Marakele National Park

Marakele National Park is a scenic and underrated gem nestled in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains in Limpopo Province, approximately 250km northwest of Johannesburg. This relatively new national park spans the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve and is characterized by rugged mountain landscapes, rolling grassy hills, deep valleys, and dramatic red cliffs. The park is divided into two distinct sections: the first features easily accessible gravel roads with moderate wildlife viewing opportunities, while the second section is wilder, more remote, and requires gate access, offering richer wildlife encounters. The park's landscape is truly spectacular, with magnificent yellowwood and cedar trees, beautiful suikerbos protea shrubs, five-meter-high cycads, and tree ferns creating a botanically diverse environment. Marakele is home to the world's largest colony of endangered Cape vultures, with over 800 breeding pairs, making the mountaintop vulture viewpoint a must-visit destination where these critically endangered birds can be seen soaring on thermals below the viewing platform at 2,088 meters elevation. The park is malaria-free, making it an excellent destination for families and those seeking to avoid antimalarial medication. While the Big Five are present in the park, sightings of predators such as lions, leopards, and wild dogs are relatively rare as the park is still in its development phase. However, wildlife viewing opportunities are excellent for plains game, with healthy populations of zebra, giraffe, elephant, various antelope species including kudu, impala, eland, and the rare tsessebe, as well as both black and white rhinos which are spotted with relative regularity.

Marakele features rugged mountain landscapes with grassy valleys, deep valleys, red cliffs, rolling hills, and dramatic rock formations shaped by millions of years of riverine erosion. The terrain transitions between sour bushveld, wetlands, and mountain slopes characteristic of the Waterberg Moist Mountain Bushveld Savanna.

The Waterberg Biosphere Reserve is a partnership between different reserves and settlements in the area, creating an ecosystem that reconciles conservation with sustainability and human development, allowing some human presence in the region.

The vulture viewpoint offers spectacular panoramic views ideal for photography. Best light for photography is during the first two and last two hours of daylight. The dramatic red cliffs and mountain scenery provide excellent backdrops. High-altitude specialized birds at the viewpoint offer unique photography opportunities. Bring telephoto lenses for wildlife and bird photography.