MADIKWE GAME RESERVE
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"A prime wildlife reserve with a choice of excellent accommodation"
LOCATIONMadikwe Game Reserve is a prime wildlife safari destination with mostly luxury accommodation venues. Madikwe is one of the largest game reserves in South Africa and is malaria free. Besides many other wildlife species, the Big 5 animals can also be found in the reserve. Accommodation in Madikwe is mainly in luxury private game lodges rated 5 and 4 stars and is of the highest standard. The Reserve borders Botswana and is located in North West Province, 90 kilometres north of Zeerust, about 3.5 hours' drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria. ACCOMMODATION IN MADIKWE GAME RESERVEMadikwe Game Reserve accommodation is in a number of private game lodges with superb accommodation and other facilities. There is one proper bush camp and eco lodge. Most of the lodges are privately owned, while some are owned or managed in conjunction with the local communities. Some of the lodges in Madikwe: |
 
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IMPODIMO GAME LODGEImpodimo Game Lodge is a 5 star rated luxury game lodge. The Lodge is set along a rocky ridge commanding stunning vistas of the reserve. It is also located at the source of a natural spring, which provides the lodge with elevated views as well as riverine serenity. Activities on offer are dawn and dusk safaris as well as bush walks. |
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MADIKWE HILLS PRIVATE GAME LODGEMadikwe Hills Private Game Lodge is an ideal bush breakaway. It is a luxury game lodge located in Madikwe Game Reserve. Madikwe Hills is situated on a hill and overlooks the endless bushveld of the malaria free reserve. Amongst many other wildlife species, the Reserve is home to Wild Dog, Cheetah and the Big 5 mammals. It is situated in North West Province and about 4 hours by road from Johannesburg, or about an hour's flight. |
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MOSETLHA BUSH CAMP & ECO LODGEMosetlha Bush Camp & Eco Lodge is family owned and run, a rustic and intimate, unfenced Bush Camp nestled at the very heart of Madikwe. It is the only truly authentic Bush Camp and genuine Eco Lodge in Madikwe. Take advantage of the lowest rates in Madikwe and enjoy the simplicity of comfortable beds in raised wooden cabins, traditional bush fare prepared on the open fire, oil lamps, donkey boilers and hot safari showers offering you the perfect mix of comfort and really being in the bush and promising a genuine wilderness experience and a true safari adventure. |
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MOTSWIRI PRIVATE SAFARI LODGEMotswiri Private Safari Lodge is an elegant, luxury game lodge in the malaria free, Big 5, Madikwe Game Reserve, North West Province. The lodge is situated under a canopy of Leadwood trees overlooking a busy private waterhole, with the 5 luxury bush villas which accommodate a maximum of 10 persons, set around a swimming pool, an intimate homely setting offering complete privacy. |
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RHULANI SAFARI LODGERhulani Safari Lodge offers 5 star luxury accommodation and is set along a crest, commanding stunning vistas of Madikwe. Early morning and late afternoon game drives will give you the opportunity to view a wide variety of wildlife species. A productive water hole provides unrestricted views from the exclusive guest areas as well as the bedroom suites. |
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THAKADU RIVER CAMPThakadu River Camp is located in Madikwe Game Reserve. It is a luxury game lodge in a malaria free area and an ideal bush breakaway. Amongst many other wildlife species, Madikwe Game Reserve is home to Wild Dog, Cheetah and the Big 5 animals. It is situated in North West Province and about three and a half hours drive from Johannesburg, or about an hour's flight. |
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THE BUSH HOUSEThe owner managed 4 star rated luxury Bush House is located on the western side of Madikwe Game Reserve. This is an informal lodge that encourages guests to kick of their shoes, relax and simply unwind. It is a home away from home and a personal, friendly atmosphere is guaranteed. The camp is fully fenced with an electric fence so it is perfectly safe to walk freely around camp and for children to play on the lawn. |
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TUNINGI SAFARI LODGETuningi Safari Lodge is and elegant 5 star game lodge set in a tranquil valley in Madikwe Game Reserve, North West Province. What makes this beautiful area in the North West Province even more attractive, is the fact that it is malaria-free and is approximately three and a half hours drive from Johannesburg and a mere hour's flight. Tuningi Safari Lodge combines the wonders of the African bushveld with the splendours of five star luxuries. |
