Marakele National Park is located in the heart of the Waterberg mountain range in the Limpopo Province. It has become a "sacred place" for a huge variety of wildlife, mainly because of its location in the transition zone between the dry western region and the humid eastern region of South Africa. Marakele Park is characterised by contrasting majestic mountainous landscapes, freestanding hills and deep green valleys.
Cedar trees, five-metre tall cicada trees and tree ferns are just a few of the plant species native to the area. Elephants and rhinos, lions, cheetahs and leopards, hyenas, giraffes, zebras and buffalo, and an amazing variety of birds (over 250 species), including the largest colony of endangered vultures (over 800 nesting pairs) in the world that have settled here. Sixteen species of antelope: kudu, kanna antelope, impala, water goat and many smaller species. Bear baboon and vervet are two species of mischievous monkeys that will keep a close eye on you, especially around the rest camps.
One of the amazing attractions of the park is the world's largest colony of Cabo vultures (over 800 nesting pairs). In addition to vultures, visitors to the park can see the Rock Buzzard and several species of eagles, including the Black Eagle, African Hawk, Black-breasted Snake Eagle, etc.
The area that makes up Marakele Park was home to several prehistoric settlements that are not yet open for public viewing. Prior to the establishment of the national park, the area was "home" to naturalist Eugène Marais (1871-1936), who has been labelled an intellectual genius and hailed as a hero of South Africa.
Marakele was established as Kransberg National Park in 1994 in an area of 150 square kilometres, but was soon renamed to its current name. By 1999, the park was expanded to 670 square kilometres.
In the last three years, eight more new tented holiday bases and several campsites have been built to join the two tented campsites Tlopi and Bontle, which are always open to visitors.
