Marataba Safari Lodge

Marataba Safari Lodge sits on open plains in the private Marataba section of Marakele National Park, with the red sandstone cliffs of the Waterberg rising behind it. Fifteen tents built of canvas and stone are spread along the edge of the plains, each with a shaded private deck, an outdoor shower and views towards the mountains. The lodge welcomes children of all ages and is designed around families and friends travelling together.

There are eleven Luxury Tents for two and four Family Luxury Tents, which add a children's room with a bunk bed and its own bathroom next to the main bedroom. Tents are solar powered and air-conditioned, with a personal bar and daily housekeeping. The main lodge has a guest pool, wide decks, a fire deck and a boma where dinner is often served under the stars.

Days follow the safari rhythm: a sunrise game drive, a guided bush walk for guests aged 16 and over, brunch, a quiet afternoon at the pool or with an in-tent spa treatment, then a late drive with a sundowner stop. The Miss Mara water safari takes guests along the Matlabas River by flat-bottomed boat, where hippo and elephant often come to the banks. The Mack and Madi Kids' Adventure Safari Club keeps young guests busy in its eco-garden with tracking, baking, natural art and movie nights, and childminding is available.

Marataba is part of a working conservation area. Between April and September guests can join the rhino conservation team for a hands-on intervention, and a guided visit to schools in the nearby Sentrum community shows where the lodge's impact work goes. A night in the Thabametsi Treehouse, a short drive away, can be added to any stay. Marakele is malaria-free, which makes this an easy safari for young children.