Travel Report Madikwe Game Reserve (South Africa)
Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe is a jewel among the game parks of southern Africa. The malaria-free park not only has great, varied landscapes to offer, but also the Big 5.
Madikwe Game Reserve, one of the largest game reserves in South Africa, is located on the border with Botswana in the northwest of the country. With an area of around 75,000 hectares, it offers an impressive variety of landscapes, from open savannahs and dense forests to rocky hills and riverbanks. Due to its location, it is one of the malaria-free safari areas.
Where exactly is Madikwe in South Africa?
Its proximity to Botswana and the Kalahari Basin gives the region a unique ecological diversity. The reserve was established in 1991 and is a successful example of a successful conservation project and cooperation between the South African state, private investors and the local population.
What you should definitely think about:
Local currencies: South Africa = ZAR (South African Rand), but USD is also accepted here in the lodges. On the other hand, credit card payments work everywhere without any problems.
Vaccinations: Coming from Germany, no vaccinations – not even yellow fever – are mandatory. However, the standard vaccinations are recommended, so follow the recommendations of the German Foreign Office. Marataba is located in a malaria-free area, so no prophylaxis is necessary.
Helpful: A small pocket knife and a strong flashlight with spare batteries are often very useful. A cell phone flashlight will also do in a pinch, but often does not shine far enough.
Clothing: In the lodges in Africa, you can usually have your clothes washed for free or for a small extra charge. This means you can save a lot of luggage. In any case, choose muted colors and preferably functional clothing, as it can be very cool in the morning and warm to hot during the day.
Arrival Madikwe
It is possible to travel to the Madikwe Game Reserve either by car or by plane. From Johannesburg, the drive takes about 4.5 hours, offering a scenic journey through the northern provinces of South Africa. Alternatively, there are regular charter flights from Johannesburg to the private Madikwe Airstrip, which considerably shorten the travel time and provide guests with convenient access to the reserve.
Selection of lodges in Madikwe
There are a number of very luxurious and upmarket accommodations in the park that make a safari in South Africa perfect. Tuningi is one of the recommended 5-star lodges. Situated in the western part of the Madikwe Reserve, Tuningi Safari Lodge offers an upmarket 5-star standard.
Tuningi 5 Star Safari Lodge
Built in colonial style, the lodge combines the elegance of its 6 exclusive villas with the vastness of the African bush. From the terrace of the main lodge, you can watch the hustle and bustle of the animals at the waterhole. Since 2018, Tuningi has also offered a so-called “hide”, i.e. a shelter directly at the waterhole. A great opportunity for outstanding photos.
Tuningi- the accomodation
The accommodation at Tuningi Safari Lodge is luxurious and comfortable, ideal for families and couples. The lodge offers spacious suites and villas, each equipped with private decks that offer breathtaking views of the wilderness. The suites are tastefully decorated and feature en-suite bathrooms, outdoor showers and cozy fireplaces. Families can be accommodated in special family suites that offer extra space and amenities. The combination of modern comfort and African style creates an inviting atmosphere that allows guests to enjoy an unforgettable safari experience.
Tuningi - Food and Drinks
The culinary experience at Tuningi Safari Lodge is outstanding. Guests enjoy a variety of dishes prepared from fresh, local ingredients. Meals are often served al fresco, either on the lodge’s terrace or in the traditional boma under the stars.
The service at Tuningi Safari Lodge is exceptional. The friendly and experienced staff ensure that every aspect of the stay is enjoyable and memorable. From the personal welcome on arrival to the knowledgeable safari guides, the team at the lodge always strives to provide guests with an unforgettable safari experience.
Tuningi - Safari times
At Tuningi Safari Lodge, safari activities start early in the morning and late in the afternoon to make the most of the best times for game viewing.
Morning safari: The first safari of the day starts at around 5:30 am. Guests are woken up with coffee and a light breakfast before departure. This morning game drive lasts approximately three hours and offers the opportunity to view wildlife in the cooler morning hours.
Afternoon safari: The second safari starts at around 16:00, after afternoon tea. This drive also lasts around three hours and often ends with a sundowner, where guests can enjoy the sunset in the wilderness with a drink.
Activities: In addition to the classic game drives, the lodge offers guided bush walks where guests can discover the flora and fauna on foot. There are special programs for children that bring them closer to nature in a playful way. Guests can also take part in bird watching and special photo safaris.
Mosethla Bush and Eco Camp – Back to the basics
Mosethla Bush Camp is a camp and not a lodge and it is the only authentic bush camp in the entire reserve. Unfenced, intimate and rustic, Mosetlha offers a true wilderness experience and a real safari adventure at really affordable prices.
