Nestled in a mountainous amphitheatre at the highest point in the Waterberg lies Griffons Bush Camp. 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.

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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.

 

Griffons Bush Camp 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.

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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 Griffons Bush Camp includes zebra, wildebeest, mountain reedbuck, bushbuck, impala, klipspringer, bush pig, baboon, monkey, common duiker, and numerous other small animals.

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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.

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Facilities available:​

Game Drives

Hiking & Game Walks

Target shooting

Golf

Bird watching

Swimming pool

Family weekends

Child friendly

Safe Parking

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Activities in and around:

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Thabazimbi Golf Course

Situated eight kilometres from Thabazimbi on the Rustenburg road (R510), Thabazimbi is a Bushveld course with wonderful old trees and much bird and wild life joining golfers on the greens. Thabazimbi Golf Club is home to the annual Billie of the Bushveld Tournament which is held very year between March and April. The Rooikuilspruit that comes into play on five of the holes traverses this nine-hole, eighteen-tee course.

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Marakele National Park
The Marakele National Park in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains has become a 'place of sanctuary' for a vast variety of wildlife mainly due to its location in the transitional zone between the dry western and moist eastern regions of South Africa. The Marakele National Park is characterised by contrasting majestic mountain landscapes, grass-clad hills and deep valleys.

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Ben Alberts Nature Reserve
The Ben Alberts Nature Reserve is set close to the town of Thabazimbi, virtually on Route 510 just south west of Marakele National Park in the heart of the Waterberg. Rated as one of the best birding reserves by avid birders, Ben Alberts is also well known for its Vulture Restaurant, where the endangered Cape vulture is one of the stars of the show.

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Waterberg Biosphere
Situated in the magnificent Waterberg Mountain Range of Limpopo, the Waterberg District is the ideal getaway where the weary traveller can relax and revel in the great natural beauty of the bushveld savannah and its rich wildlife heritage. The Waterberg Mountains stretch along more than 5 000 km² of spectacular vistas and scenic valleys - the ideal destination off the beaten tourism track.

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The Nylsvley Nature Reserve
The Nylsvley Nature Reserve is situated in the upper reaches of the Nyl River near the town of Naboomspruit in Limpopo, and includes part of the largest floodplain vlei in the country. The Nylsvley Nature Reserve is well known for its exceptional avifaunal diversity, with 370 species recorded, of which 102 are waterfowl. 

 

Mokolo Dam Nature Reserve
The Mokolo Dam and nature reserve lies just north east of the Marakele National Park and roughly 50 kilometres south west of Lapalala Wilderness Game Reserve on the northern slopes of the Waterberg Mountains. Mokolo is a relatively small nature reserve that nonetheless attracts visitors for the lovely picnic spots and fishing around the dam, and the interesting concept of 'photographic hunting'.
 

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Payments accepted:

EFT, Cash, Visa or Master Card

 

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