their fill
Marakele National Park in South Africa - copyright © Arno en Louise Meintjes
There are two types of bushveld vegetation that are dominant in the Marakele National Park. The one is the Waterberg Moist Bushveld vegetation type which covers 55 % of the Park. It is found in the high lying areas in the southern and south-eastern parts of the Park.

This vegetation type is characterized by Transvaal beech woods (Faurea salinga), proteas (Protea caffra) and stem fruit trees (Englerophytum magaliesmontanum). The vegetation along the tarred road leading to the towers are typical of this type.


Part of the Waterberg mountain range
Marakele Park in South Africa - copyright © SanParks
The other one is the Mixed Bushveld vegetation type, covering approximately 42% of the Park. This type of vegetation is mainly found in the north-western and south-eastern parts of the Park.

This vegetation type is characterized by species such as silver cluster leaf (Terminalia sericea), sickle bush (Dichrostachys cinerea) and round-leaved teak (Pterocarpus rotundifolias). The vegetation around the camping site and tented camp is typical example of this type.

WILDLIFE,...


A Lion male, certainly not the friendliest one around
Marakele National Park in South Africa - copyright © Arno en Louise Meintjes
The Greater Marakele National Park is made up of two sections, the Marakele National Park run by the South African Parks Board (SANparks), and the privately owned Marakele Park. Situated on a habitat transitional zone the Park is boasting a very diverse wildlife and great game-viewing opportunities. It is home to most of the large and small animals one would expect to find in the African bush, including the Big 5.


Pair of Black Rhino being curious
Marakele Park in South Africa - copyright © Arno en Louise Meintjes
Amongst the large animals inhabiting the park are Elephants, Rhinoceros (both black and white), Buffalo, Giraffe, Eland, Hippopotamus, including large predators such as the Brown Hyena, Leopard and Lion. The resident antelope species include Sable, Kudu, Waterbuck, Eland, Impala, Tsessebe and many smaller species.

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