Five Reasons to Visit Madikwe Game Reserve

Known as the world’s safari mecca, Southern Africa is home to a spectacular array of national parks, private game reserves and protected areas. With so much choice one might feel a little bewildered on deciding which area would be the best suited for your dream African safari and which location will provide you with the best wildlife sightings.

With years of experience in tailor-making luxury African safari’s we know what guests are after and have first-hand knowledge of reserves, resorts and the small details that can make or break a holiday adventure in the African wild.

So, take our word for it when we recommend a visit to one of South Africa’s spectacular game reserves to host your African safari.

Here are five reasons to visit the 75,000 hectares of protected territory, known as the Madikwe Game Reserve.

1. Ease Of Access

Regardless of where you are travelling from, getting to the tip of Africa is likely a long and tedious journey. Madikwe Game Reserve is one of the few wildlife reserves in Southern Africa that is malaria free and is easily accessible by short, small-aircraft flight or a 3.5–hour drive from Johannesburg’s international O.R. Tambo Airport.

Located in North West Province of South Africa, the reserve borders Botswana and is about 40km from the capital Gabarone. The ease of access to and from different locations not only makes the reserve an ideal add-on to any tour package but also ensures comfortable travel and shorter travel time.

This allows you to get the most out of your holiday itinerary and save on costs without compromising on the quality of a mind-blowing safari experience.

2. Location

Due to its geographical location and the expanse of its borders, the reserve lies within a transition region between Lowveld bushveld and Kalahari thornveld resulting in a rich diversity of vegetation and animal species from both ecosystems.

Travellers are given the opportunity to witness a wide range of African animal and bird species in different eco-systems, yet remaining in the same safari location.

Geographically Madikwe has enormous volcanic intrusions known as Inselbergs, wide open plains and the riverine environment along the Marico River in the east of the reserve. Rivers running through the reserve are another major attraction for wildlife and flourishing vegetation and birdlife, making for spectacular viewing opportunities year-round.

3. Wildlife

Being the fourth largest game reserve in South Africa, Madikwe Game Reserve is home to over 10 000 wild animals, more than 66 species of mammal and 350 species of bird and is additionally known to have the second largest elephant population.

Amongst this inspiring array of wild animals, you will find the Big 5, and experience breath-taking sightings of the endangered Cheetah, Spotted Hyena, Brown Hyena, and Aardwolf.

Madikwe Game Reserve promises a thrilling wild African adventure, viewing the wildlife from one’s lodge, up-close on a 4×4 game drive or on foot.

The experience unfolds through day and on night-time drives as you pass through eco-systems and learn about creatures big and small living in symbiosis in a world full of magic and mystery. With every day unwrapping a new adventure, different species wait to be discovered on this journey of never-ending exploration.

4.Exclusivity

Besides the spectacular game viewing on offer at Madikwe, the exclusive access for lodge guests sets it apart in providing an unmatched safari experience.

Being a private game reserve, the general public is not allowed access without a reservation for one of the lodges. No day visitors, private camping, picnic or barbeque facilities are available to the public and this prevents the overcrowding at wildlife sightings that so often occurs in National Parks.

Exclusive game viewing opportunities are further enhanced by each of the Madikwe private lodges working together during safari times in order to ensure each guest gets to see the most exciting game. Using a well-established radio network, each game ranger calls in their sightings and locations ensuring every drive is a thrilling adventure of opportunity and up-close wild encounters.

Expert rangers are also not bound to viewing from the road as in many other reserves and may approach a sighting for up-close viewing off-road.

For further exclusive encounters, guests are invited to join in on a scheduled rhino conservation experience. Here you will participate in ‘notching’ and gathering DNA samples from a rhino on the reserve. Witness conservation in action first-hand.

5. Accommodation

Madikwe Private Game Reserve boasts some of the best safari lodges in South Africa, from exclusive use ultra-luxury villas, to family-friendly spaces, adventurous eco-themed camping, or opulent honeymoon suites – the quality available at Madikwe is undeniable.

Catering to various needs from romantic arrangements, children’s programs or special occasion celebrations, hospitable lodge staff do everything they can in order to make your experience memorable and care-free.

Regardless of the accommodation chosen, the quality of each safari remains a world-class adventure as the requirements for game rangers in Madikwe are extremely high, in fact, one of the highest requirements for any game rangers in Southern Africa.

It is no doubt that a visit to Madikwe Game Reserve makes for a heart-throbbing thrill of an adventure. Whether you’re living in an exclusive luxury villa with a private infinity pool and viewing deck or spending the night in a luxury tree-house lit only by eco-lamps, the magical enormity of the African constellation, the crimson sunset skies and the roaring echoes of the ‘King of the Jungle’ will remain etched in your heart forever.

We’ll Show You Africa!