The Marakele National Park in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains, as its Tswana name suggests, has become a 'place of sanctuary' for an impressive variety of wildlife due to its location in the transitional zone between the dry western and moister eastern regions of South Africa.

The 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 and 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.

Summers are hot but the area does not suffer from the stifling humidity so typical of the eastern Lowveld. The park is situated in the summer rainfall region and rainfall occurs in the form of heavy thunderstorms or soft rain. Winter is moderate with frost occurring in the low lying regions only. Mornings and nights can be cold, but day temperatures are pleasant. Rainfall between 500 – 700 mm per annum.

The park is situated in the Waterberg mountain range in the Northern Province near Thabazimbi, approximately 250 km north of Johannesburg, in a malaria-free area. Access road from Thabazimbi to the park has been tarred, but internal roads are gravelled. The camp and surrounding routes are accessible for 4X4 vehicles only. The office is approximately 3 km from the Hoopdal/Rooiberg crossing on the road from Thabazimbi to Alma.