Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge
Madikwe Game Reserve

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Email Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge Reservations: booksa@madbookings.com

Situated on the Botswana border, just three hours' drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria, Madikwe is one of the largest private game reserves in South Africa. The safari reserve consists of vast plains of open woodlands and grasslands, dissected by a ridge of rugged hills and bordered in the south by the Dwarsberg Mountains.

The area is dotted with huge rocky outcrops known as inselbergs. Madikwe is one of few game reserves in the world that was proclaimed a wildlife reserve purely on the grounds of being the most appropriate and sustainable land area for such use.

The Madikwe Hills team looks forward to welcoming you to a magnificent safari in South Africa, showcasing wonderful wildlife and fulfilling your every wish, making your safari to Africa the ultimate in privacy and luxury.

The total dedication and passion of the team at the Madikwe Hills Private Game Reserve ensure that every guest departs with a memory of an African safari never to be forgotten. From outstanding wild life holidays to unforgettable safari weddings and honeymoons - Madikwe offers the complete adventure in South Africa.

Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge Accommodation

Luxury Safari accommodation at Madikwe Hills....
Madikwe Hills consists of a Main Safari Lodge with ten suites, and a private camp, Little Madikwe Hills, accommodating twenty-four guests in total within the private game reserve.

At the Main Lodge, ten ultra-luxurious, glass-fronted suites complete with their own deck and private plunge pools, offer absolute privacy and majestic views of the safari park landscape.

The unusual, yet subtle "Afrochic" décor integrates natural elements with earthy colours, highlighting Africa's ambience; with each suite boasting soft sofas, voluptuous mosquito netting and cotton picot linen.

Your suite has been designed for complete relaxation and comfort; with fireplaces and under-floor heating for the winter months, and in summer, overhead fans and air-conditioning provide a welcome respite from the African heat.

Outdoor showers, romantic bathrooms and concertina glass doors allow you to fully experience the glorious African Safari environment.

The Ultimate in Safari Luxury and Privacy - Little Madikwe Hills
Separate from the Main Safari Lodge is Little Madikwe Hills, the ultimate in luxury and privacy.

This private lodge boasts a two bedroom suite with its own landrover and game ranger, as well as a personal butler to take care of your every need. A gourmet kitchen and entertainment centre complete the picture. Two additional standard suites can also be reserved to form a completely private safari camp, which accommodates up to eight guests.

Open-air decks, plunge pools, luxurious décor, outdoor showers, fireplaces, under-floor heating, air-conditioning, and concertina glass doors that open the room up entirely; are all standard in each suite at Little Madikwe Hills.

This safari lodge also has one large swimming pool and also offers extended amenities to groups of guests wanting to truly get away from it all on a wildlife safari in Africa.

Mouth-watering cuisine is created by your personal chef in the gourmet kitchen of Little Madikwe Hills. You can even pick up a few culinary tips whilst you watch your meal being prepared!

A personal luxury is being able to set your own meal and safari game drive times, making this the ideal, exclusive family escape in Africa. All the sumptuous gourmet experiences are enjoyed in Little Madikwe's beautifully decorated and enchanting dining room, and prepared in the state-of-the-art kitchen by a personal chef.

A butler is on hand to respond to the group's every need. A dedicated game ranger and game viewing vehicle means that Little Madikwe Hills' guests can enjoy private game drives at their leisure, for as long or as short as they wish. Parents need not worry about their young ones disturbing the peace for other guests, as Little Madikwe Hills' reception room is also equipped with a satellite TV and DVD collection.

Little Madikwe Hills is ideal for families wanting to spend a special safari weekend together, and a permanent child minder is on hand for young family bookings. The Main Lodge does not accommodate children under the age of ten years. Most importantly the Madikwe Game Reserve is the ideal destination for families with young children, since the safari reserve is one of a few game-viewing areas in Southern Africa which is malaria free.

