Marakele - What you will find there

Information & Discussions on Marakele National Park
Bushboy
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Marakele - What you will find there

Post by Bushboy »

AnnS wrote:Bushboy, please tell me more about Marakele?
Hi AnnS,

If you ever go to Marakele, Bontle camp, you will think Manyane is like to be in Joburg.

Bontle camp is really a rustic, quiet, and wild camping site. There are no fences around, which means the animals roam freely between the tents/caravans. Sometimes even the rhino graze around you at night!!
Imagine, waking up at 03h00, seeing a rhino a mere 3 meters from your tent!!
We had this on several occasions.
You can also see the dam/waterhole from the camping site, so all animals going for a drink is within 400 meter from you, without fencing in between.

I think the majority of visitors to Bontle go there for the senery, as there is only the general game around the camping site.

If you want to see the big five, there is a tunnel underneath the road, which goes from Bontle to the tented camp, Thlopi. Although not a lot of people have seen lions etc there.

Please visit the sanparks site, as Marakele is also a sanparks park.

Maybe the powers to be can put up a Marakele topic under the various parks?
I will then try to post some photo's there.


iNdlovu
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Re: Marakele - What you will find there

Post by iNdlovu »

We've only stayed at Thlopi tented camp. These are great permanent tents set up over the water on a dam on a huge wooden deck, tent and en suit bathroom on one side and kitchen area on the other side of the deck. To set the mood of the evening here's a few pics.
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The view from the deck
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looking down the valley from the mountain top
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Some fur & feathers
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iNdlovu
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Re: Marakele - What you will find there

Post by iNdlovu »

Here's a pic of the deck looking into the kitchen 'tent' from the front door of the bedroom 'tent'
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We had a beautiful afternoon thunder shower on our first afternoon there
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And a common little critter up in the mountains
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Bushboy
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Re: Marakele - What you will find there

Post by Bushboy »

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The entrance gate


Bushboy
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Re: Marakele - What you will find there

Post by Bushboy »

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Info about the Eco 4x4 Trail. Also at the entrance gate.

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Sign to the camping site.

I haven't stayed at the Tlopi camp, so will firstly be posting photo's of Bontle.


Bushboy
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Re: Marakele - What you will find there

Post by Bushboy »

Camp Site photo's to follow.

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From my chair - no fence inbetween, only those little stumps.!!

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AnnS, they are in the campsite.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!No day dreaming.


Bushboy
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Re: Marakele - What you will find there

Post by Bushboy »

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Another proof.

Next set of photo's of wildlife within the +/- 2700 ha piece where there are no lions, elephants, buff etc.


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PRWIN
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Re: Marakele - What you will find there

Post by PRWIN »

Bb thats the way I know the place lovely, must get back again

Note the Empty Chairs wonder why :lol:

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Penga Ndlovu
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Re: Marakele - What you will find there

Post by Penga Ndlovu »

Fianlly the time has come for a short breakaway to Marakele.

Saturday started off with the rain coming down in buckets as the skies opened up.
Marakele was one big pool of mud, but I was not going to deter me from having some fun.

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The view from the tent was spectacular

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But before setting up camp we decided to take a drive first and hope for the rain to die out.

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The skies were filled with beautiful images of thunderclouds that made the mountains look kind of aerie

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Penga Ndlovu
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Re: Marakele - What you will find there

Post by Penga Ndlovu »

Marakele is cut in half.
One part, where Bontle campsight is, is where there are no predators. The other part is with predators.
It can be reached through a tunnel with a gate in front of it.

Traveling through the tunnel it takes you up a winding road to the flats and there it opens up

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By the time when got back the rain had stopped and it was time to grab a beer, take out the chairs, pop another beer, take out the tent, pop another beer and pop the tent, pop another beer and take out the fridge, pop another beer and po........... Ag You guys get the idea.

I can tell you, however, it isn't easy braaing when it pours down with rain and the umbrella is barely big enough to cover both chairs.
However, eventually the rain stopped after we finished our meal and it was time for coffee.
As I had thrown all the beercans away and I did not have the kettle with me, I made a makeshift cup from aluminum foil and boiled my water in that.
It was a bit of a challenge, but I got it right and even had enough to make us some Nogas.
Last edited by Mel on Sun May 20, 2012 7:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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