Madikwe Safari Lodge

Madikwe Safari Lodge is located in the very heart of the Madikwe Game Reserve. At nearly 190,000 square acres, Madikwe is one of South Africa’s largest game areas. The world’s largest game translocation happened here, when more than 8,000 animals were introduced to the park. Madikwe boasts a wide variety of habitats and geographical features that make it a perfect home for a wide variety of African wildlife. “The big five” are common here, as are a wide variety of other creatures.

The lodge itself is nestled between two rolling hills that overlook the plains where the game drives happen. The Madikwe Safari Lodge is an intimate lodge that still manages to cater to guests that are looking for a rustic yet luxurious experience. Surroundings are organic and inviting. Access is easy by road and air, and Madikwe is a great (malaria-free) choice for families.

Accommodation

The lodge is very intimate, with just three exclusive camps for a total of only sixteen suites. The suites are especially luxurious, with a sitting room, a bedroom complete with circular fireplace, en suite bathrooms and baths, indoor and outdoor showers, and even a private plunge pool. Madikwe is a great destination for families, and special activities and accommodations can be arranged for children.

The comfortable surroundings don’t end in your suite. The rest of the camp is equally as welcoming, with intimate seating areas on expansive, covered decks and indoor and outdoor fireplaces scattered around the lodge. There are even pizza ovens. There are also libraries of books, a on-site safari gift shop, and a traditional boma to enjoy evening meals under the stars.

Wildlife/Safari

Madikwe is unique in that its guide are trained through CC Africa
(Conservation Corporation Africa), which is a non-profit organization that focuses on empowering local communities through conservation. In addition to well-trained rangers, Madikwe has a wide variety of wildlife and exciting options for game drives.  There are five distinct territories in the Madikwe game reserve that are home to thousands of animals, from the big five (including both white and black rhinos) to endangered wild dogs. Night viewing is also great, and there are plenty of hyenas and springhares that you’ll be able to see after dark. There are also plenty of big cats to see in Madikwe – lions, cheetahs, and leopards all call Madikwe home.

Directions

The Madikwe Game Reserve and Madikwe Safari Lodge are located in Northwest South Africa, near the South Africa-Botswana border. You can drive yourself there, but the lodge is also easily accessible by road transfer and air. The Madikwe Safari Lodge can help you coordinate all of your travel before your arrival – they will even provide meet-and-greet service at the airport. The gate entrance to the lodge opens at 6 am and closes at 9 pm, so you will want to make sure you can arrive between these times.

Madikwe Safari Lodge is approximately 240 miles away from Johannesburg, or about 4.5 hours away by car. For air travel, there are daily flights from Johannesburg to the Madikwe airstrip, which is just ten short minutes from the lodge. It is also possible to fly from Johannesburg or Capetown to Pilanesberg Airport and arrange for a car hire or transfer there. From Pilanesberg Airport it is approximately a two hour drive to the lodge.