MADIKWE SAFARI LODGE

Famed for Operation Phoenix, the world's largest game translocation exercise with the introduction of more than 8 000 animals, Madikwe's diverse geology and broad mix of habitats allows a wide range of African wildlife to flourish - including the Big Five, cheetah and a thriving population of wild dog.

Set on a gentle slope nestled between two rolling hills, Madikwe Safari Lodge overlooks game-filled plains with the Dwarsberg Hills in the distance and the Marico River nearby. The region is also imbued in history and has seen the passage of Mzilikazi and a range of explorers, traders, hunters and missionaries, including Dr David Livingstone, Sir Cornwallis Harris and the famous South African author, Herman Charles Bosman. Madikwe Game Reserve is run as a joint venture between the North West Parks Board, the private sector and the local communities.

Accommodation

SAFARI ACCOMMODATION AT MADIKWE, SOUTH AFRICA

Exclusive safari accommodation

Madikwe Safari Lodge comprises three intimate camps - totalling just 16 suites in all - with a simple yet sophisticated Madikwe style.

Intimate safari suites

Madikwe Safari Lodge is situated in the heart of the richly diverse, malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, offering exceptional game viewing, simple yet sophisticated accommodation, superlative service and unique regional cuisine.

Each suite features a sitting area, a bedroom with circular fireplace, a spacious dressing area with personal bar, an en suite bathroom with bath, indoor and outdoor shower and a private plunge pool. The rooms are organic in design and woven copper screens add intriguing detail.

Overlooking Madikwe's game-filled plains, intimate sitting areas in all three camps feature shaded outdoor seating on expansive covered decks. There are plentiful fireplaces both inside and outdoors with pizza ovens for fun dining, book-filled libraries and a unique safari shop. A covered outdoor living room offers beanbags and cushions on the floor for casual relaxation. The nearby boma is the setting for evocative starlit dinners.

Exciting safari activities at Madikwe

CC Africa-trained rangers will lead you on exciting morning and afternoon/evening game-drives in 4x4 safari vehicles, revealing the magic of Madikwe's wilderness.

Activities

MADIKWE SAFARI LODGE, SOUTH AFRICA

Exhilarating safari activities at Madikwe

Situated in the heart of the richly diverse Madikwe Game Reserve - one of South Africa's largest wildlife sanctuaries - Madikwe Safari Lodge offers exceptional game viewing activities at no additional cost.

Interpretive game-drives

Professional and skilled rangers will deliver a world-class interpretive experience of the bush on morning and afternoon/evening game-drives in 4x4 safari vehicles. Photographic opportunities of the Reserve's fauna, flora and topography are excellent. Positioned at the ecological junction between the bushveld and the Kalahari, Madikwe comprises five distinct habitats which are home to an array of African wildlife. In addition to Africa's Big Five, you may see large numbers of elephant, giraffe and impala occurring alongside oryx, springbok and red hartebeest.

Game viewing

WILDLIFE SAFARIS AT MADIKWE

Reborn wilderness

Set in South Africa's North West Province, Madikwe was established in 1991 when a number of mismanaged farms were bought by the government to be amalgamated into a vast protected area. Following habitat restoration work, a massive reintroduction programme dubbed 'Operation Phoenix' returned all of the large mammal species known to occur in the region historically. Madikwe Safari Lodge is set in game-rich savanna, where Africa's great predators again roam free. Positioned at the ecological junction between the bushveld and the Kalahari, Madikwe comprises five distinct habitats which are home to a rich diversity of plants, birds and other wildlife.

Madikwe Habitats:

The wooded plains of Madikwe are punctuated with rocky inselbergs of balancing boulders, and a low range of quartzite hills. Productive acacia savanna dominates the Reserve, with Scented-pod Thorn, Umbrella Thorn, Red Thorn and Black Monkey Thorn, and swathes of sweet pasture grasses attracting substantial numbers of herbivores, as well as their predators. Broad-leaved woodlands occur on the Dwarsberg Hills, while open grasslands occur on former agricultural lands. The Marico River, with its narrow ribbon of tall trees, forms the eastern boundary of the Reserve. The rocky hills are sprinkled with hardy Ficus, Croton and Pappea trees.

Mammals at Madikwe:

In addition to the characteristic large mammals of the African savanna, Madikwe is also home to several species typical of the dry Kalahari (and at the eastern fringe of their natural distribution). Large numbers of elephant, giraffe and impala occur alongside oryx, springbok and red hartebeest. Several prides of lion share the Reserve with leopard, cheetah and wild dog. Both spotted and brown hyena are resident and may sometimes be seen together. Over 20 black rhinoceros occur in Madikwe's wooded thickets. Night drives often reveal lesser bushbaby, springhare, black-backed jackal and other nocturnal mammals. Because of the region's low rainfall, larger mammals are attracted to waterholes throughout the year.

