Not many people have visited or even heard of Madikwe Game Reserve but it is most definitely one of South Africa’s top game reserves and well worth the visit. Boasting a landscape of grassy plains, woodlands, forests and rocky hills; Madikwe is regarded as one of the best conservation areas in Africa. Bordering Botswana and only four and a half to five hours drive from Johannesburg, the 75 000 hectare Madikwe Game Reserve is home to abundant wildlife and offers incredible opportunities to view the famous Big 5 and rarer species such as brown hyenas, aardwolf and wild dogs who are predominantly found in Botswana.
The malaria-free park was once farmland but later declared a reserve when more than 8 000 mammals were reintroduced into the area. A 150 kilometre electric fence was erected to contain the wildlife and they have since flourished in numbers. One is now able to view species such as hippo, African wild cat, caracal, cheetah, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox and various antelope species. For birders, the reserve is home to over 300 species of birds.
Madikwe boasts a number of privately owned luxury lodges and community lodges, with Madikwe Safari Lodge, Madikwe Hills, Madikwe River Lodge and Jaci’s Safari Lodge being firm favorites for a more exclusive safari experience. Each of these lodges offer a wide range of activities, including dawn and dusk open-vehicle game drives, bush walks, bird watching, bush dining experiences, stargazing, photographic safaris and conservation safaris. Each of these activities are led by highly trained guides who know the reserve inside out.
For families, lodges like Madikwe Safari Lodge and Jaci’s Safari Lodge are great options, as they offer family-friendly accommodation and some even offer special bumble drives and kids programmes. These programmes include a number of outdoor and indoor activities, offering kids the opportunity to learn about different animals and plants and how to identify and track animals from spoors.
Travelers love to combine their stay in Madikwe Game Reserve with the Sun City Resort, which is the only place near Johannesburg to offer a surf-and-safari experience.
