It seems only fitting that we should start the report back on our recent visit to Marakele National Park at Bontle, the beautiful little bushveld campground set on the plains below the imposing Waterberg mountains, and that we called home during our three night stay.
Bontle actually means “beautiful” in Setswana, and surveying the place from beneath a shady tree you can’t help but agree. Just outside the camp a waterhole attracts a constant stream of birds and animals, with a range of low hills to the south forming a beautiful backdrop to the scene.
View from Bontle
Wildlife has open access to Bontle, which is unfenced. While you don’t have to be concerned about being trampled by an elephant or eaten by a lion (these species occur elsewhere in Marakele, but not in the Kwaggasvlakte-section where Bontle’s located) you may well find yourself at close quarters with a variety of birds, various species of antelope, warthogs, zebras, giraffes, monkeys, baboons, bushbabies, springhares, jackals, ostriches and even white rhinos when you pop your head out your tent!
The campground accommodates 36 tents and caravans (all the campsites have electric plugpoints) around three communal ablution blocks (one of which is accessible to campers in wheelchairs). Ten safari tents are fairly recent additions to the offering at Bontle. Four of them sleep 4 guests each and the others 2 each. One of the two-bed tents have also been built with the needs of guests in wheelchairs in mind. The little kiosk at the entrance gate and reception office, about 1.5km from Bontle, conveniently stocks firewood, ice, sweets and cold drinks. Stock up on fuel and groceries in the nearby town of Thabazimbi.
This was our first stay at Bontle (managed by South African National Parks); on previous visits to Marakele we stayed at Tlopi Tented Camp in the bigger portion of the Park where the “Big-5” roam. But now that we’ve had a taste of Bontle’s beautiful tranquility it is hard to imagine that we’ll be able to resist the urge to return for very long.
Welcome to Bontle!
More on Marakele in upcoming editions of de Wets Wild!
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Reblogged this on Roaring Reservations.
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I’ve been eyeing this reserve for a while now. Thanks for sharing and can’t wait to see the other posts.
Be sure to include Marakele in your itinerary when you visit this side of the country Cal, you won’t be disappointed.
Wonderlik mooi! Treffende fotos soos gewoonlik!
Baie dankie Jacqueb! Bontle verdien sy naam oor en oor, ne!
Great images and post! What a place, de Wets!
Thanks Jane!
Thanks for the great pics. You guys are turning me into an armchair traveler.
There’s always a seat open for you, Dan – thanks for coming along!
Nice post Dries! Last trip we didn’t make it to Waterberg, but it has always stayed on our bucket list, so thanks for the heads up on Bontle. Already looking forward to the rest of your report!
Glad to know we could help to expand the itinerary for your next trip to South Africa a little more, Maurice!
Long may these unfenced camps exist, although with (a) The sheer stupidity of some people who don’t even know (as one tiny example) that ostriches can be dangerous; and (b) The tendency of officialdom to get nanny-ish and tying things up with all kinds of regulations, they may become extinct.
Couldn’t agree with you more C, such a special experience.
I was good til you said ostriches…one ate my shoe (while I was wearing it) when I was a kid…I’m still holding a bit of a grudge!
Now there’s a story I’m very interested to hear Kathy!
Dit lyk maar droog?
Die Kwaggasvlakte deel waar Bontle gelee is is nog vreeslik droog, Tina – die deel van die Park dieper in die berge lyk darem of dit meer water en goeie weiding het om deur die winter te kom.
Ai mens hoop die droogte is gou verby
Absoluut Tina
Nou kyk nou net!! Drie skoenlappers net vir my! En hulle is almal wenners!! Dankie!! 😉
Spesiaal vir jou ja AJ, het geweet dit gaan jou laat glimlag
😉 😛 😉
Is it a little scary with the area being unfenced? It looks wonderful, but I was curious. You have the best camping trips!
Not at all scary Lois – I can honestly say that we sleep much better “out in the bush” than we do here in the city suburbs!
great post
Thank you Mukul
welcome