The secluded environment and outstanding service is also an ideal game reserve retreat for corporate groups needing to get away and focus; whether with the objective of strategizing, or simply spending time relaxing together as a team. There are internet and presentation facilities and the outstanding, yet discreet, service ensures that corporate teams can stay focused on their work.

Nowhere else in South Africa can groups be accommodated in such privacy and luxury, whilst being able to experience the Big 5 in South Africa, with Wild Dog viewing at their leisure – creating a truly unforgettable experience that far exceeds expectation.

Little Madikwe Hills is also available for private and exclusive safari weddings for guests of up to eight people. For more information, please contact reservations.

Cuisine
Seducing the palate...
Head Chef, Izanne is on hand to create a variety of wholesome and satisfying dishes, which leave each and every guest alive to the possibility of fusion food mixed with the finest in African ingredients and decadent local and international flavours.

A culinary marvel in her own right, Izanne has perfected the art of combining freshness with flavour and turning simple ingredients into cuisine of great visual appeal with every plate that makes its way from the kitchen. Izanne acknowledges passion as her secret ingredient when perfecting that ultimate safari dining experience.

Traditional Full English and Continental breakfasts served on the main deck are hearty and unpretentious; we like to call it “comfort food with a twist!” In addition to the English breakfast, there is also a selection of Eggs Benedict, Eggs Florentine, mouth watering Canadian French toast among other selections on the menu. Breakfasts at Madikwe Hills are a relaxed and fulfilling affair to start your day whilst on an African Safari.

Lunches under shady umbrellas on the main deck are a highlight of each day at Madikwe Hills. Izanne and her team have kept a careful balance between old and new, but have stuck to the basics of simplicity, authenticity and freshness, reviving old classics into ‘food with soul.’

Dinners at Madikwe Hills are without compromise, ensuring that style and substance is main priority. No two dinners will be the same at Madikwe Hills, from dining under the stars in our traditional boma to fine silver service dinners in our dining room, or next to the fire on the main deck.

The perfect end to the ultimate safari experience! A private dinner on the deck of your suite is offered to couples wanting to spend time together in privacy. The ultimate in romance, private dinners at Madikwe Hills will seduce the senses and soothe the soul.

Madikwe Hills Facilities
Central Area
A celebration of safari style in the heart of the Madikwe Hills
Along with a warm and friendly atmosphere, Madikwe Hills offers the highest standard of service, ensuring that each guests' needs are satisfied during their luxury South African safari stay.

Therefore the central area is an important part of everyday life at the lodge. From the threshold of majestic, age-old East African doors, you immediately feel the cool breeze emanating throughout our central area. Each table in our lounge is stocked with beautiful books, waiting to be read and explored.

The bar entices guests to enjoy a pre-dinner drink and fireside chat with your friendly game rangers and managers, while the main deck overlooking the waterhole is the perfect place to while away the day under a cool umbrella.

Our main swimming pool offers cool respite from the harsh African sun, and is a great way to relax with a cocktail in the afternoon. Dinners in our dining room are a silver-service experience of memorable proportions.

Three mahogany tables await guests to serve up meals of the highest standard. With beautiful artwork on the walls and cutlery and crockery fit for a king, the dining room is the perfect place to spend each evening.

Fine cuisine is accompanied by superb South African and international wines, which can be found in our excellent wine cellar next to the dining room. The cellar is a treat for the avid wine connoisseur as well as the learning amateur, and our staff will assist you by suggesting the perfect wine in accordance with the menu of that evening.

Library
Knowledge is power under an Africa Sky. A library full of verse and history awaits those yearning for knowledge of the African continent and its safari parks, filled with a collection of fictional and non-fictional books, which will complement your wildlife enjoyment.

For those wanting to keep in touch with family members back home, there is an internet connection in the library, which is available 24 hours. A television is also available for those wanting to keep up to date with the latest news or sports game.