Birds at Madikwe:

Madikwe lies at the ecological junction of the dry Kalahari bushveld and the moister eastern bushveld, and this has led to a rich diversity of birds. Over 350 species have been recorded. Close relatives ('species pairs') which are not usually found together include Namaqua and double-banded sandgrouse, Kalahari and white-browed scrub-robins, red-eyed and dark-capped bulbuls, and arrow-marked and southern pied babblers. The glorious crimson-breasted shrike is common, and there are numerous records of the rare yellow morph of this species. Good numbers of ducks, herons and other waterfowl visit larger waterholes, where thirsty doves, finches, waxbills and other seedeaters are vulnerable to hunting falcons and goshawks. After dark, African and white-faced scops-owls join various nightjars in their nocturnal chorus.

Other Madikwe Wildlife:

A variety of interesting reptiles occur at Madikwe, with large African rock-python favouring the rocky inselbergs, and flap-necked chameleon common in savanna woodland. Leopard tortoise may be encountered crossing sand tracks. There is an abundance of beautiful butterflies throughout the Reserve, and brightly-coloured dragonflies at waterholes. After rain showers, swarms of flying termites attract a host of predators, from eagles and rollers to bats and toads. The giant bullfrog emerges after heavy downpours and shares waterbodies with up to 20 other species of frog.

Conservation

MADIKWE SAFARI LODGE

Madikwe Safari Lodge is committed to the core principles

Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, Care of the people.

The focus is

Community equity, income generation, education and health care are a primary concern. In consultation with community organisations such as the Africa Foundation - a not-for-profit rural development organisation - - Madikwe Safari Lodge will contribute significantly towards improving the prosperity and living conditions of the communities surrounding the Reserve.

Set in South Africa's North West Province, Madikwe Game Reserve was established in 1991 when a number of degraded or mismanaged farms were bought by the government to be amalgamated into a vast protected area. Following habitat restoration work, a massive reintroduction programme dubbed Operation Phoenix returned all of the large mammal species known to occur in the region historically. After completion in 1997, Operation Phoenix was the world's largest game translocation exercise, successfully reintroducing more than 8000 animals of 28 species. These include lion, rhino (both black and white), elephant and buffalo, making it a Big Five Reserve since leopard already occurred in the area.

In line with CC Africa's vision, Madikwe Game Reserve is run as a joint venture between the North West Parks Board, the private sector and local communities. Strategy has been finalised by the North West Province to establish a 30 000 hectare (74 130 acre) Heritage Park, linking Madikwe and the Pilanesberg Game Reserves and creating one of the largest conservation areas in South Africa.

Ecotourism in Africa

Guests play a critical role in helping realise the dream and vision: to create a model in wise land management, integrating international travellers and rural people to their mutual benefit and demonstrating that wildlife can be preserved on a sustainable basis by all.

Positive Health Programme:

Our partner CC Africa strongly believes in its people and was recently listed as one of three finalists in the Investor in People category of the 2005 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The October 2005 edition of Africa Geographic featured an article on AIDS and conversation, and highlighted the activities and programmes that various African companies are implementing in order to increase AIDS awareness and, in doing so, empower the communities taking care of some of the world's richest wilderness regions.

"Probably the most attractive program ... is that of CC Africa... CC Africa launched a Positive Health program in 2003 and in April and May last year ran two seven-day courses.... Their approach focuses on home-based care, gardens, counseling techniques and gender issues.... The health of the habitat is critical to the health of the individuals in it.... The conservation industry is uniquely positioned to take the treatment of HIV/AIDS in radically new directions.... Benefits [of the program] include acquiring 'hard skills' such as maintaining clean water, producing food, and home-based methods of dealing with illnesses that are not life threatening.... It takes only the will of ecologically minded people to make sure that the wild places are not lost."

Africa Geographic, October 2005

Getting there

Madikwe Safari Lodge is easily accessible by self-drive, road transfer and air - we can pre-book and package all of your regional/internal flights and transfers, book car hire and provide a meet and greet service at all airports. Madikwe is 380 kilometres (236 miles) from Johannesburg - an easy 4.5-hour drive on good roads. Please note that the Abjaterskop Gate entrance to the Lodge opens at 6am and closes at 9pm daily. Chauffeured transfers are available. There are daily FedAir flights from Johannesburg International Airport (JIA) to Madikwe Airstrip, departing at 12h00 and returning at 13h30. Madikwe Charter flies daily (dependent on number of passengers) from JIA to Madikwe Airstrip at 12h00, departing from Madikwe daily at 13h00. There are also daily scheduled flights from Cape Town and JIA to Pilanesberg Airport (Sun City). Car hire or transfers can be arranged for the approximate 2-hour road trip. Private air charters fly directly to the airstrip which is 10 minutes from the Lodge.


	Location:	MADIKWE SAFARI LODGE, NORTH WEST PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA
	Prices:	Price on application
	Seasons:	High Season - 01 to 06 January, February, March, October, November & 21 to 31 December Low Season - 07 to 31 January, April, May, June, July, August, September & 01 to 20 December
	Payment:	Pay only 30% at the time of booking, with the balance due 3 months before travel
	Notes:	Please telephone for special price rates on group visits or extended stays over three nights.
	Reference:	APT0076