Madikwe Game Reserve, situated adjacent to the Botswana border and only 3 hours’ drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria, is one of South Africa’s largest game reserves and best-kept secrets. The reserve is located in South Africa’s North-West Province and is today considered one of our country’s prime safari destinations.
Madikwe is an excellent place for a South Africa safari with magnificent vast plains of open grasslands and woodlands bordered by rugged mountain ranges and rocky hills. Of course, it’s only an hour and a half drive from the funfest at Sun City allowing you to get the best of both worlds.
Many travellers stay at Sun City and visit Madikwe Game Reserve for a half-day, however, we believe that you’d need at least a full day, and ideally a couple of nights at this spectacular reserve to fully experience its magic. Accommodation at Madikwe Game Reserve is never a problem with plenty of exclusive lodges to choose from.
Madikwe Tours & Safaris
A trip to Madikwe could easily be combined with a beach holiday on tours such as Wine & Dine in Madikwe and Mauritius or a visit to Sun City on the Lost City and Madikwe Luxury Safari.
Madikwe is a relatively dry area and what makes it so attractive to travellers is the fact that it’s malaria-free – making it the perfect family holiday destination.
When rain falls it’s during the summer months – mainly between November and March. The summers in this area are very hot during the day with mild evenings, whereas the winters are dry and mild with cold nights. For all these reasons it’s understandably a particular favourite with families: there are some great Madikwe family holidays that’ll inspire and entertain the whole family.
If you prefer to spot game on a slow, relaxing drive in the comfort of your own vehicle and at your own leisurely pace, then Madikwe Game Reserve is where you need to go. It’s the ideal choice for a self-drive vacation where you can do what you want, when and how you want to do it.
Then again you may prefer to let knowledgeable rangers take you on guided game drives through the reserve, ensuring that you get to see the beautiful African fauna and flora from the raised vantage point of a 4×4 vehicle.
Madikwe Wildlife & Conservation
Proclaimed in August 1991, the establishment of Madikwe Game Reserve was a joint project between the local communities, the private sector, North West Province Parks Board and the Tourism Board to set aside this large piece of land as a conservation area. The aim of Madikwe Game Reserve is to return the area and its wildlife population to the way it would have been naturally.
The restocking of the 75 000 hectare Madikwe Reserve with animals indigenous to the area began in mid-1991with a project code-named Operation Phoenix. Since then, more than 8 000 animals of 28 species have been introduced in the largest game translocation exercise in the world at that time.
Species introduced to date include the ‘Big 5’ plus cheetah, wild dog, spotted hyena, giraffe, hippo, zebra and many species of antelope and other herbivores. There are also more than 300 recorded bird species in the Madikwe area.
Whether you choose to drive yourself, go on a guided game drive or even take a walk through it, one thing is for sure, Madikwe Game Reserve is well worth a visit.