Madikwe Game Reserve safaris, tours & holiday packages
South Africa's premier malaria-free Big Five reserve
Just a four-hour drive from Johannesburg, Madikwe is studded with a dozen or so exclusive lodges offering world-class game viewing and a family-friendly feel enhanced by the malaria-free location
Extending over 750 square kilometres of North West Province, Madikwe Game Reserve was created from former ranchland in the early 1990s, and was restocked with some 8,000 individual animals belonging to 28 different large mammal species (including all the Big Five).
Closed to day visitors, it now functions much like the private game reserves that abut the Kruger Park, but in a far larger area. Madikwe is home to more than a dozen small camps that offer an all-inclusive upmarket safari experience, the focal point of which is guided game drives in open 4x4s.
Popular Madikwe Game Reserve safaris
These popular itineraries can be customised to match your budget and travel dates
Sabi Sands & Madikwe Combo
Our selection of South Africa's top safari lodges and game reserves are guaranteed to suit every taste and budget. Consider this exciting safari package
$ 5,411
£ 4,160
R 77,400
€ 4,707
per person
7 daysSun City and Madikwe Luxury Safari
From Sun City's hedonistic pleasures to the majesty of nature at Madikwe Game Reserve, this journey combines the best of two very different worlds
$ 2,509
£ 1,929
R 35,890
€ 2,183
per person
6 days
“I first visited Madikwe three years ago not quite knowing what to expect, and returned thinking that it surely ranks close to being South Africa’s best-kept game-viewing secret – fantastic sightings of African wild dogs and elephants were capped by a thrilling close-up encounter with a trio of black rhinos.”
More on Madikwe Game Reserve holidays
Mammal viewing is excellent, with at least 66 species present. Over the course of a couple of days, guests are likely to encounter lions, elephants, white rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and a variety of antelopes, including greater kudu, springbok, red hartebeest and tsessebe.
Madikwe is one of the best places in Africa for sightings of the endangered African wild dog, and night drives often yield encounters with the shy brown hyena. Black rhinos are present but are more elusive, and Madikwe doesn’t compare to the Greater Kruger when it comes to intimate sightings of leopard.
Hemmed in by the perennial Marico River to the east and the Dwarsberg mountains to the south, Madikwe is scenically diverse, dominated by wooded and grassy plains in the east, and rocky hills associated with the rugged Rant van Tweedepoort escarpment in the west. More than 350 bird species have been recorded, ranging from outsized grassland dwellers such as common ostrich and kori bustard to striking Kalahari specials such as pied babbler and violet-eared waxbill.
Madikwe Game Reserve Map
Madikwe Game Reserve's location on Google Maps
Frequently Asked Questions about Madikwe Game Reserve
Anyone who wanting to travel from or to South Africa with a child under the age of 18 years - parents who are travelling with their child but not their spouse and those who wish to send their child on a trip accompanied by someone other than… go there.
No vaccination is mandatory for entering South Africa except for yellow fever for passengers arriving from areas affected by the disease. go there.
Electricity in Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and in most of the continent is 220/240 volts. Most safari lodges and camps are not connected to an electrical supply. Solar lighting (backed up by batteries)… go there.
All game reserves in Madikwe, the Pilanesberg and the Eastern Cape are malaria-free. go there.
Tipping is common practice in South Africa. Some guidelines concerning tipping are - in the bars and restaurants, the tipping is normally 10%. The car parks are monitored by guards or watchmen, they will often ask if you want them to keep an… go there.
I would recommend that when you are certain about your dates and if you are happy with the package, quote, booking and price to make a deposit payment to secure your booking. Availability is always a factor, you might find that there is… go there.
The best time to visit Tankwa Karoo National Park is from autumn through winter to early summer of April to September. However, this is a perfect place to indulge in blessed idleness. If you want to see the landscape and animals, you'll… go there.
The best time to visit Marakele National Park is during May to September. Since animals tend to seek for reliable waterholes and stay close by during the dry winter months. However, this is the best time for wildlife viewing. Marakele is a… go there.
Augrabies Falls National Park is open throughout the year, but the best time to visit is between April and September. When the popular three-day Klipspringer Trail is open. However, the waterfall is particularly impressive when in flood -… go there.
Reviews on our Madikwe Game Reserve safaris
Perfectly tailor-made tours that take all your wishes and requests into consideration. All my expectations were beyond fulfilled.
Henrik Wetterstrand
from Sweden
From the first approach to the end, Discover Africa has been excellent. The hotels, service and everything in between was thought of and exceeded all our expectations. The perfect choice! Thanks to all and especially to Megan.
Enrico Liberati
I am copying Megan in case she is back from maternity leave (congrats Megan!). We are having an absolutely WONDERFUL trip. It has far exceeded our expectations! Everything has been perfect, the accommodations, transport, tours, etc. We…
Monica
from South Africa
We could not have been more pleased with "Discover Africa." Our agent, Megan W, was knowledgeable, accommodating and highly responsive. She asked pertinent questions, listened carefully to our needs, then organized a personalized tour- the…
Margery
from United States of America
We went on Safari to Phinda Game reserve which was our choice as was the the choice of 2 nights on the Rovos train.Our agent was quite happy with helping us with anything we requested. We worked out dates of where we wanted to be and when…
Madeline & Reymond Goodman
from Australia
Although our safari was very expensive for us as South Africans we were satisfied that we got a value for money experience. It was a once in a lifetime safari. Knowledgeable, professional guides - experience far beyond our expectations. They…
Uwe and Doreza Kersandt
from South Africa
Related Articles
Celebrations in Africa: Steven’s South African safari [Traveller story]
Steven’s South African Safari Route Map I had the pleasure of chatting to Steven, an Australian who spent 17 days in South Africa. Steven travelled with his partner Callum. The pair were invited along by Callum’s parents, Jeff and… read more
Five reasons why the Kruger should be on the top of your safari list
The Kruger National Park has intrigued so many people, it’s no wonder that it is arguably the most famous park in the world. Conservation and protection of animals is at the heart of what makes this park one of the most beautiful and valued… read more
All South African National Parks now on Google Street View
The new trails, launched today, extend the existing Street View imagery of South Africa’s wilderness areas to include all 19 national parks, 17 previously ‘un-trekked’ nature reserves and many sites of natural, cultural and historical… read more
Video: A dramatic fight between territorial cheetahs!
.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%;… read more
