Madikwe Safari Lodge

Madikwe Safari Lodge consists of 3 camps perfect for families, couples & friends. If one is looking for private accommodation, great game viewing and a spectacular safari experience, Madikwe Safari Lodge is the place to be.

More About the Camps at Madikwe Safari Lodge:

Lelapa Lodge

Lelapa means ‘family’ & at Lelapa lodge you can expect warm hospitality, sublime comfort and a compelling charm which will make you want to stay forever. By focusing on families and being able to accommodate children of all ages, Lelapa Lodge is the perfect family destination.

Each of the twelve suites are comfortable, spacious and respectful of the natural environment beyond. Each suite boasts an indoor and outdoor shower, private plunge pool and wood-burning fireplace which seek to enhance Mother Natures’ subtle signature.

Some of the features of Lelapa Lodge include;

• 12 Suites for 24 people
• Children of all ages welcome
• Children’s activities and babysitting available
• Family Rooms available
• Private plunge pools
• Communal pool
• Suitable for disabled travellers (with assistance)
• Full range of dietary preferences catered for
• Free Wi-Fi (in public areas)

Kopano Lodge

Kopano which means ‘small gathering’ can be booked out on an exclusive use basis & is well-suited to a get-together of friends or an older family. This modern lodge is influenced by an African design aesthetic, comprising of just four luxury suites which reminds one of a traditional homestead. Each suite features a fireplace, private plunge pool & viewing deck, while sharing a main lodge area.

Some of the features of Kopano Lodge include;

• 4 Suites for 8 guests
• Children of 16 and older welcome
• Private Plunge Pools only
• Open plan lounge and dining area
• Suitable for disabled travellers (with assistance)
• Full range of dietary preferences catered for

Dithaba Lodge

The local dialect meaning of Dithaba is mountain & is located slightly higher up than the other camps, offering a magnificent view over the open plains. With only 4 Suites each with a private plunge pool this lodge is well suited to a group of friends or family members making it their own while on safari. It is also just the perfect escape for those who simply prefer the sound of nature and little else.

Some of the features of Dithaba Lodge include;

• 4 Suites for 8 guests
• Children of 16 and over welcome, unless lodge is booked exclusively then children of all ages are welcome
• Private Plunge Pools only
• Open plan lounge and dining area
• Not suitable for disabled travellers
• Full range of dietary preferences catered for

The Lodge will only ever accommodate a maximum of two triple or one four-bedded suites. Overlooking Madikwe's game-filled plains, intimate sitting areas in all three camps feature shaded outdoor seating on expansive covered decks. There are plentiful fireplaces both inside and outdoors with pizza ovens for fun dining, book-filled libraries and a unique safari shop. A covered outdoor living room offers beanbags and cushions on the floor for casual relaxation. The nearby boma is the setting for evocative starlit dinners.

About Madikwe Game Reserve

Madikwe, a South African private game reserve created in 1991 from 75,000 ha of farmland, which had been extensively degraded by overgrazing, was chosen as the site of Operation Phoenix. The government-sponsored, biggest-ever game- relocation programme in Africa involved re-stocking and conserving flora and wildlife, which had long since disappeared from the region.

Ten thousand animals of 27 major species, including wild dog, cheetah, lion, white and black rhino, buffalo and elephant, have been re-introduced to the Madikwe Game Reserve over a six year period with animals coming from various reserves and breeding centres and game viewing is now at its prime.

Northwest Parks Board (formerly Bop Parks) has adhered to a strict policy of introducing only those species, which once occurred in the area). Madikwe is run as a three-way partnership between the State, the local communities and the private sector.

Madikwe, therefore, should not be looked at as solely a protected area or tourism destination, the reserve acts as a major social and economic core and engine around which the development of the region can be based.

The name of Operation Phoenix is appropriate: like the mythical bird that burnt itself to a crisp on the pyre and then rose from the ashes to live again with new vigour, nature has regained a stronghold on the land and the programme has been hugely successful.

Madikwe Game Reserve is currently the country's fourth largest game reserve. It is situated in the North West Province and is bordered by Botswana in the north, the spectacular Dwarsberg Mountains to the south, the Marico river to the east.

The diverse habitat in the reserve, from acacia, savannah to riverine, ensures a unique combination of species such as springbok, gemsbok, sable and impala. The birdlife is also spectacular, and this is one of the few South African private game reserves that are malaria free.