South Africa

Marakele National Park

Mountain slopes, deep valleys and wildlife along the route. In Marakele you do not only look at the road ahead. Looking up is often just as interesting.

View trips from the region

Discover everything about this location.

Between mountain peaks and deep valleys.

Marakele National Park is shaped by differences in altitude. Mountains give way to rolling hills and deep valleys. Elephants, rhinos and Chacma baboons live in this landscape. Buffalo, leopards and cheetahs also have their habitat here.

The lion and the spotted hyena are the park’s large predators. Marakele is also malaria-free.

The park lies around 200 kilometres north of Pretoria and can be explored in a 4x4. A stop that fits well into a route from South Africa towards Botswana.

Sometimes the remarkable is above you.

Marakele is also known for its large colony of Cape vultures. More than 800 breeding pairs live here together, which makes this colony one of the largest in the world.

Anyone who occasionally takes their eyes off the road during a game drive may come across more birds of prey. The park is home to the Black Eagle, African Hawk, Black-breasted Snake Eagle and Brown Snake Eagle, among others.

Mountains below you. Vultures above you. And the 4x4 in between.

View trips from the region

More than just wildlife along the road.

  • Drive through mountain landscapes, rolling hills and deep valleys.
  • Look out for elephants, rhinos and Chacma baboons.
  • Buffalo, leopards and cheetahs have their habitat here.
  • Lions and spotted hyenas are the park’s large predators.
  • More than 800 breeding pairs of Cape vultures live in Marakele.
  • Several eagle species also occur in the park.
  • The area is malaria-free.
  • Marakele lies around 200 kilometres north of Pretoria.

Self-drive trips in the region

South Africa
Mozambique
eSwatini
South Africa, eSwatini and Mozambique Beach & Safari
22
days
from
1620
1620
p.p.
In Kruger, you scan the bush through your binoculars from your 4x4, searching for rhinos and lions. A few days later, you're looking through your diving mask at manta rays off the coast of Mozambique. On this 22-day self-drive journey, you explore three countries, each with its own distinct character. You drive through national parks at your own pace, camp by the sea and lace up your hiking boots again in eSwatini. From exciting game drives to relaxed beach days, there's no need to choose between adventure and relaxation.
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South Africa
Western Cape and Namaqualand Hiking & 4x4
14
days
from
1250
1250
p.p.
Hiking boots on, 4x4 parked. On this 14-day self-drive journey, you explore much of the Western Cape and Namaqualand on foot. You hike through gorges and past rock arches in the Cederberg, camp in complete solitude in the quiet of the Tankwa Karoo and walk to deserted beaches along the Atlantic coast. And in between? That's when you put your 4x4 to work, including on the sandy Caracal Trail. A journey for those who love being outdoors and exploring at their own pace.
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South Africa
Garden Route en Baviaanskloof Hiking & 4x4
14
days
from
1350
1350
p.p.
Spotting elephants from your 4x4. Tackling rugged tracks through Baviaanskloof. Then continuing on foot along cliffs, through forests and over mountain trails. On this 14-day self-drive journey from Gqeberha to Cape Town, you regularly swap the steering wheel for your hiking boots. You start with a safari before following the Garden Route past Storms River Mouth, Wilderness and the mountains around George. Plenty of variety, without having to cover long distances every day.
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