The Marvellous Miss Mara of Marataba

Some of Marataba’s most extraordinary Big 5 sightings are from the deck of our flat-bottomed river boat, Miss Mara.

Look no further than Marataba for a luxury African safari. Set on 21 000ha of Big 5 bushveld within the Marakele National Park in South Africa’s Waterberg, Marataba has two lodges: Safari Lodge (perfect for an active safari with family and friends), and Mountain Lodge (ideal for couples). The Thabametsi Treehouse is an optional extra for anyone who wants to experience a night of solitude under the stars.

Here guests get to experience one of South Africa’s most protected reserves on guided game drives, bush walks, and a water safari. Enter Miss Mara.

Marataba’s unassuming river boat, Miss Mara, takes guests 2.5 km up the Matlabas River and back, often delivering the most incredible – and memorable – wildlife encounters.

Like the one Field Guide James Shute and guests had one sunny morning aboard Miss Mara:

“We had stopped to watch a resident troop of vervet monkeys sunning themselves in their favourite tree. It was a peaceful moment – until chaos erupted. The monkeys rushed towards the very ends of the branches, shouting their distinctive alarm call and staring in panic back towards the trunk of the tree. Then we saw her, a beautiful young leopardess, climbing up the centre of the tree towards the monkeys. As the leopard jumped up, four of the monkeys made the decision to jump into the river and swim away, while one, who was not so sure about the water, hung on for dear life at the edge of a small branch. The leopard contemplated her options, staring at the monkey and at the water. Being a youngster, she was still refining her hunting skills, and this was a big lesson for her. Eventually, she decided against joining the monkeys in the river, and made her way down the tree and into the thicket. Later, we passed by the monkeys again who – after staring death in the face – were now drying themselves off in the sun and keeping an extra close watch on the banks of the river.”

A tributary of the Limpopo, the Matlabas draws a wide variety of game to her reeds and riverbanks. And while sightings like the one described above don’t happen every day, Miss Mara is well known for her hippo and elephant encounters.

” Watching an elephant enjoy the river is always special,” says Shute. “They come right down into the water to cool off after a long day in the sun, eat the reeds and splash in the shallows. It is a very relaxed, gentle and respectful way to view the park’s elephants. You can get really close to the elephants without disturbing them, which is part of Miss Mara’s charm.”

And herein lies the beauty of a water safari. Miss Mara plots a slow, quiet course up the river giving guests plenty of opportunity to spot some of the region’s 200+ bird species (including snake eagles, buzzards, kingfishers, hornbills and sunbirds); hone their photography skills; learn more about the region from Marataba’s experienced guides; and soak up the scenery in an unrushed, unobtrusive Marataba safari to remember.

“Whether you’re watching Marataba’s resident hippos, spotting crocs or enjoying a sundowner, a water safari on Miss Mara remains a highlight for visitors to Marataba,” says Shute.

Images: Francois Fourie, Andrew Parrington

Take a look at our video and enjoy the moment.