Griffons Bush Camp

Nestled in a mountainous amphitheatre at the highest point in the Waterberg lies Marakele Bush Lodge. Here the gigantic views seemingly stretch forever, and the local residents have made the most of the views too, with the largest Cape Griffon colony in the world inhabiting the cliffs.

Griffons at Marakele Lodge is set in a fig and acacia forest on the slopes of the mountain on over 1000 hectares of Waterberg bushveld. Here visitors can enjoy many nature trails, from steep and demanding to leisurely and relaxing. Marakele Lodge lies within Marakele National Park which hosts Africa’s Big 5 game species. The lodge also offers game walks and trails, and from the Griffons Bush Camp as a base, visitors have a choice of self-drive or guided game drives into Marakele National Park. A four-wheel drive is recommended for all but the main park road, and our guided game drives into the park are undertaken with Griffons four-wheel drive game viewing vehicles.

For the birder there is of course the opportunity of studying the Cape Griffon colony, consisting of hundreds of breeding pairs, and their unique behaviour. There are numerous specials in the area and sightings of Gurneys Sugar-bird, Orange-breasted Bush shrikes, White Helmet shrikes, flapped larks and breeding pairs of Verreaux’s eagles are fairly common. Less common sightings of Gymnogene and Brown Snake eagle and Black-breasted Snake eagle have also been recorded from time to time.

Predator sightings include lion, leopard, civet, genet, caracal, brown hyena, African wild dog, and black-backed jackal. Other wildlife you are likely to see at Marakele Lodge includes zebra, wildebeest, mountain reedbuck, bushbuck, impala, klipspringer, bush pig, baboon, monkey, common duiker, and numerous other small animals.

In summer the mountain cascades with several mountain streams, offering many pools for the hiker to cool off in. A circular trail commencing near the vulture colony in the east and circling west to return to the colony would take the average hiker about five or six hours. Shorter walks up the mountain and to other scenic spots could take as long, depending on the level of fitness.

Please note that this is a rustic bush camp we have solar energy and the water comes from the mountain streams. Accessing the roads requires a high clearance/4x4 vehicle, and as we are within the boundaries of a national park, the chances of meeting wild animals is great.