Boma
Traditional and elegant safari dining experiences. Along with a warm and friendly atmosphere, Madikwe Hills offers the highest standards of service and fine cuisine accompanied by superb wines from the wine cellar.

Our unique outdoor enclosure - the boma - offers the traditional and elegant atmosphere of dining under African stars while on safari in South Africa.

Fables of Scorpio and Orion of Greek mythology may be told by your ranger, whilst dining in a rustic boma, where dramatic and exotic flames dance to the uneven beat of life's drum. Perhaps you will discover the navigational skills of the Southern Cross before dining with the sophistication of silverware.

Our boma is used on warm summer and winter nights and is truly the ultimate way to experience Africa at its finest. On arrival at the boma, you will be welcomed by the Madikwe Hills team with a refreshing drink and an inviting snack, before heading for your beautifully set table to begin your meal. The table is lit with candles and rustic hurricane lamps, while copper paraffin lamps complement the crackling fire in the centre of the boma.

Starters are served at the table by your attentive waiter, followed by traditional South African cuisine for your main course. You will be invited to sample various dishes of local fish or game, to sautéed vegetables on the fire, all cooked before you with true African inspiration.

End off the evening with a sumptuous dessert before bidding farewell to the flames of the fire to the calling of your luxurious safari suite.

Curio Shop
True african safari memorabilia. During the day, guests are welcome to wander up to the reception area to browse through our well-stocked curio shop, where you can select gifts and African memorabilia for your friends and family back home. The shop is stocked with an assortment of beautiful safari gear. Our winter gear and fleece scarves, hats and gloves are perfect for keeping the chills at bay on your evening game drives.

Wellness
“When you touch the soil of our land, you feel a sense of personal renewal” - Nelson Mandela Inauguration Speech 1994.
Set the mind at ease and embrace the energy of the bush. Experience Spafaris with soul of Africa. From our enchanting world, secrets are revived and re-created to bring you, for the first time, a unique spa concept based on a fusion of ancient healing tradition, philosophies and rituals from Africa.

To reconnect to nature, to realize, to recover and to relax…
Set the mind at ease and embrace the energy of the Afrian bush by experiencing 'Spafaris' within the soul of Africa. From our enchanting world, secrets are revived and re-created to bring you, for the first time, a unique spa concept based on a fusion of ancient healing tradition, philosophies and rituals from Africa.

To reconnect with nature, to realize, to recover and to relax…

In holistic therapy, our body "energy" is the universal life force that governs personal well-being and vitality. The signature treatments available at Madikwe concentrate on establishing and maintaining a balance between our body energies.

The wellness range, Wisdom of Africa, blends indigenous botanical ingredients from all over the continent of Africa, that nurture mind, body and spirit. They give us an idea of African healing traditions and a chance to re-awaken, and to touch the inner self again.

We will welcome you with a “Si-Ya-Bona” to reconnect your body. Your skin will be awakened by gentle body brushing, followed with our signature massage inspired by Tswana word “Ntshafatsa”. They give an idea of African healing traditions and maybe a change of reawakening to touch the inner self again…

Gym
The gym comes fully equipped with treadmill, recumbent exercise bike, concept 2 rower, universal power cage, meridian gym, dumbbells, barbells and aerobic mats.

Weddings
There is something about a wedding in the heart of the African bushveld that cannot be forsaken! Small intimate weddings from two up to twenty-four guests are catered for at Madikwe Hills, and we pride ourselves on our meticulous attention to detail. At Madikwe Hills, we like to keep things simple, but exceptional …

Activities
Game Activities at Madikwe Hills
Madikwe Hills Private Game Reserve is where the plains still team with game and the acacia savannah symbolizes a paragon of beauty. The malaria-free Madikwe Reserve is home not only to the Big 5 of Africa, but also to a wealth of other fascinating creatures, including the rare Wild Dog.

Our team at Madikwe Hills looks forward to showing you Africa’s wonderful wildlife, and to fulfilling your every wish. Wildlife can be viewed on game drives, walking safaris, and from the privacy of your suite deck.

