THE MALARIA-FREE HOME OF THE BIG FIVE
Madikwe is a Big Five reserve covering some 290m2 (750km2) and with the added benefit of being Malaria-free. A special feature of Madikwe lies in its unique location, a transition zone on the edges of the Kalahari, where a number of rare species occur naturally.
The Madikwe Game Reserve, situated against the Botswana-South Africa border, is a short flight or just 3.5 hours' drive from Johannesburg and now one of South Africa's prime safari destinations. Established in 1991, it is also one of the country's newest - much of the land on which the park now sits was previously farmland. Recognizing the potential for ecological conservation and simultaneous economic empowerment in the area, the state formed a partnership with private enterprise and local communities, creating Madikwe. A very successful project indeed, the park is now touted as one of the country's prime safari destinations. Local topography consists mainly of wood- and grasslands, with the Dwarsberg mountains providing the southern border and a 65m (150km) electrified perimeter fence protecting the rest. In addition to extensive game viewing opportunities, visitors also benefit from the park's relatively unknown status at present, meaning greater privacy and the possibility of more intimate encounters with the local wildlife.
Madikwe highlights
- Enjoy the excitement of a night drive, seeking out leopards and other predators
- Purchase handcrafted goods and carvings
- Visit a Community lodge which local villagers own and operate
- Enjoy a sumptuous African feast in the bush or around a boma fire
Madikwe accomodation
Madikwe Hills
With its toned-down African decor, the owners of Madikwe Hills have managed to imbue a sense of style that is as chic as it is suited to the bush environment.
