Marakele: INFO

[Heide]

Hi, we were there this past weekend. It was great. No fence, we had the priviledge of ostriches as guests. There were how ever not that many animals that we saw. Bewarned that if you do go up the Lenong Drive, the road is veeeerrrrrryyyyy narrow. If you encounter traffic, it can be a problem, there is no space to move off the road and it is vvveeeerrrrryyyyy high. We enjoyed it very much and will defenately go back again. For a rest it is the perfect place. O yeah, when entering the camp site, keep left, there is a water hole on the left that is visible from the camp sites. Enjoy!!

[Imberbe]

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.

[naomi c]

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

[HoepHoep]

@ Naomi c

I share your mixed feelings.

The unfenced Bontle with its regular *** 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

[JenB]

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.

[louis dreyer]

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 *** 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.

[JenB]

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!

[Cassius]

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

[Joao]

I think the drive up to the mountain top must rate as the scariest route in all the Sanparks.

[Black Wildebeest]

Hi guys.

Planning a trip to Marakele in late February, early March'2012. Have a few questions please. I'm traveling via Potch/ Klerksdorp to Marakele and looking for the quietest road possible (rural boy curse, i guess )
I picked up the possible opening of the tarred road section dividing park in two, any feedback on this and will this change anything when I visit? And the new camp being built near Bontle, EIS finished, will it be open?
I see no reports on any buffalo, so I guess the "corridor" situation has not been resolved? We will be travelling with small compact SUV with 190mm ground clearence, with 15" wheels, 4x2, but no diff lock and back wheel driven, how are the roads in the park?

Any adivice is highly appreciated.

Thanks.

[JenB]

Hi Black Wildebeest,

Rather opt for the best route which is the one via Bela-Bela (Warmbaths). We've never traveled via Rustenburg so I cannot comment on that road but rather stay away from the one via Britz. The road was in very bad condition when we last went to Marakele which was on the 1st of December. They are working on it but I think it would take months to repair.

I'm not aware of a new tarred road section but there is a road currently dividing the park in two. See my post here. The bottom section is not big 5 although it holds the most beautiful animals and quite a number of them. It has never distracted from our visits, we are absolutely in love with the park.

No buffalo back in Marakele yet as far as I know but I believe that they would be reintroduced soon.

Under normal conditions the roads in the park are not bad but after heavy rains it becomes "interesting". The maintenance guys do their best to keep the roads in good condition tho. There are a few 4x4 tracks which you would not be able to drive but that should not be a problem. Please ask at reception for them to mark them on the map for you. The very best road in the park is the one up to the mountain and that one is tarred but very narrow and steep, quite the adventure! Do it!!

Which camp will you be staying at?

Enjoy Marakele!!!

[Canis Lupus]

We stayed in Tlopi one night in Feb 2010 and found it to be a magical place. We saw a breeding herd of elephants coming down to drink from the dam, saw lots of plains game and was harrased by an ellie bull in musth en route to the camp.
One thing to remember about Marakele though is that it is not a big 5 park in the same sense as Kruger. Although lions are present your changes of seeing them are much lower than in Kruger. Scenery, Cape vultures and flora is in my opinion the main attraction at Marakele. Also driving up the mountain to the sentinal look-out point is an unforgetable experience.

[Mellory]

Marakele is malaria free so no need to take meds but do remember the tabard or the like. Enjoy you are in for a treat.

[Div]

Marakele and Tlopi a great place to visit.The scenery is great and who knows with a bit of luck maybe some great sightings as well!

[Black Wildebeest]

Hi guys.

Just back from my visit, but alas, not Marakele.....went to the other side of the fence. Being my wife's birthday, I took out all the stops and visited a 4star lodge on the Welgevonden side. Totally different to Marakele, mostly small hills, and sourveld (think Marakele is sweetveld?). Got lucky with four of big 5, saw leopard dung, so you could call it 4 1/2 :-) .
Just one question, as I'm unable to load a image, but there is a tree growing there that has this silver colour on one side of the leave, and seems to discolour during autumn to a redish colour. The afrikaans speaking people call it "silwerblaar" and our game ranger called it "silver side". We saw small ones (1m) up to 3-4 meters. Anyone maybe know the scientific name or common name? As soon as you turn of the Lephalale (Ellisras road) to Vaalwater they seem to be everywhere, and after Burkeas Seringa the most abundent in that area. We drove a distance to Marakele from Thabazimbi but did not see them there.
Road via Sun City and Boshoek fine, but from Northam to Thabaz, is busy like hell, but no potholes - for those travelling from there.


p.s. how do you post a pic?????