Question 1

Why should I choose Marakele National Park?

Accepted Answer

Choose Marakele if you are looking for peace and quiet, breathtaking mountain landscapes and a truly authentic bush experience. This vast park is tucked away in the heart of the Waterberg mountain range. The landscape is dominated by impressive deep-red mountain peaks and deep valleys. Because the park is so vast and unexplored, you will almost have the wilderness to yourself as you drive through its expansive, rugged landscape.

Question 2

Why should I choose Pilanesberg National Park?

Accepted Answer

Pilanesberg is the perfect choice if you want to be guaranteed plenty of wildlife and maximise your chances of spotting the complete Big Five in a short time. The park is considerably more compact and lies in the unique, bowl-shaped crater of an extinct volcano that is millions of years old. This structure means that the density of wildlife is exceptionally high.

Question 3

What is the downside of Pilanesberg?

Accepted Answer

Its popularity is Pilanesberg’s biggest downside. Because of its convenient location close to the city, the park attracts extremely large numbers of day visitors, particularly at weekends and during the holidays. This can lead to significant crowds around wildlife sightings, with visitors unfortunately not always respecting the animals’ boundaries and peace. If you want to visit Pilanesberg, we recommend planning your game drives outside the weekends where possible.

Question 4

What is the best time to visit Marakele and Pilanesberg?

Accepted Answer

For both parks, the dry winter months (from  May to September ) are the absolute best time to visit. Temperatures are wonderfully mild during the day and, as the vegetation thins out and water sources dry up, wildlife gathers around the remaining waterholes. In Pilanesberg, you can spot wildlife even more quickly, while in the larger Marakele you will spend less time searching.

Question 5

Which Beyond Routes trips include Marakele and Pilanesberg?

Accepted Answer

Because of its adventurous character and focus on slowing down, we very deliberately include  Marakele National Park  in our  23-day South Africa Family Adventure . This park offers families the ultimate opportunity to discover the real African bush in peace and safety. If you prefer Pilanesberg’s high likelihood of wildlife sightings, we can easily adapt the itinerary for you.

Question 6

What makes camping in Marakele so unique?

Accepted Answer

Marakele is known for its distinctive and beautifully situated campsites. As soon as darkness falls and you shine a torch into the surrounding trees, there is an excellent chance that you will spot the cheerful, large, shining eyes of  bushbabies (galagos)  . This makes camping here an unforgettable experience.

Question 7

Is spotting wildlife in Marakele different from in Pilanesberg?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the difference is substantial. In compact Pilanesberg, you drive from one wildlife sighting to the next. In enormous Marakele, spotting wildlife is considerably more challenging; it requires patience and genuine detective work. The reward, however, is far more intense: you see the wild animals here entirely on your own, without dozens of other safari vehicles around you. Marakele is also home to the world’s largest colony of endangered  Cape vultures  .

Marakele & Pilanesberg