On arrival into OR Tambo International Airport you will be met and transferred by road to the Marataba Safari Lodge.
Transfer time is around 3.5 to 4 hours and the distance is 326km / 203 miles.
Check in and settle in to your room ahead of the afternoon safari activity which is followed by a sumptuous dinner.
Overnight Marataba Safari Lodge in a Luxury Tented Suite - Fully Inclusive
Includes: Luxury accommodation in an Eco Suite; all meals; teas/coffees; minibar in room; inclusive drinks and selected snacks (all soft drinks, and selection of beers, spirits and house wines); two game drives daily with FGASA-accredited field guide; game drive refreshments and snacks; Matla Mamba Airstrip transfers;
specified inclusive safari activities; WiFi
On safari.
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.
As a contractual National Park, Marataba is one of South Africa’s most innovative conservation models. From the vision of an iconic president to the unique public-private partnership that exists today, we protect the area’s diverse flora and fauna through modern and hands-on conservation practices.
Overnight Marataba Safari Lodge in a Luxury Tented Suite - Fully Inclusive
Fully Inclusive as above.
On safari. The following activities are included in your stay:
Game Drives
Game drives, in open safari vehicles, head out each day at sunrise and again in the late afternoon to find the reserve’s many fascinating animals, both diurnal and nocturnal. This is a truly personal experience: no more than seven vehicles are in the concession at any one time and, because the animals are accustomed to them and do not see them as a threat, the field guides are able to take guests within close range of Africa’s most impressive species. Photographic opportunities are spectacular!
Bush Walks
These are our after-breakfast walks on the wild side. Guests are immersed in the bush, rather than just observing it. All five senses are engaged, as they feel scrub crunch beneath their feet, touch the velvety acacia seed pod, hear the crack of a branch indicating they are not alone, and spot big game at eye level – exhilarating! Our expert guides will tailor walks to each of our guest’s area/s of interest, focusing on mammals, birds, insects, plants, geology, etc.
Miss Mara Water Safari
Morning and sunset water safaris are operated on the Matlabas River, a scenic 30-minute drive from Safari Lodge and 45 minutes from Mountain Lodge. An experienced Marataba field guide conducts a cruise along the waterway, which provides plentiful game viewing opportunities. Guests can expect to see hippo, crocodile, abundant birdlife, and land animals (like elephant), coming to the water’s edge to drink and forage.
Overnight Marataba Safari Lodge in a Luxury Tented Suite - Fully Inclusive
Fully Inclusive as above.
Local Community Experiences
More Community Trust’s (MCT’s) purpose is to empower people of local communities in which MORE operates. It does this by providing access to: early childhood development; skills development; and clean water. Over the years, MCT has built close relationships within the communities, and guests are encouraged to visit and roll up their sleeves to help out with upliftment programmes in place. This gives guests the opportunity to experience a different – and humbling – way of living; visit culturally- and historically-significant sites; and connect with local people, while positively impacting their lives. These extraordinary social experiences bring guests into the heart of Southern Africa and make their visits here that much more meaningful.
Mack & Madi Kids’ Programme
This offering is inspired by Rob and Britt More’s first-hand experience of travelling with their twins, Mack and Madi. Along with the lodges’ options and flexibility around accommodations and meals, tailor-made activities give children (5 to 11 years) a little extra freedom to explore and just be kids – and make family travel child’s play. Based at Safari Lodge, the Eco Garden children’s entertainment and education space keeps young guests occupied with the wonders of the natural world, as well as sporting and creative activities, during their stays. Just some of the fun includes: family morning game drives; bug CSI; spoor casting; pool games; rock painting; cookie baking in the kitchen; kids’ picnic; toasting marshmallows and stargazing; and kids outdoor cinema. Parents are welcome to join in, or sneak a few hours for themselves.
A Night in a Treehouse*
Thabametsi is our newest and most impressive Treehouse yet! It is solar powered and built on two levels – with a main bedroom, shower room, Pg 2 lounge, and furnished decks offering views of the Waterberg and across the verdant expanse of the Marakele. Guests, delivered by safari vehicle in the late afternoon, spend the sunset hours sharing a gourmet picnic and spotting animals out on the plains, before falling asleep counting shooting stars. This is the ideal hideout for a family of four (including two children, 6 to 15 years) who want to experience an authentic night out in Africa – in complete luxury.