Game Drives
State of the art open landrovers with bucket seats and fold-down armrests stand ready to take you on safari, ensuring your optimum safety and comfort. Your knowledgeable ranger with his friendly disposition will ensure that your experiences are not but a “whisper on the winds of a timeless eternity”. Knowledgeable and professional rangers conduct early morning and late afternoon, or evening, game drives in search of Africa's big game and smaller wildlife.

Wildlife Photography
Those with a passion for wildlife photography will be able to get various tips from their ranger on taking the perfect safari picture, while on their game drive. Our rangers are avid fans of photography, many of them having entered renowned international and local competitions with great results. Please do not hesitate to ask your ranger for assistance in this regard.

Bush Dinners
On warm evenings, guests may be treated to a three course safari meal in the heart of the bushveld. As guests complete their evening game drive, they will be enticed by the essence of a burning fire, to arrive to a hurricane lit “dining room” in the bush.

With the finest in cuisine and service excellence, guests will enjoy an unforgettable feast under starlit African skies.

Kiddies Club
Join the Madikwe Hills kiddies club, and learn about all the fun things to do while on safari in South Africa.
• Madikwe Hills Lucky Packet. Receive your lucky packet on arrival at the lodge with lots of surprises inside.
• Face Painting. Have your face painted to become your favourite safari animal.
• Bug Finding. Do bug finding with your ranger and learn all about these amazing creatures.
• My Tree. Complete an artwork of an African tree by sticking down leaves and learning the secrets that this tree holds in the bush.
• Treasure Hunt. Follow the clues and read the signs, for at the end of your trail a treasure lies …
• Movie Night. Enjoy a night of traditional movie fun, with popcorn and snacks, in pajamas..
• Animal Dung Investigation. Investigate the contents in animal dung to find out which animal it belongs to. Your tracker will be of great help in the search and investigation.
• Marshmallow Braai. Kids Only, no parents – sorry ! Join us at boma dinner for a marshmallow braai.
• Face Mask. Paint the mask of your favourite animal to wear at the marshmallow braai.
• Clay Modelling Class. Create your own animal or ornament with clay.
• Kiddies Club Competition. Tell us all about your experience at Madikwe Hills and stand a chance to have it posted onto our website for other kids to read.
• Big 5 Certificate. Receive a certificate for successfully completing the Big 5 experience in the Madikwe Game Reserve on your departure.

Molatedi Village
Madikwe Hills is very proud to announce that a more prominent role will be played in the upliftment of the local community, called Molatedi Village. Madikwe Hills Lodge is very proud to announce that a more prominent role will be played in the upliftment of the local community, known as Molatedi Village.

With the help of the reserve concessionaire liaison, Sibusiso, the management of Madikwe Hills arranged for a meeting with the local chief, Chief Nkosi, and the tribal leaders. Since admission into the village is not permitted without permission from the chief, the Madikwe Hills management met with the chief and leaders to introduce themselves, and to offer assistance. They were welcomed, and the community gratefully accepted the potential help offered.

The Madikwe Hills team then introduced themselves at a community meeting, which was open to members of the community, where discussions with the Chief and leaders were held. These discussions were successful, and the community welcomed the support and invited Madikwe management to have a look around the village, and to visit schools in the community.

Molatedi has a high school (Batlokooa Secondary School), with 160 scholars, a primary school (Thageng Primary School) with 170 scholars, as well as an early learning centre "crèche" (Mfoloe Pre-School) for pre-school children.

Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge is situated in the heart of the Madikwe Game Reserve in the North West Province of South Africa. A reserve with great beauty and splendour, it is nevertheless a place that is still surrounded with poverty. Approximately 15 years ago the government decided to alleviate poverty in the area.

