Surprise Weekend at Marakele; Sunday 13 June 2021

29 Replies

It was the morning after Marilize’s milestone birthday, which unfortunately 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.

Having spent all day Saturday at our comfortable safari tent overlooking the dam at Tlopi Tented Camp, we decided to prolong our departure back home to Pretoria on Sunday by exploring the roads leading through the Marakele National Park before checking out. There were lots of animals and birds to be seen, but it is Marakele’s awe-inspiring scenery that steals the show every time!

Giraffe eyeing us from a lofty vantage point
Tlopi Tented Camp, Marakele National Park, June 2021, seen from Mbidi Loop
That’s Tlopi Tented Camp and the dam in front of it in the distance, with the Marakele National Park stretching as far as the eye can see
Marakele sunrise
Marakele scenery
White Rhinoceros (photo by Joubert)
Marakele scenery
Marakele scenery
Verreaux’s Eagle on the wing
Marakele scenery
Dassie (Rock Hyrax)
Dassie (Rock Hyrax)
View from atop the Waterberg
View from atop the Waterberg
Marakele scenery
Purple Roller (photo by Joubert)
Kudu cow (photo by Joubert)
Kudu cow
Kudu bull

Check-out time at Tlopi Tented Camp is at 10:00 in the morning. While I was packing the Duster, Joubert was keeping an eye out for thieving monkeys and getting some final photographs of life in and around Tlopi.

Bushbuck ewe wading into the dam at Tlopi
White-throated Robin-Chat
White-browed Scrub Robin
Arrow-marked Babbler (photo by Joubert)

It was time to head for the gate. Along the way we detoured to the Bolonoto Pan and the graves of the Coetzee family, but no matter how we tried we just couldn’t stretch our weekend any further. Around midday we handed back the key for Tlopi unit 10 to the friendly reception staff and said our goodbyes to Marakele National Park, till next time.

Speckled Sulphur Tip butterfly (photo by Joubert)
Speckled Sulphur Tip butterfly
Antlion trap with a caught beetle
Bolonoto Pan
Blacksmith Lapwing
Common Purple Tip butterfly
Scarlet Tip butterfly (female)
Impala ram (photo by Joubert)
Coetzee Family Cemetary
Coetzee Family Cemetary
Crimson-breasted Shrike

29 thoughts on “Surprise Weekend at Marakele; Sunday 13 June 2021”

  6. Anne

    This has been a birthday to remember: good company, fantastic scenery, butterflies, birds, and a variety of animals all make a combination that is difficult to beat in the city 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. H.J. for avian101

    The Marakele National Park was definitely a great birthday gift to Marilize that she shared with the immediate family. The place is beautiful and abundant of animals. Great post my friend! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  9. sustainabilitea

    The scenery is certainly tied with the animals for most worth seeing. 😉. I love the impala and shrike shots in particular and the butterflies are also excellent…as everything else. I’m sure there were no complaints about the substitute gift. 🥰

    Liked by 1 person

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