Marataba Mountain Lodge
Marakele National Park
Accommodation
The lodge is cleverly situated on the Kransberg Range with 180 degree views into Waterfall Valley. With only 5 rooms, Marataba Mountain is an itimate camp with spectacular views over the valley.
Wall-spanning glass doors bring the outside in and combine with wood, stone and a neutral color palette for a slightly modern, minimalist look in an open-concept layout. Each tent has an en suite bathroom and wood-burning fireplace for cooler nights.
The camp is powered by solar energy and offers a retreat from everyday life where only nature determines the events of the day.
Location
Marataba Mountain Lodge is situated in a private 25,000 hectar concession within Marakele National Park. A popular photo subject, the majestic Waterberg Mountains are very close by and visible at all times from the lodge or game drive vehicle. The name Marataba in fact means “place of peace at the mountain.” Over the millennia, the Matlabas River has carved dramatic gorges through the terrain.
The lodge is about four hours by road from Johannesburg.
Wildlife
Because it is situated between South Africa’s dry west and its rainier east, Marakele National Park offers various habitats for flora and fauna. The park is home to the Big 5: Elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino – the latter being quite a common sight.
Since 2000, when Marataba was formally proclaimed, several significant conservation milestones have been achieved. The first was the clean-up of old farmland into national park. Hundreds of kilometres of fencing was removed and megafuana, including elephant, black and white rhinoceros, hippo and buffalo, relocated within the boundaries. Healthy populations of antelope still existed, and it was these good numbers of prey that allowed for the reintroduction of iconic carnivores such as lion and cheetah.
Activities
The lodge offers game drives, bushwalking and afternoon boat safaris on Miss Mara. A short drive from Marataba leads to the other side of Marakele National Park where guests can marvel (after a short walk) at thousands of cape vultures, which breed here from May to August.
Good to know
Marakele National Park is free of malaria.Marataba Mountain Lodge on the map
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