Marataba Founders Camp

Marataba Founders Camp is an exclusive-use camp that overlooks the Matlabas River, which attracts a variety of wildlife. The accommodation features 4 Tented Suites with solid wall structures, en-suite bathrooms (bath, indoor & outdoor shower, separate toilet, double washbasin), a dressing area and both an indoor and outdoor lounge. The suites are tucked under the trees and have large decks from which to enjoy the water. Some suites are adaptable for wheelchair users by prior arrangement; enquire for details. At the main area, there are indoor and outdoor living areas, an interactive kitchen, an open bar, an outside fire pit and a swimming pool.

At Marataba Founders Camp, all guests are automatically allocated a private vehicle and guide (excludes Rhino Conservation Week) to offer ultimate flexibility around conservation experiences and active participation. The experiences are designed to be combined on a ‘mix and match’ basis to create the perfect, tailor-made itinerary.

Explore Marataba on day and night game drives with your conservation guide and spot the resident wildlife against the spectacular backdrop of the Waterberg Mountains, cruise along the Matlabas River and see the landscape and wildlife from a different perspective (breakfast, lunch or dinner are also served aboard the boat) or traverse Marataba on foot. A family walk is also available. This walk involves a relaxed stroll around Marataba, looking for creepy crawlies and learning about the uses of dung.

Conservation experiences at Marataba Founders Camp encourage active participation in the pioneering initiatives of Marataba and can be combined to create exciting conservation combinations. An additional, specialist guide may join these experiences if required. Conservation activities range from game census logging to tree planting and land rehabilitation.

Join Marataba in participating in specialised wildlife experiences and managed interventions. The procedures are undertaken for conservation research only and the welfare of the animal is of primary concern. These experiences carry an additional surcharge (except Wildlife Census Count) and all funds raised go directly to financing the operation and species-specific conservation objectives.

Founders Camp is about enriching experiences in balance with nature. Immerse yourself in the solitude of the vast, wild spaces of Marataba whilst actively participating in essential conservation projects.

Marataba, a 21,000 hectare privately managed section of the Marakele National Park, is uniquely located in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains in South Africa’s Limpopo Province. As a contractual National Park, Marataba is one of South Africa’s most innovative conservation models. From the vision of an iconic president to the unique public-private partnership that exists today, they protect the area’s diverse flora and fauna through modern and hands-on conservation practices.

About the Marakele National Park

 The Marakele National Park in the heart of the Waterberg mountains, only 2 and a half hours from Pretoria, has become a 'place of sanctuary' for a vast variety of wildlife mainly due to its location in the transitional zone between the dry western and moist eastern regions of South Africa.

 The Marakele National Park is characterised by contrasting majestic mountain landscapes, grass-clad hills and deep valleys. Rare finds of yellowwood and cedar trees, five-metre high cycads and tree ferns are some of the plant species found here. All the large game species from elephant to rhino to the big cats as well as an amazing variety of birds including the largest colony of endangered Cape Vultures (more than 800 breeding pairs) in the world have settled here. The Marakele National park is an excellent place to look for raptors, with many species using the uplift generated off the cliff faces of the Waterberg to sore on the thermals.

Apart from the vultures, visitors should look for Gymnogene, Jackal Buzzard and several eagle species, including Black Eagle, African Hawk, Black-breasted Snake and Brown Snake Eagle. In summer Wahlberg’s Eagle becomes prominent. On areas of high ground, Cape Rock Thrush, Mocking and Mountain Chat, Malachite and Greater Double-collared Sunbird and Swee Waxbill should be searched for.

Other species to look out for in the lower-lying bushveld and broadleaf woodland regions include Purple Roller, Black Cuckooshrike, Brubru, White-crowned Shrike and White Helmetshrike and the exquisite Blue Waxbill, Violeteared and Black-cheeked Waxbills. Bee-eaters are conspicuous, particularly White-fronted and Little with Swallow-tailed (winter) and Carmine and European (summer) present as well.

Resident antelope include sable, kudu, eland, impala, waterbuck, tsessebe and many smaller species. Chacma baboons and velvet monkeys are two species to be watched carefully for mischief, particularly around the rest camps.