Marataba conservation area

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. 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.

The Rhino Conservation Experience

Marataba offers fully interactive rhino safaris for guests to get involved over three days in elective procedures like rhino notching, collaring and/or DNA collecting. This experience is only available from 1 February to 31 October.

Notching is an ongoing intervention at Marataba and the long-term objective is to identify every single rhino in the Reserve. This will ensure that annually they are only required to notch the younger animals that are dispersing from their mothers.

Animals are individually located and immobilised (a tranquilising dart is shot by a professional veterinary team) from a helicopter. Once immobilised, the animal is moved into a comfortable position. Then, notches are incised into the ears, under anaesthetic, and microchips are inserted into the horns and the body.

The tissue removed from excising the notches is collected and the DNA, now correlated to the microchips, is submitted to the RHoDIS database (Rhinoceros DNA indexing system). RHoDIS is a national DNA database maintained by the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the University of Pretoria and is kept to provide forensic evidence related to the provenance of confiscated rhinoceros horns.

Get actively involved

You will not be a passive visitor during this! No, you will be part of the team and help hands-on with any work that needs doing. The Vet will direct you what to do. Your itinerary will generally look like this:

Day 1: After a briefing with the conservation team, embark on an afternoon drive to identify a specific rhino and learn about the social interaction and make up of rhino groups.

Day 2: Darting, notching & monitoring of the rhino. A follow up and post-notching monitoring will take place in the afternoon.

Day 3: Alternative day for notching, or to enjoy a selection of other conservation experiences.

Day 4: Departure.

Other Conservation Experiences

Marataba is one of South Africa’s biodiversity hotspots. The area is not only rich in its diversity of wildlife and flora, the magnificent landscapes provide an unforgettable and everchanging backdrop to all activities. Enjoy game drives by safari vehicle or boat and mix and match them with more interactive experiences for a full immersion into the Marataba way of life.

Every booking is allocated a private conservation guide and vehicle to allow for maximum flexibility. Experiences on day 3 can be chosen on a ‘mix and match’ basis for a fully tailor-made stay. Besides the normal safari activities like game drives and game walks, you can choose to participate in camera trap setup and analysis, game census logging and compiling of ID kits. Or a telemetry tracking walk of cheetahs, community outreach programs and further opportunities. Get involved in specialised experiences with the conservation team and get an unique look behind the scenes of a game reserve.

The Conservation Camps

Founders Camp and Explorers Camp are about enriching experiences in balance with nature and immersing yourself in the solitude of the vast, wild landscapes…

Founders Camp is a lodged camp and has 4 suites for up to 8 adults & 2 children and you book the whole camp. The base rate is for 4 adults (except during Rhino Conservation Week). You get your own vehicle and guide. Children of all ages are welcome.

Explorers Camp is a tented camp and has 5 tents & 1 family tent for up to 12 adults & 6 children. This is set up for a maximum of two groups of 6 adults plus children. The base rate is for 4 adults (except during Rhino Conservation Week). Each group gets its own vehicle and guide. Children of all ages are welcome.

A night on the wild side

Want to disconnect from the modern world completely and reconnect with nature? Change one night for a night in the Star Camp Out. The Star Camp Out experience is focused on stargazing and wild walking. There are beautiful mountains and gorges to explore around camp.

Four spacious tents are equipped with 2 stretchers and luxury bedding. The bucket-showered bathroom is at the back of the tent but is not accessible from inside. At the main camp area, there is a large stretch tent covering a comfortable chill out zone, as well as a small bar and an outdoor firepit. There are plenty of places to relax and put your feet up at the end of the day – and plenty of ice for a G&T!

Light is provided by paraffin lantern. There is no electricity and no mobile phone reception. The entire camp is extremely light impact, leaving no footprint behind on the landscape.

Food at the Star Camp Out is wholesome and hearty – and there is lots of it! Everything is cooked over the campfire, so expect honest South African flavours with a good dose of fun.

You can do this tour with your own transport, or we can arrange transfers for you. Choose between a road or fly-in transfer. The airstrip is ca. 45 minutes from the camps.

Cape Town, the Mother City, welcomes you. Here you will spend your first few days. Have you ever wanted to learn how to make a traditional Cape Malay dish? Now you will have the opportunity to cook with one of the residents of the brightly coloured Bo-Kaap houses. Visit the township of Khayelitsha and see how the locals go about their everyday lives. Because you are on foot, you’ll have plenty of impromptu meetings and conversations – you are a guest in their community and will receive a warm and heartfelt welcome. For the more adventurous a kayaking trip through the local wetlands surrounding the townships is a must.

Experience life in a local community

In rural Cape, the community of Goedverwacht welcomes you. This is a coloured community that was founded by former slaves as a Monrovian mission post. Walk along the main road, talk to the inhabitants of this small church community, listen to their stories and get a taste of their culture through their food and rich history. You stay, life and eat with a host family and you’ll truly become part of their family life. And with each visit to the village between 5 and 10 people get an income – what better and more fun way is there to learn about daily life in South Africa?

Along the longest wine route in the world

A visit to !Khwa ttu San Heritage centre will give you insight into how the Khoisan, the first inhabitants of Southern Africa lived and survived before European settlers came to the south and African tribes came to the north. Open your mind to the rich cultural heritage that these wonderful people have.

Along Route 62, the longest wine route in the world, lies the quaint historic town of Montagu. Stay in a Fair Trade certified hotel and discover Montagu by foot or in an American classic car – you decide how you want to explore this town.

More than just a safari

Gondwana Game reserve’s Malaria-free climate offers exceptional year-round Game Viewing in a spectacular landscape with the unobstructed views over the vast open rolling hills and plains. Exceptional sunsets and sunrises are part of your stay. Stay in the tented eco-camp for a unique conservation experience. You will engage in activities vital to ensuring the welfare of the wildlife and vegetation in the Park.  You will try your hand at being a Game Ranger and experience the ultimate bush getaway deep in the heart of the reserve. You’ll experience so much more than during a regular safari!

Hidden Gems along the Garden Route

The garden route has much to offer for the adventurous type. The Tsitsikamma area, with its deep gorges and towering trees, is a treasure trove of adrenaline pursuits that include bungee-jumping from Bloukrans Bridge, gliding through the treetops or above waterfalls on a series of ziplines (cable slides), abseiling the steep cliffs, and tubing through the Storms River Gorge.

Next stop: the famous Knysna Heads, dividing the roaring Ocean from the tranquil Knysna Lagoon. Discover the Garden Route differently: make a Scootour in the oldest Fynbos forest, canoe on the lagoon or go sailing on the ocean, looking for whales and dolphins.

Back down the Garden Route towards the De Hoop Nature reserve, you’ll find the best views of the ocean you’ve ever seen. Go on a walk through the reserve and see the beautiful fauna and flora or take a guided tour along the beach, looking for life in the many tidal pools. During the whale season, you can regularly spot these immense mammals close to shore.

Food and wine

Between the mountains lies Stellenbosch, the heart of the wine area. You sleep 3 nights on a sustainably working wine farm. You can make a Segway tour between the vineyards to learn how they grow their wines, recycle their water and many more things. Order a picnic basket and sit on the beautiful lawns, enjoying pâté’s, cheeses, freshly baked bread and all kind of goodies, accompanied by a bottle of their excellent wine of course.

In Stellenbosch you’ll go on a city tour with a culinary twist: you’ll walk around the town seeing the historical side, but also visit different restaurants where they serve typical traditional South African bites and plates. A lovely and very tasty experience!