Marakele National Park, also formerly known as the Kransberg National Park after it was founded in 1994, is a South African National Park situated in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains in Limpopo. Marakele National Park, which derives its name from the Tswana language, has become a 'place of sanctuary' for a wide variety of wildlife animals & birds due to its location in an area between the dry western and moister eastern regions of South Africa. The are that is now know as Marakele was once home to several iron-age settlements which are in the process of being rehabilitated for public viewing. Previous to its foundation as a National Park, it was also home to the well-reknowed naturalist Eugene Marais. Marakele National Park was founded as previously mentioned was founded Kransberg National Park in 1994 with the purchase of 150 square kilometers of land, and was shortly after renamed to its current name. By 1999, the park had expanded to 670 square kilometers and is now rivaling the Kruger National Park in terms of size.