Marataba Trails Lodge

This MORE Family Collection's luxury outpost is home to South Africa’s only malaria-free Big Five walking safari trail. Marataba Mountain Lodge is an explorer’s paradise, where the picturesque red mountains and grass-clad hills of Waterfall Valley promise some of the most spectacular scenery and wildlife the Waterberg region has to offer. Learn more about this South Africa safari lodge below.

Property Details

Marataba Mountain Lodge is a year-round destination created for those in search of an interactive safari experience. Five luxurious eco-suites are an extension of their natural environment. Each has a beautiful design with five-star amenities but remains totally connected to Marakele National Park’s remote wilderness. En suite bathrooms, rain showers, fireplaces, and private shaded decks with endless views across the valley feature in each room. Floor-to-ceiling windows with unobstructed views and natural wood and stone contemporary furnishings complete the concept. Accommodating only 10 guests at a time, Marataba Mountain Lodge offers the perfect peaceful retreat.

Mornings at Marataba Mountain Lodge begin early with fresh offerings of kiwi, pineapple, and berry breakfasts. Marataba is renowned for its healthy culinary offerings, with fresh, organic, and delicious meals served throughout the day. The chef often prepares meals over an open fire and accompanied by the resident elephants. Then, the day continues with a morning game drive followed by a delightful lunch. Afternoons offer opportunities for short bush walks, yoga, or spa treatments. Cap your evening off with an evening game drive to spot nocturnal species just waking up for the day’s activities. The lodge also offers morning and afternoon water safaris on their barge, Miss Mara.

Marataba Trails

Marataba Mountain Lodge also famously developed the Marataba Trails around the lodge. Avid hikers have a choice between morning and afternoon hikes, which guides will customize based on interests and fitness levels. In the winter months, guests have the option of a full-day outing and picnic. Each trail presents opportunities to experience the many microenvironments hidden within this private 56,000-acre concession linked to Marakele National Park.

Guides are particularly talented at gauging each guest’s fitness level and safari desires to create an unforgettable wildlife encounter. Choose from trekking over the top of the Kransberg range vistas or traversing through gorges of the Waterberg Mountains. Follow the natural riverine courses, walking past ancient Stone Age cave paintings, and taking a dip in a refreshing waterhole. Regardless of the route, the one thing that remains consistent is the likelihood of encountering wildlife along the way. All of the large game species—from elephant and rhino to big cats and various birds—make their home here due to the park’s transitional location between the dry western and humid eastern regions of South Africa.

After a day on the trails, return to Marataba Mountain Lodge for an in-room massage, a candlelit dinner around the table, and good company at the boma fire learning about bush cooking techniques or local legends. This South Africa safari lodge is particularly magical at sunset, with vistas presenting Africa’s vastness in both land and starlit sky.