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ACTIVITIES IN MADIKWEGuests at the lodges are taken on day and night game drives in safari vehicles, to view the large variety of animals and birds, accompanied by professional guides and rangers. For the adventurous there are exciting bush walks under the watchful eyes of expert Field Guides. MADIKWE - HABITAT, WILDLIFE & BIRDLIFEMadikwe Game Reserve is a Big Five Reserve and home to 66 mammal species including the endangered Cheetah and Wild dog. The habitat as well as rich diversity of vegetation in Madikwe ensures a wide range of game and the topography offers ideal game viewing opportunities. Birdlife is abundant and more than 340 resident and migrant bird species can be found in Madikwe. The reserve consists of open woodlands and grasslands, dissected by a rugged ridge called - Die Rant van Tweedepoort, and bordered in the south by the Dwarsberg Mountains. The Groot Marico River borders Madikwe in the North. The reserve is dotted with huge rocky hills or rocky outcrops, known as inselbergs. The entire reserve of 75 000 hectares has been enclosed in a 150 km perimeter fence, which has been electrified to prevent the escape of elephants and the larger predators. MADIKWE - THE NAMEOne possible meaning of the name Madikwe could be clarified as follows: In the book, TRANSVAAL INDIGENOUS PLACE NAMES PAST AND PRESENT, COPYRIGHT 1991 T.E. (TOM) ANDREWS, the name "Madikwe" is translated as follows: Tswana "MADIKWE" - A solitary male Giraffe expelled (turned out of the herd) from the herd, so called from its habit of roaming in a small area. "Dikwa" to go around. MADIKWE - THE PASTThe history of the people of the area can be traced back to ancient hunter-gatherers called the San and later to Kingdoms of the Tswana people. Missionaries of old, hunters, traders and explorers all passed through the area where Madikwe is today. Rugged Afrikaner pioneers passed through this area, some settled in the area and farmed amongst the Tswana people. Today the people in the area consist mainly of commercial and subsistence farmers and settled Tswana tribal communities. The region has become well known especially because of stories written by renowned South African author, the late Herman Charles Bosman, primarily through a character "Oom (Uncle) Schalk Lourens" featuring in his books about the region. Today it is Madikwe Game Reserve, a spectacular game reserve that the people of the area can be proud of. MADIKWE - RECENT HISTORYThe reserve was announced to the public in August 1991 and officially became part of the North West Parks & Tourism Board's portfolio of Reserves on 31 October the same year. Operation Phoenix - Reintroduction of Wildlife The reintroduction of wildlife began early in 1991, shortly before the perimeter fence had been completed. Named Operation Phoenix, it is as yet one of the largest wildlife translocation exercises in the world. More than 8,000 animals of 28 species have been released into the reserve, including Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Lion, Cheetah, Cape Hunting dog, Spotted Hyena, Giraffe, Zebra and many species of antelope and herbivores. Leopard, some antelope species and a large number of smaller mammal species already occurred naturally in the reserve. Operation Phoenix was completed in 1997. MADIKWE GAME RESERVE - A JOINT VENTUREMadikwe functions through a system designed to benefit the three main stakeholders involved in the reserve. These are the North West Parks Board, the private sector (through investors and owners of private lodges) and the local communities surrounding the reserve. All work together in a mutually beneficial "partnership in conservation". The North West Parks and Tourism Board is responsible for setting up the necessary infrastructure and the management to run Madikwe as a major protected conservation area in the North West Province. It also identifies suitable sites within the reserve which are leased to the private sector for tourism-based developments and activities. The private sector provides the necessary capital to build game lodges and to market and manage the lodges. In this way, private sector money, rather than state funds, is used to develop the tourism potential of the reserve. For the local communities the benefits are job creation, through ecological sustainable economic activity based on Madikwe wildlife and tourism. This also benefits the region as a whole. Many other reserves and parks in South Africa have followed the example that was set by Madikwe. TRAVEL TO MADIKWEMadikwe Game Reserve can be reached either by road or by air. The reserve is approximately 3,5 hours' drive from Johannesburg, following the route via Zeerust before proceeding north for about 90 kilometres. Air transfers from Grand Central Airport or Johannesburg International Airport are available. Some guests also use private charters. DAY VISITORSDay visitors are allowed in the Reserve only if they book through a lodge prior to the arrival date. A two and half hour's guided game drive, which includes lunch,
will be arranged for day visitors at a reasonable fee. |
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