A land feasibility study was completed and it was decided that the best way of utilizing this land was to establish a game reserve, which was officially opened in 1991. This opened doors to so many people and was very beneficial to the local communities in the surrounding areas. As the safari lodges were built, new work and employment opportunities arose. As Madikwe only employs people from the local surrounding villages, job opportunities increased.

Education and specialisation was the order of the day and lives were improved. Yet one can never help enough. Madikwe Hills staff decided to put some extra effort in to make a difference in the lives of the surrounding villagers and friends. A great deal of time was spent in Molatedi Village to assess where help was needed.

The Molatedi Project
We decided to focus our attention on the crèche or early learning centre in the village, which currently admits 17 children, aged between 0 – 5 years. One month school fee is a mere R50 per child, but unfortunately an unreachable and unpayable amount for their parents, because R50 is the price of a bag of maize meal; food on the table for the entire family for a whole month.

Financial aid would make a world of difference in these children's lives. It would give them the opportunity to go to school and get educated - an opportunity to grow and learn and experience.

Sadly there is a lack of everything at the early learning centre. From books to read and write, stationary, musical instruments, sporting equipment, toys and school benches - the list is never ending.

A lot of these children are very creative and with the right training and equipment could in future have many doors of opportunity opened to them, from starting their own businesses to providing services to lodges within the reserve.
How do we make a difference?

We would like to help by collecting items that we do not use anymore but which might make a difference in the life of a child that does not have such an item. This option is easier for South African citizens and arrangements for collection of such items could be made.

A few projects are in the pipeline, however financial aid is needed in order for these projects to become a reality.
• Mattresses and Pillows. The children are currently sleeping on towels which were kindly sponsored. The early learning centre is in desperate need of 20 mattresses and 20 pillows.
• Sandpit. There is no sand for the children to play in, only hard soil to play on. The children are in need of 6 cubic metres of river sand.
• Sadly, there are so many parents who cannot afford a mere R50 per child per month for school fees.
Should you wish to sponsor a child to allow them the opportunity of attending school or if you at all feel the need to take part in our quest to make a difference please make contact with Hannes.
Thank you in advance for your support.

DIRECTIONS
Location
Madikwe Game Reserve, North West Province. 4 hours from Johannesburg / Pretoria.

How to get to the lodge:
• Self drive (4 hours from Johannesburg / Pretoria).
• Flight transfer or private charter (50 minutes from O.R.Tambo International Airport).
• Road transfers.
• Complimentary road transfer from the Madikwe Hills airstrip to the lodge.

Option1: Rustenburg (N4) / Swartruggens / Zeerust / Abjaterskop Gate to Madikwe Hills
This route will take approximately 4.5 - 5 hours.

• From ORT international get on the R21 towards Pretoria up to the Exit to the N1 Polokwane (about 37km).
• Get onto the N1 towards Polokwane and continue up to the N4 Rustenburg slipway (about 22km). Take the slipway onto the N4 towards Rustenburg (this is just after the Zambezi drive offramp).
• Please note that The N4 is a toll road with four toll gates to Zeerust. Three before Rustenburg and one just after Swartruggens.
• At Rustenburg continue on the N4 towards Swartruggens.
• Continue on the N4 through Swartruggens to Zeerust.
• In Zeerust make a right turn at the ABSA bank in Main Street approximately in the middle of town, towards Gaborone / Madikwe. Refuel here as there is no fuel in the Madikwe Reserve.
• After approximately 83 km's you will see the "Abjaterskop" Entrance into the Reserve on your right.
• Once you enter the Park there is about 32 km of dirt road to the Lodge.
• Once through the gate, carry on straight. You will then pass an airstrip on your right hand side, continue around the airstrip and keep on going until you find a sign board (11km) – from here you follow the signs towards "Derdepoort Gate".
• After 2km you will find another signboard on your left, keep going towards Derdepoort Gate.
• After 1.3km you will find another sign board on your left – keep going towards Derdepoort Gate.
• Continue for 10.6km and you will find another sign board on the right at a four way crossing. Continue towards Derdepoort Gate.
• The road will split immediately after the last sign board. Keep right on the well travelled road and drive around the dam until the road becames long and straight again.
• If you continue on you will find another sign board on your left indicating Molori and Madikwe Safari lodge to the right. Continue to the next sign board shortly thereafter on your right hand side (5.2km). This sign will indicate "Madikwe Hills / Etali / Ukuthula". Turn left towards Madikwe Hills.
• Continue straight on until you will find the final sign board indicating "Madikwe Hills / Etali / Ukuthula" to the left. Keep left and continue on.
• Drive pass Ukuthula entrance and Etali Entrance & after 2.4km turn left towards "Madikwe Hills".

