User Reviews of Marakele National Park (27 Reviews)

We chose Marakele specifically because we wanted to give our grandchildren a memorable African wildlife experience before they leave the country. We paid a considerable amount for what we expected to be a safe, well-managed and unforgettable experience. Sadly, the reality has been profoundly disappointing.

What concerns us most is that this was not simply a matter of minor inconveniences. A number of basic service and maintenance failures occurred during our stay, culminating in a situation that we consider to be a serious safety concern.

1. Extremely restrictive accommodation times

We were only permitted to access the tented chalet from 15:00 and were required to vacate it by 10:00 the following morning.

While we understand that SANParks has established check-in and check-out procedures, the very limited time available to guests is disappointing, particularly when compared with other comparable wildlife establishments where guests

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are generally permitted to remain until approximately 11:00.

Given the amount charged for the accommodation, we expected a better overall guest experience.

2. Repeated electricity failures

During our stay, we attempted to cook in the chalet, but the electricity repeatedly tripped.

This was extremely inconvenient and prevented us from properly using the facilities for which we had paid.

3. Basic maintenance not attended to

There was also no functioning bulb in the lamp in our room.

This is a basic maintenance issue that should have been identified and rectified before guests arrived. It is difficult to understand how accommodation can be handed over to paying guests without such elementary checks being carried out.

4. SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN – GATE TO THE WILDLIFE AREA

The most unacceptable incident occurred the following morning.

We wanted to enter the gated area to see the wildlife — which was, after all, one of the principal reasons for bringing our grandchildren to Marakele.

When we arrived at the gate, the intercom was not working.

We contacted reception for assistance. Instead of providing a safe solution, we were instructed to get out of our vehicle, open the gate manually, drive through, and then get out of the vehicle again to close the gate manually.

This is extremely concerning because the instructions at the gate clearly state that visitors must not leave their vehicles.

There is an obvious reason for such an instruction: this is a wildlife area.

We should not have been placed in a position where we were effectively required to choose between following the safety instructions or following the instructions of reception.

Even more concerning is that the receptionist informed us that the gate had apparently not been working for some time and that everyone entering the area had simply been opening and closing it manually.

If this is indeed the case, we find it completely unacceptable that SANParks has knowingly allowed this situation to continue.

A malfunctioning gate in a wildlife area is not a minor maintenance problem. It is a potentially serious safety hazard. Visitors should never be instructed to leave their vehicles in an area where they have explicitly been warned not to do so.

5. Unacceptable attitude from reception

What made the situation even more upsetting was the manner in which our concerns were handled.

While we were trying to explain our concerns to the receptionist, she repeatedly laughed.

We found this behaviour extremely inappropriate and disrespectful.

We were not complaining about something trivial. We were raising a genuine concern about a malfunctioning gate in a wildlife area and the safety implications of being instructed to leave our vehicle.

A paying guest raising a safety concern should be treated seriously and professionally.

The impact on our grandchildren

The purpose of this trip was particularly important to us.

Our grandchildren are leaving the country, and we wanted to give them the opportunity to experience South Africa’s wildlife and create a wonderful memory of their visit.

Unfortunately, because of these circumstances, they have not had the wildlife experience we specifically planned and paid for.

This is incredibly disappointing for us as grandparents.