Madikwe Game Reserve

Overview

Most newcomers to the safari experience are usually amazed at the quality found in the middle of the African bush.

There is a calm atmosphere that prevails at a safari lodge which is hard to quantify for those who lives in the busy world of modern life. In the bush, all of that melts away and a tranquility infects the soul and permeates through your being.

But beneath this air of tranquility, there is an efficiency at work. Your servers are always smiling, and with a calmness able to do their work as effectively as any server in a 5 star establishment anywhere else in the world.

Managers seem to almost magically appear when you need them, always finding a way to smooth over any bumps in your experience. It is an experience you can find nowhere else in the world. That calmness belies the efficiency of a safari lodge in Madikwe.

Daily Schedule

In the mornings you get up before the sun rises. You are greeted with hot coffee, tea or maybe even hot chocolate, some sort of morning snack, just before you get onto your game vehicles and set out on your first Safari of the day.

Somewhere during your adventure in the bush, the ranger will find a lovely spot for you to have a quick stop. From his vehicle he will bring out an entire coffee and tea making kit and serve you coffee or tea with snack while you enjoy your view of Africa. After you have had your fill, you will get back on the vehicles and continue your Safari.

When you return to the lodge, you can freshen up in your rooms before breakfast or alternatively head straight for the dining area. After breakfast, if the lodges offer the service, you can partake in the bush walk, which is just a short walking Safari. If the lodge does not offer this, guests often like to rest as the day gets warmer.

Around noon, you will be served lunch. This is a great time to admire the various views from your Safari lodge, especially if there is a watering hole. Quite often during the heat of the midday sun, elephants will come to drink at the lodge watering holes which are normally visible from the dining area.

After lunch guests usually have a spa treatment or relax by the pool. Depending on the time of year, you will congregate again for the afternoon Safari between 15h00 and 16h00. Here a high tea or a substantial snack will be offered before you depart.

Just before the sun sets, your game ranger will find another lovely spot for you to stop for a sundowner. Here you will be given a drink of your choice as you watch the sun set over the grand vista before you.

When you arrive back at the lodge it will be dark and dinner will soon be served. Once again you can go to your rooms to freshen up or head straight for the dining area where you will have your final meal of the day.

And that night you will fall asleep in a comfortable bed with not a single sound of the concrete jungle to bother you. The sounds of the African bush will lull you to sleep.

Big Five Viewing

Madikwe is considered a prime game viewing location. But that is just some marketing speak which we hear everyone use. So what can you realistically expect to see of the Big 5?

During a three night stay you will generally see between 3-4 of the Big 5, with a good chance of seeing all of them.

You will see elephants at Madikwe. Buffalo are also a common sight. Rhino may also be found. Lions are also usually not a problem over a 3 night stay, however there are stretches where they seem to just disappear, meaning that if you are unlucky you won't see them.

The big one that is normally the one everyone is missing is the Leopard. Leopards are generally shy creatures, and their incredibly stealthy nature makes them challenging to find from time to time. However, this will only form another reason for you to come back and try again.

Wild dog & Cheetah

Currently, Madikwe has 2 packs of wild dog. This critically endangered species is not common in most game reserves and Madikwe is fortunate to have 2 healthy packs.

Due to their incredible stamina, wild dog have a very large range, so viewing them can be spotty at times. Madikwe Game Reserve is however one of the best chances you will have at viewing these beautiful animals.

Cheetah can be just as frustrating as the leopard sometimes. With so few individuals in Madikwe, you can go for quite a while without seeing them. But unlike Leopard, they are diurnal, meaning they operate mostly during the day, so finding them is a bit easier than the leopard.

Other Notable Viewings

Herbivores are common. You will see the beautiful Zebra in their herds walking across the grasslands, usually with some impala not far away. Warthogs are always a pleasure to see, with their relatively long rigid tails sticking up into the air as they move about.

Giraffe are plentiful and their elegant long limbs are quite magnificent. What is strange is how elegant they look when they are walking, but the moment that they start to run, it is quite comical.

There are far too many animals you will see to mention here. In the end, Madikwe provides a holistic African bush experience, each unique to each guest.