Marataba Mountain Lodge, Marakele National Park, South Africa - Explore & Book

"Peeping out from mountainous bush like a crouching lion tailing its prey, Marataba Mountain Lodge stares fervently into total wilderness. The dramatic Waterberg Mountains frame the horizon, their sandstones crags changing from golden to auburn to rouge as the sun moves across the sky, and a river cuts its way through the plains, attracting wildlife to its shores. It’s a true Out-of-Africa scene. And this being a totally private game reserve, there’s no one obstructing the view.Five Scandi-style eco suites stand in a row on a mountainside, each built from wood, stone and glass so they blend into their surroundings. At one end is the main lodge, a glass-fronted minimalist space where candlelit dinners take place, and an infinity pool drops into the Waterfall Valley below. Twice-daily game drives and river cruises take you past rhinos, elephants, lions, giraffes - the full Big Five wander the savannah here. And refreshingly, there’s no mobile signal; you come to disconnect from the grind and reconnect with nature. But you get to do it all in total style: sundowner drinks, sleeping in a treehouse, open-air massages, WiFi if you want it – it’s all on offer! Highs Just 5 suites immersed in total wilderness, each fully solar-powered and with truly spectacular views The whole lodge is adult-only and totally romantic - don't miss the chance to spend the night in a treehouse, or a sunset river cruise to see hipposWe hear huge praise for staff at the lodge and those leading safarisMarataba is a private, 21,000-hectare section of the malaria-free Marakele National Park, with just two sister lodges, so you don't get the crowds of South Africa's more famous reservesVery accessible: 3.5 hours' drive from Johannesburg and yet you're deep in the bush among some of South Africa's finest landscapes Lows The lodge is not suitable for anyone with mobility issues as the rooms are set along a steep, rocky path Game viewing here isn’t as plentiful as it is in the busier Kruger region, but you get the bonus of being alone with wildlife when it's sightedNo kids under 16 – ideal if you’re coming for a romantic break!There's limited mobile signal in the reserve, but there's WiFi back at the lodge" - Handpicked by our hotel experts