Option 2: via Sun City / Molatedi Gate to Madikwe Hills. This route normally takes 4 hours from Pretoria.

The gravel road on this route makes it a little bumpy but not impassable in a sedan vehicle. This route is shorter than the route through Zeerust, but not our first recommendation, as it is partially gravel. It is advisable to fill up with fuel at the Sun Village, just after the Sun City entrance on the right as there is no fuel available inside the reserve. Take the shortest route to Sun City, otherwise follow directions below.

• From ORT international get on the R21 towards Pretoria up to the Exit to the N1 Polokwane (about 37km).
• Get onto the N1 towards Polokwane and continue up to the N4 Rustenburg slipway (about 22km). Take the slipway onto the N4 towards Rustenburg (this is just after the Zambezi drive offramp).
• Once on the N4 continue in the direction of Rustenburg – take exit #225 which is the R556 Sun City/Majakaneng. (About 64km)
• Turn right at the top of the off ramp to Sun City and continue straight to Sun City (approx 73 km's to Sun City from this off ramp). After passing Sun City on the right, continue straight (approximately 5 km) until you reach a four-way junction .
• Turn right to DERDEPOORT.
• Follow the road for approximately 8.5 km's and turn left at the sign saying, "BAPONG" and "Madikwe Game Reserve".
• Continue straight along this road for approximately 34.8 km's (ignoring ALL signs saying "MADIKWE") after passing through MABESKRAAL at the 4 way stop turn right to DERDEPOORT/Molatedi Gate.
• After 26kms the road will become gravel/dirt, the Dwarsberg Liquor Store will be on your left. Watch out for a "bump" as the tar ends.
• Continue straight along this road for about 32 km of gravel, (do not take the next Derdepoort turning to the right, continue straight), passing through the Molatedi village over the Marico River and straight to the MOLATEDI GATE entrance into the Park.
• Once through the gate, carry on straight for about 10km until you find a sign post on your left – turn RIGHT towards Derdepoort gate. After 539m, you'll find a T-junction – turn RIGHT onto Derdepoort Main Road – towards Derdepoort Gate. Carry on straight on this road.
• Continue for 10.6km and you will find another sign board on the right at a four way crossing. Continue towards Derdepoort Gate.
• The road will split immediately after the last sign board. Keep right on the well travelled road and drive around the dam until the road becames long and straight again.
• If you continue on you will find another sign board on your left indicating Molori and Madikwe Safari lodge to the right.
• Continue to the next sign board shortly thereafter on your right hand side (5.2km). This sign will indicate "Madikwe Hills / Etali / Ukuthula". Turn left towards Madikwe Hills.
• Continue straight on until you will find the final sign board indicating "Madikwe Hills / Etali / Ukuthula" to the left. Keep left and continue on.
• Drive pass Ukuthula entrance and Etali Entrance & after 2.4km turn left towards "Madikwe Hills".

Federal Air
FedAir offers a world-class executive daily air shuttle service operating from Oliver Tambo International Airport to Madikwe Game Reserve. FedAir operates a fleet of late model turbine and piston aircrafts, and all flights are undertaken by professional and highly experienced commercial pilots.

Email Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge Reservations: booksa@madbookings.com