Marloth Park rules for guests

Last checked 26 October 2026

Where these rules come from

Marloth Park has its own conservation by-laws, gazetted by the Nkomazi Local Municipality, which enforces them through its rangers and law enforcement officers. These are the ones that matter to guests.

Your host may have house rules of their own, such as check-in times or quiet hours at night, and those apply too.

Speed limits

Road	Limit
Olifant RoadThe main tar road through Marloth	50 km/h
All other roadsGravel and side roads	30 km/h

Last checked 26 October 2026

The limits keep the noise and dust down and protect the animals, which step onto the road without warning. Give animals right of way, and slow down even more after dark, when you only see them once you're close.

Feeding the animals

• Feed only antelope pellets, plus wild bird seed for the birds. Other food harms them.
• Never feed by hand. The animals are wild, and kudu and nyala bulls have horns.
• Don't feed baboons or monkeys at all.

You can buy pellets at the shops in Marloth. Bread, mealies and braai leftovers make the animals ill. You'll see plenty of animals whether you feed them or not.

Pets

Pets aren't allowed in Marloth Park. The by-laws say no animal or bird may be kept on a stand without the municipality's written consent, and that no pets, animal refuges or animal care centres are allowed. Taming or keeping wild animals is also forbidden. The reason is disease: domestic animals carry infections that the wildlife here, and in Kruger next door, has no immunity to.

The fine is R7,000 per pet, and fines under the Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act can be much higher. If you find an injured or orphaned wild animal, don't take it in. Tell your host, so the municipal rangers can arrange care through a registered rehabilitation centre.

Driving and lights

• Never drive off the road. The grazing in Marloth is already under pressure.
• Don't shine spotlights on the animals. It disturbs them.

Noise

Keep the noise down. Loud music isn't allowed, because sound carries a long way in the bush and spoils the evening for everyone around you.

Fires and braais

Marloth is a high fire risk area, with thatched and wooden houses all year and dry veld in winter. The fire rules:

• Never braai in windy weather or leave a fire unattended.
• Never use petrol or any other fuel to light a fire.
• When you're done, smother the fire with a metal cover or douse it with water, and check that the coals are dead.
• Put dead coals and ash in your rubbish or a drum. Don't dump them in the veld.
• Don't leave mosquito coils burning when you leave the room, and use solar lights instead of candles.
• Don't flick cigarette butts onto the ground.

Wood, plants and litter

• Leave fallen wood where it lies. It's part of the ecosystem, and you can buy firewood at the shops.
• Don't bring in plants. Exotic plants spread into the veld, and some are poisonous to the animals.
• Don't litter, cigarette butts included. Animals eat litter by mistake.
• There are no public toilets. If children need to go in the bush, take the tissue and any wet wipes or nappies home with you.
• Take your recycling to one of the gates. Monkeys, baboons and mongoose raid bins left outside.

Walking and cycling after dark

Walking, running and cycling on the roads aren't allowed from 18:00 to 06:00, because dangerous animals may be about after dark. Lions do come in from Kruger now and then. After dark, stay indoors or drive.

Reporting a problem

For a fire, an animal in trouble or someone breaking the by-laws, tell your host first. They'll know which local number to call, and the municipal rangers' and Field Security numbers are on the emergency page. For a medical emergency or a crime in progress, call 112 from any cell phone.