SANParks.org Forums

@ G@mespotter

If you are camping at Bontle, doing some stargazing after dark and you hear a crunching sound behind you it could be one of two things, 1 a big grey heavy with a can opener on its nose or 2 a miniature kangaroo like animal doing its best to keep the grass short, a springhare. We were privileged to have both rhino and springhare in the camp and seemingly not afraid of humans.

As for the rest, birding is awesome and you will have a ball and the aardvark well think of it this way, if you don't see them they might just see you

Definitely NOT kruger but who needs all those people in any case

Enjoy

Marakele National Park; does not only provide the good landscape and majestic mountains; it also provide facilities that; are of interest to all our clients, from Bontle camping site to Tlopi Tented camp and the New 4x4 trail that is very breathtaking and worth taking. Marakele has really become the park of interest to all the wild adventures

Hi Leigh

In addition to what has been said by other forum members; here are some of the activities you can seek when you in Marakele; Sunset drive; 4x4 Adventure Trail and Guided Bush walk

You can also look for the following

• Cape Vulture
• Leopard
• Silver Sugarbush
• Common Reedbuck

Was at Marakele for 4 days, it was awesome. I also did a morning walk, saw rhino, elephant & mountain reedbuck (all with proof), did some nice 4x4 tracks, awesome views etc etc. I have LOTS of pictures of the Bontle camp (and 2 of Tlopi Tented camp ), TONS of advice, info etc etc. Specially noted some facts for the forum, regarding camping, abolutions, animals etc.

BUT I have 4 weeks of final exams left, so you'll have to wait till 1 dec or so

Till then

PS: Got close to AARDVARK, but he went 'deep'

Dear forum members,

I am living in germany and we will start in 12 days to our next six week SA trip from Jo'burg to Cape Town. This week I successfully renew my international Wild Card online by the Wild homepage. Now I get an information mail, that the Wild Card must be uptated by downloading the renew informations on the chip of the card within the first use.
Do anybody now if this is possible at Marakele which is the first park on our trip.
Thanks a lot for your help.

Mogwei

13. - 15.11. Marakele / 21. - 23.11. Mokala / 24. - 26.11. Mountain Zebra / 27. - 28.11. Cambedoo / 29. - 30.11. Karoo / 3. - 4.12. Tsitsikamma / 5.-6.12. Wildeness / 8.-9.12. Bontebok / 11.-12.12. Cape Point

Yes, you can renew your Wild Card when checking in at Marakele!

Hi Mogwei,

I purchased my first wildcard @ Marakele a couple of years ago, so I don't see a problem with them being able to update your existing card.

Have a great trip!!!!!

Cheers

@ JoelR & RichardS

Thanks for your infos! So we can start with a peace of conscience.
We love the peaceful silence in Tlopi @ Marakele. Last year we had wonderful sightings with ellis at the pool and around our tent.
Do somebody have knowledge about the 4x4 trail in Marakele. It is possible to do drive it within a day and how is it graded?

Thanks
Mogwei

Hi if never been at Marakele and would like to know how it is there.
How the sigtings is, how long drive it is from PTA and how big Marakele is?
I have always gone to the KNP and saw fore the first time now that Marakele is also a Sanparks.
Can any one tell me a bit about Marakele?
Thanks

Hi Marissa

A good place to start is to check on this website under Parks A-Z; this will give you a grounding. SANParks also has an excellent booklet out that covers all of their national parks - for free. Just ask at any booking office.

Hi Marissa,

First of all are you going up there on a day visit or are you going to stay overnight? From Johannesburg, towing a caravan, it is about a three hour drive. The park is split into two sections and is very different to Kruger. In the big section where you get the predators, you can stay in the parks Tented accommodation which overlooks a dam. Wonderful.

In the smaller section, there is a caravan park. No predators in this section. There is no fence around the camp and the animals come wandering through. We have had up to five rhino right next to our caravan. The one section of the caravan park overlooks a waterhole, so you can spend time in camp and the animals come to you.

As far as sightings go, you cannot compare it to Kruger, as I said, it is very different. There is a wonderful drive to the top of the towers mountain with the most magnificent view. All in all, it is well worth a visit. I call it a little bit of heaven, as it is so quiet and peaceful – (out of season and during the week).

Good description, BushChicken (and fascinating name!) - you've got me sold on the place!

would like to go to the predators section. But are the predators roaming free or do they get fead. I heard from my parents they where there 18 years ago and that time there were no predators and only 4x4 could go there. So it sould take us from PTA with out a caravan 2 hours??? would like to go for a weekend
Thanks for the help

The "predator section" is the biggest part of Marakele. No, the animals are wild and not fed. The lions move freely and hunt on their own, as they would in KNP.

It would take you approx. 2 and a half hours drive from PTA. A nice drive for a weekend!

There is enough non 4x4 roads, and a few nice 4x4 roads too.

Enjoy your visit.

Do you drive on your own?. And if you do does some one have roads that the best chances is to seeing predators.and does someone know how many lions there are in the park. Thanks for the help. I don`t like buying a book and reading what they have to offer, i think the best is hearing it from people that have seen the place for there selve