Marataba, a 21,000-hectare (52,000-acre), privately-managed section of the Marakele National Park, is uniquely situated where lush bushveld gives way to the Kalahari sands in South Africa’s Limpopo Province. Officially known as a Contractual National Park, Marataba is one of South Africa’s most innovative conservation models and the focus is firmly on protecting the area’s diverse flora and fauna through modern conservation practices.

Marataba Conservation Camps is a conservation-led safari experience that gives guests the chance to get involved in thoughtful and interactive activities including wildlife management and ecological conservation, participate in stimulating discussions with conservationists and experts, and to travel with a purpose.

Founders Camp overlooks the Matlabas River. The four suites are tucked under the trees and offer magnificent views of the water, the wildlife and the stunning mountains. Available to book on an exclusive-use basis only, the camp is an elegant family home in the heart of the bush. The furniture is a fusion of old and new: refurbished, antique wood coffee tables and traditional African bowls sit alongside contemporary light fittings and modern textiles, and this reimagining of a traditional safari experience is exactly what Marataba represents.