Location: Situated in a 23,000 hectares private concession adjoined to the vast, malarial-free Marakele National Park in South Africa’s Limpopo Province.
Rooms: Each of the 15 luxury tented suites is located beneath a canopy of shady trees and enjoys a private deck perched above the river. The tented suites are attractively furnished with king or twin beds, air conditioning, indoor & outdoor showers and free-standing stone baths. From the deck you can enjoy panoramic views of the escarpment towering above the area, and it is often possible to spot kudu and bushbuck moving silently along the riverbank.
Facilities: The main lodge houses a large lounge with comfortable sofas and fireplaces, and facilities include complimentary wifi access, a well-stocked library and shop. Gourmet cuisine is served in the elegantly appointed dining room or outdoors, either on the dining verandah or beneath open African skies. Within the lodge ground there is a swimming pool with pool beds and hammocks in the trees.
Activities: Activities at the lodge include game drives taken with an experienced guide in the early morning and late afternoon, boat safaris on the Matlabas River, bush walks, bird watching & bush meals. Swims in the mountain rock pools are also possible at certain times of the year. Marataba is home to most of the large mammals synonymous with the African bush, including elephant and leopard. Large predators such as brown hyena, leopard and lion also occur in the park and surrounding area. Resident antelope include, sable, kudu, eland, impala, waterbuck, tsessebe and many smaller species.
Children: Children of all ages are welcome.
Our Opinion: Marataba sits in a private concession which adjoins Marakele National Park and other game reserves in the area, creating a large protected area in a magnificent landscape. Situated in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains, the area is a haven for an impressive variety of wildlife owing to its location in the transitional zone between the dry western and moister eastern regions of South Africa. Contrasting majestic mountain landscapes, grass-clad hills and deep valleys characterize the region, which is home to abundant plains game, good populations of the big cats, elephant, and both white and black rhino. The reserve boasts some stunning views, especially when the light reflects off the golden rocks of the Waterberg escarpment, and is one of the best areas in southern Africa for white rhino sightings.
