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Dear Erwin,

The whole of kwaggasvlakte where Bontle campsite is situated is sedan friendly. The network of pathways is probably about 30km if it was all stretched out in a straight line. It is a small area, but well stocked with game, including tsessebe, sable and white rhino.

However the highlight of the park is the drive up to the towers on the mountain top. This road is tarred the whole way. (It used to be the service road for the Sentec towers on the mountain top). Although it is only 20.5km of tar from the public dirt road to the mountain top, the road is very narrow and steep and it will take you at least an hour each way, and more likely alot more if you are game viewing and birdwatching.

The track starts off in bushveld, where rhino and other general game may be seen. Then it moves past a grassy vlei area, where common and mountain reedbuck, eland and red hartebeest may well be seen. The the steep climb starts, and klipspringer should be seen, plus the afore mentioned species as one looks back over the vlei. Up on the mountain top rock hyrax (dassie), elephant shrew and baboon are likely, and the montane birds are very tame and inquisitive. Cape Vultures and possibly jackal buzzard and verreaux's eagle will soar overhead.

While Tlopi Safari Tent Camp can be reached easily in a sedan, the roads leading from the camp and linking up with the tar road are 4x4 (or 2x4 with high clearance). However one can sit on the deck of one's unit and see what game comes to drink. The Wild Dog were active at the dam recently. Elephant used to be more evident here, but most of them have migrated over the mountain to Marakele PTY Ltd which is owned by a Dutch businessman, who helped SANParks finance acquiring additional land and erecting fencing. Although this part of the park is currently off limits to visitors to the National Park, the road to Hoopdal is a public road that passes along the boundary fence. It is regular to see elephant, cheetah and wild dog along this road.

Dear Gindt,

When most animals are translocated between parks they are kept in bomas for a short period - up to a few months to a) acclimatise to their new home and b) be monitored for disease.

The Marakele Wild Dog were released into the park proper I think in November 2003 (don't quote me on the exact date) and are doing well. I think I'm right in saying they have split into 2 packs, but one of our animal ecologists would need to comment further. They spend most of their time in the northern reaches of the park, away from the SANParks tourist roads. They are lowever occasionally seen along the fenceline on the Hoopdal road, where they have been recorded using the game fence to help them catch their prey. In December 2004 they moved into the area around the Tlopi Camp and its dam and hence were seen by many lucky park guests.

12 views - 0 replies???

Am I onto something here?

btw what is the viewing like at Marakele, i have never been there, but am eager to go as i have heard more and more positive things over time.

Pac

It would be great if that happened, especially considering the fact that Welgevonden and Marakele are really close compared to places like Kruger and Kgalgadi etc.
btw what is the viewing like at Marakele, i have never been there, but am eager to go as i have heard more and more positive things over time.

Pac