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Certainly one of the best and most comfortable game reserves in South Africa
Having been to most Game reserves in South Africa , my visit to Madikwe was certainly the best ever. Being able to watch game from our balcony at a small drinking hole less than 50 metres away with large herds of elephants coming to drink in addition to many other game species was one of the highlights. The area is malaria free and the scenery with unusual rock formations is beautiful. As an avid birder for many years I was thrilled with the abundant bird life. The guide we had was very knowledgeable and prepared to take us anywhere we wanted to go. We had excellent views of lion as well as black rhino.Some of my videos of this area can be seen on You Tube thespronks. (Young elephant showing who's boss and Lions Mating)
Ronel van Zyl
GB
Visited:
April 2010
Reviewed: Apr 11, 2012
Email Ronel van Zyl | 35-50 years of age
Beautiful scenery and off the beaten track. Luxurious lodges options with great food, good game viewing and warm days guaranteed.
Goodstuff
Visited:
August 2007
Reviewed: Apr 26, 2012
Torrey
US
Visited:
January 2009
Reviewed: May 9, 2012
Email Torrey | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An adventure of a lifetime!
Madikwe Game Reserve exceeded my expectations. We saw the Big 5 on the first day of our safari. I was surprised how high the bushes were, I thought it would be flat. However, our guide drove on tiny trails right through the sharp bushes and we came across lion families, feeding lions, a leopard, baby hyenas, many giraffes, elephants, zebras, and other wonderful animals. The stars in the night sky were unlike I've ever seen. Without any lights around for hundreds of miles, the moon shone brightly. We had lightning and thunder storms every night that rocked our tent cabin and was an incredible experience. The accommodations were great. Mosetlha Bush Camp provided gourmet vegan options and the staff was very caring. Very small camp with private accommodations. Our jeeps had covers, so we did not get burnt by the sun during our 2 5-hour safari trips each day. I would love to do it again!
wildswan55
Visited:
May 2007
Reviewed: May 18, 2012
Great stay, great guides, tremendous wildlife.
Had a wonderful visit. Lodging in a cabin of my own, outdoor shower was very cool.
Good food. Saw 4 of the big five.
Bob Dewar
US
Visited:
January 2009
Reviewed: May 18, 2012
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Madikwe was a life time expeience, beyound what we had hoped for or expected.
Our stay at Makanyane Safari Lodge was beyond our expectations. The wildlife and scenery of Madikwe left all of us with lifetime memories. The guides were very professional and yet were very real people. We liked the idea of no public driving to disturb the wildlife. Getting within 15 meters of three male lions and hearing their roars left us breathless. We can't wait to return!
Ken Okumura
VG
Visited:
May 2009
Reviewed: May 29, 2012
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Creature comforts and lots of creatures
We went to Madikwe Game Reserve in 2009, having been once before on a safari to its sister park Kwandwe some years earlier. I doubt any two game reserves are the same, and it Madikwe was very different from Kwandwe.
Highlights for me were tracking the pack of wild dogs (which are apparently very rare in Africa but were fairly plentiful in Madikwe), watching a pride of lions relax and play with each other next to the airstrip and having a lioness almost brush past my leg whilst I was sitting in the rear seats of the safari jeep.
Overall I'd thoroughly recommend Madikwe (and Kwandwe) to anyone wanting to get a safari experience whilst staying in relative luxury.
Kristin
GB
Visited:
April 2011
Reviewed: May 29, 2012
Experience level: first safari
A life-changing experience that left a bit of my heart in Africa and that I will never forget!
The wildlife of the reserve was plentiful and we were always able to get quite close to most animals on every drive (morning, afternoon, night). The scenery was stunning -- I'll never forget sitting a top the hill as the sun rose and drinking coffee, listening to the sound of the bush coming alive. The weather was perfect in April - not too hot, not too cold. I really enjoyed the guide comments and character and how they shared so much knowledge about the animal's behavior, droppings, tracks, etc.
bertly13
US
Visited:
March 2012
Reviewed: Jun 1, 2012
Email bertly13 | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was amazing.
I thought the experience was incredible all around. The experience in the camp, and our relationships with our guides, as well as the food and the accommodations were all very cool. I really enjoyed that we were staying in more of a cabin-like environment and not in a luxury hotel out there because I felt like we got more into the experience that way. If I had money to blow like that I would definitely do it again.
Nelly Micheleau
FR
Visited:
February 2014
Reviewed: Mar 20, 2014
Email Nelly Micheleau | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Madikwe park
Madikwe is a very authentic nature reserve with lots of animals (big five at almost every game drive), beautiful landscapes and very comfortable accomodation (Madikwe river lodge), more excusiv than Kruger Park and enjoyable for everyone (kid's game drives too).