Description
Madikwe Safari Lodge is located in the stunning Madikwe Reserve on the northwestern border of South Africa. Overlooking Madikwe’s game-filled plains, and set on a gentle slope nestled between rolling hills the lodge is made up of three intimate camps. It is positioned at the ecological junction between the bushveld and the Kalahari meaning it therefore comprises five distinct habitats, which are home to an array of African wildlife including the big five.
Interiors reflect the red, earthy hues of the lodge’s surroundings from rust to rich buttery tones. Most suites feature a sitting area, bedroom with fireplace, dressing area with personal bar, en-suite bathroom and wooden decking leading to a shaded plunge pool.
Guest areas for all camps feature a series of individual sitting areas and shaded outdoor seating on the expansive covered decks. There are plentiful fireplaces both inside and out with a pizza oven for fun dining. There is a very pleasant, book-filled library at North Camp and West Camp is perfectly set up for families. Each camp’s boma is the setting for evocative starlit dinners.
Guests are offered a world-class interpretive experience of the bush on nature walks and morning, afternoon and night game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles. Aside from the big five, the Madikwe Game Reserve is home to over 250 different bird species. Some of the bird species you could see include Violeteared Waxbill, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Cape Vulture and Blackbreasted Snake Eagle.
Accommodation
Madikwe offers guests 3 camps with a total of 20 suites. Each air-conditioned suite features a spacious sitting area with circular fireplace, a personal bar and an en-suite bathroom with a large bath, indoor and outdoor showers. French doors open onto a wooden deck leading to an inviting private plunge pool. The West Camp only has four suites so it can be booked exclusively.
Childcare
Children are welcome at Madikwe but there are no specific facilities. A maximum of 3 children aged 11 years and younger can be accommodated in triple rooms at any one time. Unfortunately children aged 5 years and younger can't participate in game drives. Children aged between 6 years and 11 years are allowed to participate in game drives only at the manager's discretion. Babysitters are available at an additional cost.
Facilities
Guest areas for all camps feature a series of individual sitting areas and shaded outdoor seating on the expansive covered decks. There are plentiful fireplaces both inside and out with a pizza oven for fun dining. There is a very pleasant, book-filled library at North Camp and West Camp is perfectly set up for families. Each camp’s boma is the setting for evocative starlit dinners. Other facilities include 4x4 vehicles and the children's den.
Activities
Game drives and guided walks are included in room rates. Aside from the big five, the Madikwe Game Reserve is home to over 250 different bird species. Some of the bird species you could see include Violeteared Waxbill, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Cape Vulture and Blackbreasted Snake Eagle.
When to travel
The best game viewing is from May to the end of September. Summer (November to March) days can get quite warm (up to 28-32 degrees on average) but it is a dry heat. Summer rainfall, normally in the form of thunder storms are usually in the evening, however, the African climate is still always unpredictable. Autumn (April to May) days can still be warm but the evenings cool down. Average day time temperature 22-28 degrees. Evenings 10-15 degrees. Winter (June to August) days are warm (temperatures in the mid-twenties) evenings and early mornings very cold with average early morning temperatures 5-12 degrees. It very rarely rains at this time when the bush is golden and dry. Spring (September, October) days start getting hotter, evenings and mornings could still be crisp but not as cold. A very slim chance of rain.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best time to visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Not applicable
Location and directions
Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa
Set within 75 000 hectares of safari park, Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge is situated on a hill in the heart of the Madikwe Game Reserve in the North West Province of South Africa. Ingeniously located amongst boulders and age-old Tamboti trees.
How to get there
11 hour international flight to O.R.Tambo International Airport, followed by a 50 minutes domestic flight to Madikwe Hills airstrip, then 35 minutes by road. Alternatively, Madikwe Hills is a 4 hour drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria.
