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Some good news on Marakele is that the provincial road which dissects the park, cutting it in to two sections, has been de-proclaimed. It will now be possible to unite the two sections and remove the fence.

As soon as this happens, animals will be able to move naturally between the sections.

I do not know if and when this will happen, as there are some other considerations, such as visitor safety at Bontle which first needs to be addressed.

Mixed feelings about this - would be a great pity if Bontle has to be fenced!

@ Naomi c

I share your mixed feelings.

The unfenced Bontle with its regular Rhino visitors must be unique to all SANPARKS. I doubt if the gain of an open park will be worth it. Another open park will just be that - "unother park" with fenced campsite.

I trust that the powers to be will carefully consider the options and pro's and con's.

I have only been to Bontle once, but that was magic.

Hoephoep

Not to worry, if the do fence Bontle, I don't think will not happen in a hurry.

We heard about this a few months ago when we spoke to the Duty and Tourism manager. They are not all that keen to fence Bontle. Who knows, Bontle might even be the first unfenced SANParks camping area.
If they can have it in Botswana, we can have it here.

Must agree 100%, if Bontle is fence i think it will loose the magic.
No more being when going to the loo at night.
No more chasing away of rhino from my braai.
Not to talk about all the other animals that will come and say hello early morning, especialy the impala rams during mating season.




But will still visit.

I for one am happy the two parts will be united. Our old family farm (Geelhoudbos & Kameeldraai) was on the part that you could not visit and when I went there for the first time after ten years I could drive to within a few kilometres of where my family farmed for years! I think I will be very sad going back there but it will also be nice!

I just want to point out that some of the main camps in some of the KZN parks are not fenced and they have the big 5 . so why not Bontle!!

Another two cents comment from me, all camps in all parks can be open, we are intruding in there living room.
another plus that might come from open camp site, ppl coming to the park to get drunk might think twice.

We also camped in Zim with ellies strolling through the camp ........

A bit of information on the mysterious new bush camp.

It will be a proper bush camp with no facilities so guests will have to be self sufficient. They demolished a couple of the huts but left a few for historical value. The existing huts might be available and there will also be camping sites, all unfenced.

However hard we tried, we could not get an indication about when the camp would be available. They are still working on the layout and standards.

This camp will be very exiting! The lions were very vocal from that direction all of Friday night!


We'll be watching this space!

A new Safari tent section will be built close to Bontle but they are still waiting for the EIA to be completed.
No fence for Bontle being planned at this stage!

jenB you say the lions was close to the new camp site.
can not wait for the weekend to come.

The process of access control is not completed yet we are still working with Dept of roads and transport Limpopo, we are however not deproclaiming the road completely, but putting access control for security purposes. We will update once the process has been finalized

Thanx Cassius!

Hope you get to see them Louis!
A great tip is to drive in the direction of the roaring the night before as soon as you can leave camp. Not laze around watching birds, that way you get to see no lion. Been there done that!

The week end was to short

Been to Marakele, nice trip we try to get the lion's but no hidding away.
Took a trip to the top of the mountain my SO don't like it.

Saturday night the local gras cutters come to cut the gras at about 21h00.
Just a friendly warning to campers, PLEASE remeber these rhino's are wild they might be very tollerent towards ppl. We saw again how stupid and dum some ppl can be, walking in the dark closer to the rhino's while they are grazing in the camp.

The veld is nice and green, the camp site is like all the previos times that we've been at Marekele was clean all facilities was working and SPOTLESS
for all the staff at Marekele, even the reception lady and Mirian was very understanding and helpfull.

Louis!!
Glad you enjoyed Marakele!

We've been up the mountain many times and it's still a tummy curdling experience.

I think many people miss the point that the rhinos are used to people but they are still wild. You were very lucky to see them in camp over a weekend, I think they know to rather stay away when the camp is busy. It's wonderful that you got to see them!

Going back on the 1st of December!! Can't wait!!