Lying on the edge of the Kalahari, Madikwe is a privately-owned conservation success story and has earned an international reputation for its wildlife. It is home to the Big 5 as well as some of Africa’s rarest predators – wild dog, brown hyena and cheetah.
Game drives are the main activity in this open savannah landscape. You’ll head out on early morning and late afternoon drives with your guide. Sightings of the Big 5 – lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard – are usually the focus but a Madikwe safari is home to desert wildlife too. Rapier-horned gemsbok graze next to herds of springbok, and the reserve is also great destination for the Kalahari’s smaller and seldom-seen creatures such as foxes, wild cat and porcupine.
A Madikwe safari is best enjoyed as part of a more extensive South Africa holiday. The reserve combines easily with close-by Sun City, the country’s most extraordinary holiday resort. At Sun City, guests can tee off on championship golf courses, go hot-air ballooning and enjoy all the thrills and considerable spills of a mega water world. It’s a family’s playground but also great for couples and sports enthusiasts too. Pilanesberg Game Reserve lies next door, offering a different take on your safari.
You could also finish with a grand flourish on the fashionable beaches of Cape Town or those of the tropical Indian Ocean. Madikwe game Reserve is a 3.5 hour overland transfer to Johannesburg’s O R Tambo International Airport, travel hub for the entire region. Talk to us and we’ll make it happen.
Madikwe Game Reserve has a fairly predictable climate: a short wet summer season followed by a long dry winter. The best time for a Madikwe safari depends somewhat on your particular focus, whether it is spotting big game, bird watching or combining a Madikwe safari with a beach holiday.
The best time for game viewing is generally considered to be during the winter months of May to September. The pleasant temperatures are matched by sunny skies and dry conditions, though mid-winter nights are extremely cold with early morning temperatures around or just below freezing point.
October and November are very hot and dry and the rainy season begins in force around December. But the rains transform the landscape. Madikwe becomes well-watered and green with many animals – especially antelope – giving birth. Migrating birds arrive and predators feast on the season’s bounty, making the summer Green Season a good choice for travellers keen to see a different side to a safari.
There’s a wide range of accommodation to choose from on your Madikwe safari. Several of its lodges are among the luxurious in South Africa. Others have been designed with romance in mind or for families with young children. There are fully-serviced, exclusive-use villas with private guides and in-house chefs as well as value-for-money lodges where you won’t miss out on an afternoon by the pool.
Offering good value in Madikwe, Impodimo also welcomes families with children, offering tailored activities & baby-sitters while parents enjoy game drives, spa massages & private dining. Rooms come complete with air conditioning & a fireplace.
Spread out over 3 separate camps, this family-run lodge is one of our top choices in Madikwe. Facilities include a pool & spa plus kids’ activities for families on safari. Your suite has a bathroom, private deck & its own plunge pool.
A Madikwe safari holiday is best experienced in combination with other destinations in South Africa and even beyond. And although the private reserve is only 330 kilometres (200 miles) from Johannesburg, we also recommend using a transfer company for the journey and back; once at the lodge, everything is taken care of.
Most visitors add Cape Town to their Madikwe safari holiday – it’s a short flight to Johannesburg and a 3-hour transfer. And families with children will want to add a few days at Sun City and Pilanesberg. A morning’s drive from Madikwe, this multi-faceted entertainment resort offers everything from safaris and 5-star golf to playgrounds and a water world complete with giant wave machine.
Browse our recommended itineraries below, each including a Madikwe safari. Feel free to ask us for more information on other combinations; with Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport in easy reach, it’s simple to add on Victoria Falls or Botswana.
Our team of destination experts will design a holiday to meet your budget and interests. Let’s start planning your tailor-made African safari today!
Make Madikwe part of a bigger South African tour, tailored to personal perfection. Smooth-running logistics means you can add anything you want onto your Madikwe safari – from Table Mountain and shark-cage diving to golden beaches and dazzling green golf courses. And since Madikwe is only a morning’s drive from Johannesburg, you can easily head further afield to destinations ranging from Victoria Falls to Mozambican island resorts. Have a look at our tour ideas or contact us for a tailor-made itinerary.