*Subject to an additional cost
Overnight Marataba Safari Lodge in a Luxury Tented Suite - Fully Inclusive
Fully Inclusive as above.
Today you will board your seat rate charter flight from the Marakele National Park to the Madikwe Game Reserve. On arrival you will be met by your ranger who will transfer you by road to the Madikwe Safari Lodge.
Flying time is 30 minutes.
Please note that luggage is limited to 20kgs / 44lbs in soft sided duffel bags only.
Check in and settle in to your room. The afternoon safari activity is followed by dinner back at the lodge.
Overnight Madikwe Safari Lodge - Lelapa Lodge in a Suite - Fully Inclusive
Includes: Luxury accommodation in a Suite, with private plunge pool; all meals; teas/coffees; minibar in room; inclusive drinks and selected snacks (all soft drinks, and selection of beers, spirits and house wines); two game drives daily with FGASA accredited field guide; game drive refreshments and snacks;
Eastern Madikwe Airstrip transfers; specified inclusive safari activities; WiFi
On safari.
Everything about the 76 000ha Madikwe Game Reserve is vast – its scenery, its wildlife, its skies… The rich and undulating landscape is punctuated by enormous volcanic intrusions (inselbergs) and this unique topography reveals an astonishing array of wildlife.
Madikwe’s wooded hills give way to savannah and Kalahari plains, roamed by all of the Big Five and countless other mammals. Look up and you will see hundreds of resident and migrant birds gracing its skies. Coupled with the reserve being malaria-free, this all makes for a special place to explore as a family.
Overnight Madikwe Safari Lodge - Lelapa Lodge in a Suite - Fully Inclusive
Fully Inclusive as above.
On safari. The following activities are included in your stay:
Game Drives
Game drives, in open safari vehicles, head out each day at sunrise and again in the late afternoon to find the reserve’s many fascinating animals, both diurnal and nocturnal. Keep an eye out for the African wild dog – Madikwe’s signature species. This mammal is one of the continent’s most endangered (largely due to habitat loss), but is flourishing here. With no more than eight guests on a game drive, accompanied by their Madikwe field guide, this is a truly intimate safari experience.
Bush Walks
These are our after-breakfast walks on the wild side. Guests are immersed in the bush, rather than just observing it. All five senses are engaged, as they feel scrub crunch beneath their feet, touch the velvety acacia seed pod, hear the crack of a branch indicating they are not alone, and spot big game at eye level – exhilarating! Our expert guides will tailor walks to each of our guest’s area/s of interest, focusing on mammals, birds, insects, plants, geology, etc.
Overnight Madikwe Safari Lodge - Lelapa Lodge in a Suite - Fully Inclusive
Fully Inclusive as above.
Mack & Madi Kids’ Programme
Based at Lelapa Lodge, the Eco House children’s entertainment and education centre keeps young guests occupied with the wonders of the natural world, as well as sporting and creative activities, during their stays. Just some of the fun includes: family morning game drives; bug CSI; spoor casting; scavenger hunts; pool games; board games; rock painting; cookie baking in the kitchen; toasting marshmallows in the boma; and stargazing. Parents are welcome to join in, or sneak a few hours for themselves.
Wildlife Lectures
At times when the weather is unsuitable for safari activities, our field guides and trackers present short nature talks. They cover a host of subjects, giving guests more insight into the animals they see on safari (e.g. elephant behaviour) and the natural surrounds (e.g. the ecological impact of commercial lodges on the environment). The talks are informal presentations, largely guided by interactions with guests.
Overnight Madikwe Safari Lodge - Lelapa Lodge in a Suite - Fully Inclusive
Fully Inclusive as above.
Today you will be collected from the Madikwe Safari Lodge and transferred by road to the OR Tambo International Airport.
Transfer time is around 4 to 4.5 hours and the distance is 359km / 223 miles.
International flights not included in this quote.
