This past weekend Marilize celebrated a milestone birthday, and unfortunately this coincided with South Africa experiencing a “third wave” of Covid-19 infections precluding any big commemoration with the extended family and friends. It was up to me and Joubert to make the event memorable, so we surprised Marilize with a weekend breakaway to Marakele National Park. We left Pretoria just after 1pm on Friday, routing through Bela-Bela (Warmbad) and Thabazimbi, and arrived at Marakele’s gate just before 4pm.
After performing all the requisite formalities, which these days include a questionnaire on the recent medical history of the entire family, we set off on the 17km drive to Tlopi Tented Camp in the golden glow of the bushveld sunset.
In our estimation Tlopi Tented Camp is Marakele’s most beautifully situated accommodation option, and we were very lucky to be allocated unit 10, “Loerie”, right at the far end of the camp. Tlopi looks out over a dam frequented by a large number of birds and mammals, and the mountains of the Waterberg beyond.
To be continued…
DeWetsWild 
Belated but best birthday wishes to Marilize. What a lovely place to celebrate a milestone birthday in compensation for not being able to share celebrations with relatives and friends,
Keep safe during this devastating surge in infections.
Thank you very much, Carol! Indeed this “third wave” has progressed from snarling to biting very quickly, and it seems especially so here in Gauteng. Do take care at your end as well, please.
It is tragic and terrible. I am fortunate to have had my first vaccination, but of course still need to take care. Keep safe all of you.
I’m very relieved to hear you’ve had that first shot already!
Thanks. I acknowledge that it is of great comfort and we look forward to the second jab. I see that they will start rolling out to people over 50 next month …
Take care.
Hope Marilize had a happy birthday! Maybe a big celebration can take place next year.
Thank you, Siobhan. Yep, we need to look to the future in hope!
Looks like beautiful country …How privileged to be in the company of such wildlife : ))
Hello Dries!
A very Happy belated Birthday to Marilize, and I am glad you could enjoy a special day together despite the third wave. What stunning views. Wishing Marilize a wonderful, safe, happy and blessed year ahead.
I may be commenting as much, but am always enjoying your posts and looking forward to them. All our best to Joubert too!
Best wishes,
Takami
Thank you so much, Takami – I will pass your kind congratulations and blessings to Marilize!
I trust you and your family are safe and well?
Thank you Dries! We are also doing well, and staying safe 🙂
Looks like a great place to social distance, and with a bonus of plenty of wildlife to photograph! Stay safe!
Thanks, John. Indeed Marakele, as all our other national parks too, are ideal places to get away from “COVID-fatigue”.
Happy belated birthday, Marilize. Sorry to read about the Covid surge but it looks like a pretty good place to celebrate anyway. Hopefully you can see friends and family soon and have another celebration!
Veels geluk aan Marilize en dankie vir die mooi sonsondergang.
Baie dankie Tannie Frannie!
Baie geluk aan Marilize! Dis ‘n pragtige plek wat julle uitgekies vir die vieringe! Die sonsondergang is ongelooflik mooi!
Baie dankie, Aletta – ek sal jou verjaarsdagwense oordra aan Marilize
🌼🌼
Happy birthday to Marilize.
Thank you very much, Tracy!
What a lovely treat. Getting away is difficult here also, one day normality might resume.
We’re blessed that at least inter-provincial travel has not been closed off again in South Africa with this third wave, and thankfully our national parks are perfect for “social distancing”!
I empathise with Marilize as I too celebrated a milestone birthday sans fanfare last month. Good news that, despite the third wave, provincial borders have not been closed, so I will celebrate with my daughter and her family in MZNP next month – better late than never. You and Joubert made the right choice: what a wonderful celebration!
I can’t think of very many places more special than Mountain Zebra National Park for celebrating a special birthday together with special people! What a marvelous trip to look forward to, Anne.
So nice of you! 😀 Great pictures as always.
Thank you, John!
My most sincere Happy Birthday to Marilize! My friend, you’re a genius making it her birthday a romantic and glorious gift. 🎂 Baie geluk met jou verjaarsdag, Marilize! 😊
Baie dankie, H.J! Ek sal jou gelukwense aan Marilize oordra.
You are very kind, H.J. Thank you!
What a lovely way to celebrate Marilize’s Birthday. Happy Birthday Marilize!🎂
Thank you very much, Anne!
Jul is steeds bevoorreg om so weg te breek na sulke pragtige plekke. Geluk met M se verjaarsdag en dit was beslis spesiaal. Ek sluit n skakel in na n ou in Australië wat die mooste voëls geblog het. https://bushboy.blog/2021/06/14/spots-stripes-or-freckles/
Daar is regtig min ander plekke waar n mens so veilig kan gaan “isoleer” as in ons nasionale parke en ons is regtig dankbaar vir daardie voorreg. Baie dankie vir Marilize se verjaarsdagwense, Ineke.
Baie dankie ook vir die skakel – ek gaan beslis bietjie lees daar!
Ek het baie jare gelede saam met my swaer-hulle vir n paar dae na een van die wildplase gegaan in daardie omgewing. Kan ongelukkig nie onthou wat die naam was nie. Ek was siek gewees en hul het my gevat om te herstel. Sou nogal wou onthou wat die naam is. Glo nie ek het eers fotos geneem nie.
Dis n baie spesiale omgewing met so baie wildplase daar. Mabalingwe en Mabula is twee bekende privaat reservate tussen Warmbad en Thabazimbi – miskien was jy by een van hulle?
Ek dink dit was tog meer na Nylstroom se kant noord. Ons het van Potties Nylstroom om gery om daar te kom. Sal nog bietjie gaan rondkyk aanlyn. Ek het dalk ook in my journaal/dagboek dalk iets daaroor geskryf. Het altyd so baie geskryf oor plekke waar ek was.
Happy Birthday, Marilize! Looks like you had a wonderful birthday in spite of things!
Thank you, Lois! I’ll pass on your congratulations to Marilize.