We didn’t visit the lodge ourselves, but a photographer friend (Marc Rihs, Instagram marcrihs_photography, marc.rihs@hotmail.com) was kind enough to send us his experience of this lodge.
The rustic and very intimate Mosethla Bush and Eco Camp is surrounded by trees. With only 9 cabins, it offers space for a maximum of 16 guests at a time and brings you as close to nature as possible.
Mosethla – Accomodation
The bush camp is ideal for people who want to take a break from the stress of everyday life and constant accessibility. With no running water, electricity (electronic devices can be left at the lodge for charging) or Wi-Fi signal, Mosethla is the perfect camp to enjoy the African landscape and wildlife. The cabins are closed on two sides, while the remaining sides are open from hip to roof. This means that you are connected to nature day and night and can always observe animals walking through the unfenced camp. Each cabin has its own bathroom, which is not located inside the cabin, but about five meters next to it.
Mosethla – Food and Drinks
Meals are another special feature of the bush camp. While in most other lodges, meals are served at separate tables, in Mosethla there is only one large table. The camp is fully geared towards bringing guests from different countries and cultures together and creating opportunities for socializing. The food is simple, with a set menu, but the quality is excellent. If you stay longer than a week, you will find that the dishes are repeated on a weekly basis.
The staff are exceptional and manage to make you feel at home within minutes. The camp manager Monika is the main contact person during the whole time and is also present at mealtimes. She is an excellent hostess and lovingly takes care of all matters. After the game drives, for example, she waits for the guests and asks about their experiences.
The guides Johnny and Justice have been working for the camp for many years and have a wealth of knowledge about the wildlife in the reserve. They do everything they can to offer their guests an unforgettable experience.
Mosethla – Safari times
As in most camps, safari activities start early in the morning and late in the afternoon to make the most of the best times for game viewing and photography.
Morning safari: The morning safari starts at around 6am. After waking up, you can fortify yourself with a coffee and cookies for the first game drive. During the game drive, you stop in the middle of the wilderness for another coffee and biscuits. At around 10:00 am, later rather than earlier depending on animal sightings, you return to camp for a hearty breakfast.
Afternoon safari: Lunch starts at around 2:30 p.m., followed by the next game drive at 3:30 p.m.. Shortly before sunset, we stop again in the middle of the wilderness for a sundowner, where guests can enjoy the setting sun with drinks and snacks.
Activities: The lodge currently only offers game drives and no bush walks. However, this will change as a guide is currently being trained to conduct these bush walks.
Between game drives, there is plenty of time to read, chat with other guests or simply lie on the sun deck and watch the passing animals.
Madikwe - the animals
Madikwe Game Reserve is known for its abundant wildlife, including the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) as well as African wild dog, giraffe and numerous bird species. Guided safari drives and bush walks offer guests the opportunity to experience these animals up close.
Is it possible to combine a trip to Madikwe with other safari areas?
Yes, you can. Here is an example of the route we took:
1.day: Munich -> Johannesburg
2.day: Johannesburg -> Polokwane (African Roots Guest House Polokwane)
3.day: Polokwane -> Mashatu (Mashatu Tented Camp)
4.day: Mashatu Tented Camp
5.-7.day: Mashatu Tented Camp -> Polokwane (Protea Hotel The Landmark Polokwane)
8.day: Polokwane -> Marataba (Marataba Safari Lodge)
9.day: Marataba Safari Lodge
10.day: Marataba Safari Lodge -> Madikwe (Tuningi Safari Lodge)
11.-12.day: Madikwe
13.day: Madikwe -> Magaliesburg (Mount Grace African Pride Magaliesburg)
14.day: Magaliesburg -> Johannesburg -> Munch
Trip was organized by: AST-REISEN
Für Mashatu and Marataba, look at our other travel reports
Fazit Madikwe
If you want to vacation in a malaria-free safari area without compromising on high standards, Tuningi Safari Lodge is the place for you. The lodge is tamiliar and really beautiful, but in other areas like Sabi or Timbavati it would not get 5 stars, rather 4. For photographers who want to do great game viewing, Madikwe and its landscape is really great. The only annoying thing is that you can see the fence, the border of the area, from time to time. Not bad in itself, but it does take away a little of the feeling of “freedom”. As the area is large and malaria-free, you should definitely visit it once, or even more often!
Want to order a calendar from our photo tour?
as of 18,90€, Sizes A2-A5
What photo equipment for Madikwe and a round trip?
The photographic equipment we took with us is listed below. You also have the option of ordering the photographic equipment we used directly via our Photo-Shop and requesting further technical details. There are also lots of extras available there.
All in a Lowepro Runner 450 (Backpack)