Marataba Safari Lodge

From the moment we arrived it became obvious that this was going to be a very successful and enjoyable visit. The warm welcome was followed by a guided tour of our tent.- a large spacious and well-appointed one at that. We particularly liked the small in-room bar, twin sinks and dressing area. The baboons seem to take a particular delight in using our tent as a trampoline in the early evening.||Restricted to 2 or four guests in the vehicle at a time, we enjoyed some quite into it and private sightings, particularly with the big cats. Pride of goes to the cheetah mother and her five cubs who played for hours on end (or so it seemed) for our Entertainment. We also found her one day in Hunt mode and she performed the perfect ’kill’ taking out an Adult Impala female. It all happened so fast it was unbelievable. .||The sleep-out was a great success. Super sundowners delightful dinner great wine and warm as toast in a comfy bed under a start sky. Not even the Lion's roars managed to keep us awake. highly commend this experience to anyone who stays at Maritaba. Excellent not to be missed.||Our Guide was a complete delight - she was patient, knowledgeable, highly experienced and absolutely charming. Thank you very much indeed - we particularly liked the video that you sent us of our take off from Marikale at the end.||In Camp was not quite the same level but we would still commend all who worked to so hard to make our stay so enjoyable? Thank you?.||A most enjoyable visit.

We had the most magical 4-day family stay at Marataba – an experience we will never forget.|| We were warmly welcomed by a kind team who made us feel truly cared for. The lodge is stunning, beautifully integrated into nature, with exceptional comfort and breathtaking views. Every meal was very good and served in unique, picturesque settings.| The safaris were unforgetable! Our guide Robin was outstanding and full of fascinating cultural insights. We had the chance to witness incredible wildlife in a peaceful environment. ||Our whole family – from grandparents to kids – was amazed by the beauty and the tranquility of the bush.||A special thanx to:||Robin, our exceptional guide||Dorcus, who made our youngest feel at home in the kids' club||Douglas & Chilli, our attentive butlers||Frances, who escorted us to our tents each evening||Keden, for a wonderful water safari||And of course, thanks to the entire Marataba team who helped make this stay so special.||We recommend Marataba to anyone looking for a luxurious, authentic safari experience in South Africa. We hope to return one day!||Maingard family! Love from Mauritius.

My wife and I had an amazing time at Marataba. It was our first experience being on a safari. Everything here has been perfect from the food to the lodge to the drives. The luxury tent we stayed in was so comfortable and luxurious. We had 2 personal butlers Tumi and Ephie and they couldn't do enough to accommodate us as did every staff member at the lodge. With regards to the drives they were unbelievable, our guides Wonder and Tasha were brilliant, they had a wealth of knowledge that they were more than happy to share (I asked a lot of questions), you could tell they both had a real passion for the animals they work with and my wife learnt so much thanks to them that I fell we are going home with a new appreciation for the animals we share the Earth with. I can honestly say that this will not be our last safari and it certainly will not be our last visit to the Marataba lodge. ||To all the staff at Marataba we say thank you and see you next time.

We had the most wonderful time at Marataba – loved every bit of it.||The tented rooms were just delightful – loved the outdoor shower with view of the mountains, and delightfully comfy beds. A lovely place to relax between drives, as well as around the pool and main hotel area. Every single staff member was lovely and made us feel right at home – special thanks to Thabang and GK who looked after us. The food was delicious, and we especially enjoyed afternoon tea with iced coffee before the afternoon game drive!||And as for the game drives, they were just magical – we were lucky enough to have both Wonder and Tim as our guides – they were both full of knowledge and information, and clearly very passionate about the animals and reserve (it was a delight seeing them excited about seeing certain animals – with Wonder we saw a pangolin and cheetahs hunting, and with Tim we saw 4 leopards in one day, really quite amazing!). We had so many exhilarating drives, saw so many animals and absolutely loved coming home after sunset with the stars shining above us.||We were also lucky enough to do a guided bush walk with Wonder, James and Tim – walking offers a completely different view and appreciation for the wildlife and surrounding landscape. All three guides were fantastic, we felt completely safe and it was brilliant experience (it was really quite special being within 10m of a white rhino!).||We stayed for 4 nights and were sad to leave when we did, a truly magical experience.

Having visited several safari lodges over the years, I can confidently say that Marataba stands out as an extraordinary destination that exceeds expectations in every way. Tim, our guide, went above and beyond, making our six-night stay not only special but deeply memorable. His passion for the bush and ability to share interesting insights turned every drive into an adventure. Our the night drive for stargazing standing out as an absolute highlight—an experience we’ll treasure forever. Vusi also went out of his way to make my 30th birthday celebration unforgettable, working with my husband to surprise me with an exquisite champagne breakfast in the TreeHouse. Our butlers, Jennifer and Linda, made every return to the lodge feel warm and welcoming, anticipating our needs with care and kindness. The dedication of the entire team to creating meaningful, magical, one-of-a-kind moments was felt in every detail, and we will always cherish the magic they brought to our safari experience.

From the moment we arrived at Marataba, we knew we’d made the right choice. Everything—the staff, the grounds, the safaris, and the food—was outstanding. As a family of five (3 young teenagers), the family suite was perfect for us, spacious and comfortable, with special touches (my wife even enjoyed a spa treatment on our porch one afternoon!). The true highlight was our guide, Marnus. Not only is he incredibly knowledgeable, but his passion and warmth made every game drive unforgettable. Thanks to him, we left with memories we’ll treasure for a lifetime.

What a gem. We took our toddler with us. We had the most wonderful time. The Lodge is very accommodating of children. Children are allowed on game drives provided parents can manage them. My toddler loved the experience. We will remember our time there for a life time

We couldn’t have asked for a more incredible safari getaway! From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make our stay unforgettable, exceeding every expectation. This was truly one of the most unique safari experiences we’ve ever had, from witnessing wildlife aboard the Miss Mara cruise, to stopping mid-safari for an up-close encounter with giraffes, to indulging in endless, delicious food. The landscape at Marataba Safari Lodge was absolutely breathtaking and unlike anywhere else we’ve been. Our night in the treehouse was unforgettable, with a crystal-clear view of the stars stretching across the sky. The team planned and executed a very special occasion for us flawlessly which made the trip even more meaningful. We absolutely can’t wait to go back!