Griffons Bush Camp

Nestled in a mountainous amphitheater, at the highest point in the Waterberg, lies Griffons Bush Camp. On its own exclusive and private property within Marakele National Park, the gigantic views 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 above the camp.Griffons 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 guided nature trails, from steep and demanding to leisurely and relaxing. Griffons lies within Marakele National Park which hosts Africa's Big 5 game species. The lodge also offers game walks and trails, and from Griffons Bush Camp as a base, visitors have a choice of self-drive or guided game drives in our sector, and in Marakele National Park. A high clearance vehicle is recommended for some of the roads, and our guided game drives into the park are undertaken with Griffons four-wheel drive game viewing vehicles.Good news is that many of the roads are being re-surgfaced at the moment. For the birder there is of course the opportunity of viewing 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, flapper 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, buffalo and black-backed jackal. Other wildlife you are likely to see at Marakele Lodge includes zebra, wildebeest, mountain reedbuck, bushbuck, impala, klipspringer, bush pig, baboon, monkey, common duiker, and numerous other small animals.In summer the mountain cascades with several mountain streams, offering many pools for the hiker to cool off in. A circular guided 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.Please note that this is a rustic bush camp we have solar energy and the water comes from the mountain streams. We offer chalets made of the local stone and thatch, each with own ablutions and coffee station and braai, and there is a communal kitchen with all facilities, too. As we are within the boundaries of a national park, the chances of meeting wild animals is great, even en route to the bush camp!