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.

The park is characterised by contrasting majestic mountain landscapes, grass-clad hills and deep valleys.

Rare finds of yellowwood and cedar trees, five metre high cycads and tree ferns, are some of the plant species found here and Marakele supports 765 plant species.

The mountain top towers are a must. A narrow tar road takes visitors up to the top of the Waterberg massif. Views and scenery are spectacular.

Marakele is home to most of the large mammals synonymous with the African bush, including elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo, leopard and cheetah.

Large Predators such as cheetah, wild dog, brown hyena, leopard and now also lion, occur in the park. The wild dogs have been the first of these re-introductions.

Resident antelope include, sable, kudu, eland, impala, waterbuck, tsessebe and many smaller species.

Chacma baboon and vervet monkey are two species to be watched carefully for mischief, particularly around the rest camps.

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.

Roads
Some of the park's roads are only accessible to 4x4 vehicles. You will be warned at reception about roads that are inaccessible in the Park.

The Kwaggasvlakte plains immediately north of the reception block can be traversed in a normal sedan, as can the entrance roads to the safari tent camp and bush camp.

The narrow track up to the towers is also accessible. Most other roads will present difficult terrain.

In an effort to keep the park ecosystem as undisturbed as possible, most facilities (shops, restaurant, fuel, etc) are located outside the park in the town of Thabazimbi.
Accommodation
Tlopi Tented Camp with furnished units overlooking the banks of the Apiesrivierpoort Dam.
Each tent has two beds (two stretchers are available which are more suitable for children), private bathroom (shower, wash basin and toilet), a fully equipped kitchen with a refrigerator/freezer, two-plate stove and electricity.
Each tent has a veranda with table and deck chairs and barbecue facilities. One tent has wheelchair access.
The camp is unfenced and is approximately 17 km from the Reception Office.
Health & Climate
Summers are hot but the area does not suffer from the stifling humidity so typical of the eastern Lowveld.
The park is situated in the summer rainfall region and rainfall occurs in the form of heavy thunderstorms or soft rain.
Winter is moderate with frost occurring in the low lying regions only.
Mornings and nights can be cold, but day temperatures are pleasant.
Rainfall between 500 – 700 mm per annum.