Madikwe Safaris

Found in the North-West province, close to the border with Botswana, the Madikwe Game Reserve is one of the great success stories of South African conservation and is an outstanding spot to enjoy a safari. Opened in 1992, this area was once farmland, but wildlife was re-introduced via Operation Phoenix, which has seen all of Africa’s fabled Big Five, cheetah, hyena, wild dog and hugely varied plains game settle and thrive within the reserve.

Today there are 23 lodges spread across the 6,800 hectares of the reserve, with styles ranging from simple, rustic bush camps to traditional tented camps and right through to some of the most opulent lodges South Africa has to offer. As the reserve is malaria-free, it is especially appealing for families, and there are a number of private safari houses, complete with their own guides and in-house staff to make for the ultimate family tailor made Madikwe safari experience.

Wherever you choose to stay you will head out to explore with highly experienced guides who will ensure you have the best possible sightings of the area’s abundant and varied wildlife. Being a private reserve means that night safaris are permitted, as is the possibility of driving off-road to reach special sightings. All wildlife encounters are strictly controlled, meaning there will never be more than two vehicles at any one sighting, so privacy and amazing experiences are guaranteed.

With twice-daily scheduled flights from Johannesburg, access here is easy and for those who don’t want to fly the road transfers are between four and five hours depending on where you are staying. Ideal as a final stop in South Africa before flying home, Madikwe is a real gem of a destination and one that we can heartily recommend.

If you're looking for a malaria-free safari holiday in South Africa, then this is the place to come!