Marataba Villa

Marataba Villa is a private safari home on the banks of the Matlabas River in the Marataba section of Marakele National Park, with the Waterberg mountains on the skyline. It is booked by one group at a time, up to eight adults and two children, which makes it a natural base for families, several generations travelling together or friends.

Four luxury tents are set along the river's edge, each with an en-suite bathroom, a private deck and an outdoor shower; some bathrooms have a freestanding bath looking out to the bush. A children's room with two single beds, its own bathroom and a deck over the river makes space for the two younger guests. The tents connect to a central lodge with an open-plan lounge, dining room, interactive kitchen and fireplace, a stocked pantry, a private pool, a fire deck and a boma.

A dedicated team looks after the villa: a chef, a butler or concierge and housekeepers, plus your own field guide and safari vehicle. There is no fixed timetable, so game drives, bush walks for guests aged 16 and over, and the Miss Mara water safari on the river happen when your group is ready. Children can join Mack and Madi kids' activities, and childminding is included, as are in-villa spa and wellness treatments.

Marataba's wider experiences can be added: a night in the Thabametsi Treehouse, hands-on rhino conservation work from April to September and visits to schools in the Sentrum community. Marakele is malaria-free, so the villa suits young children as well as adults.