Marataba Mountain Lodge
Lodge · Waterberg ·
Luxurious tented suites, gourmet meals, and exclusive game drives
Information
Marakele National Park Marataba, 0380, South Africa Get directions
Luxurious tented suites, gourmet meals, and exclusive game drives
Marakele National Park Marataba, 0380, South Africa Get directions
"How did it strike you on arrival?Once you walk along the wooden “moat” and through the lodge’s double-height entrance, you’ll no doubt be fixated on the panorama of the red-hued Waterberg mountains, with the slopes seemingly set ablaze during sunset. Nice. What’s the crowd like?There’s no typical guest as the clientele on any given day range from honeymooners to multi-generational families, safari first-timers to game lodge veterans. Marataba is based in Marakele National Park’s private 23,000-hectare concession, which it only shares with one sister lodge, so perhaps the guests’ common denominator is a preference for exclusivity. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.The lodge hosts 15 canvas-and-stone Tented Suites, each kitted in rich fabrics and niceties such as a complimentary minibar, air conditioning, a roll top bath and an indoor and outdoor shower. Like the communal areas, the tent’s contemporary yet earthy look is a refreshing departure from the overdone ‘Out of Africa’ trope seen in other safari accommodations. If you’re lucky, you might be able to view wildlife activity right in front of your wraparound private deck—booking a suite closer to the river increases this likelihood. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that worth a mention?Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in the main lodge. Room service and food: Worth it?All meals for Marataba guests are taken care of, as are snacks and drinks such as Gin & Tonic during game drives. Bush dinners illuminated by numerous fire pits are a special treat. Anything stand out about other services and features?Options to relax outside of your tent include a communal pool with loungers, hammocks amongst the trees and a library with plush brown leather sofas; alternatively, book an in-room spa treatment on your deck and zone out to sounds of the birds and the breeze. For those wanting alternatives for Big Five excursions beyond vehicle drives, Marataba offers a walking safari and a must-do water safari, where guests navigate the Matlabas River in search of hippos, lions and much more while on the lodge’s pontoon, Miss Mara. Bottom line: Why are we staying here?Far from roughing it, Marataba’s sleek tented suites, ace safari guides and first-rate amenities amongst an otherworldly landscape makes for one of South Africa’s finest lodges." - Travis Levius
"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
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