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Write a User ReviewIn the Wilds of the Waterberg
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lumbering rhino on film, you’re in for a treat, with high-density populations, especially of white rhino.
Vultures in the Mountains
Marakele offers a rousing taste of the Waterberg Mountains, with its landscape of grassy valleys beneath red cliffs. Visiting this rugged corner of Limpopo province is more about the scenery than the wildlife, although the park does have the world’s largest colony of endangered Cape vultures (about 800 breeding pairs). Several species of raptor can be seen catching thermals throughout Marakele.
I drove up to the vulture-viewing point one sunset, feeling thankful that I didn’t meet many cars coming down the precipitous road. Having enjoyed the panoramic view of dusky blue bluffs, I gingerly descended to the excellent accommodation at Tlopi Tented Camp. Overlooking a dam, Tlopi’s furnished tents each have an outdoor kitchen with braai – perfect for braaiing a steak and, if you’re lucky, seeing antelopes at the dam.
The park’s animals include lions, leopards, black and white rhinos, elephants and brown hyenas, though sightings of predators are rare.
A Tranquil Setting in the Waterberg Mountains With Growing Potential as a Big Five Park
With grass-clad hills and deep valleys, Marakele is probably the best place to appreciate the Waterberg Mountains. The drive up to the mountain-top Lenong Viewpoint is a must and the views are spectacular. The park is home to some 800 breeding pairs of Cape vulture, and on a good ‘thermal’ day, they can be seen from this lookout point soaring below. Zebra, giraffe, elephant, and numerous antelope such as eland, kudu, impala and tsessebe are often seen, and there’s an excellent chance of seeing both black and white rhino. But don’t go to Marakele just yet hoping for amazing sightings of predators: although some lion, cheetah, wild dog, brown hyena, and leopard have been introduced, they are rarely seen. For now Marakele offers leisurely game-viewing of plains game in a peaceful environment and is a manageable drive from Johannesburg.
Where Vultures Rule the Sky: A Waterberg Escape
The network of game-drive roads is quite restricted, but for us the real focus was the dramatic ascent to Lenong Viewpoint. The track leading up is extremely steep and requires careful driving, yet the effort is richly rewarded. From the top, the views stretch endlessly across the rugged Waterberg, creating a real sense of space and isolation.
Lenong Viewpoint lies close to one of the largest Cape vulture colonies in the world, with around 800 breeding pairs. Watching these critically endangered birds glide through the air below us was an unforgettable highlight.
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At an altitude of 2,088 meters above sea level, we felt completely immersed in their world.A pair of klipspringers appeared on the rocks nearby, and when we stopped for a short picnic, the birdlife quickly took center stage. The high altitude attracts several specialized species, and within minutes I was photographing Cape rock thrush, mocking cliff chat, Cape bunting and buff-streaked chat. What a treat!