Madikwe Game Reserve
North West , South Africa
The Madikwe Game Reserve is one of South Africa’s premier game reserves and covering 75 000 hectares is the fourth largest in the country. The reserve is in a malaria free area and is situated in a transition zone between the arid Kalahari of the west and the rugged bushveld of the east. Madikwe thus hosts a tremendous variety of habitat types which in turn result in an exceptional diversity of animal species. The Big Five reserve hosts all the larger game species synonymous with the Africa including a high density of lions, both black and white rhino, feisty elephant herds and Madikwe’s famed African Wild Dog population. Madikwe is one of the best places in Africa to view this rare predator in the wild. Although still elusive, leopard sightings have been improving and brown hyenas are commonly sighted foraging for meals. The topography is characterised by endless flats disappearing in to the horizon sporadically broken by the rocky outcrops of the Tshwene hills and the Dwarsberg mountains in the south. The perennial Marico River forms the eastern border which is a life blood to the area.
Madikwe is a relatively young African game park having been formed in 1991 and it is an amazing conservation story. Following research on what would be the most viable and stimulating land use for this traditionally economically depressed area, it was concluded that ecotourism was the best option to uplift local communities. North West Parks Board subsequently acquired a number of farms in the area, removed internal fencing and created the 75 000 hectare property that is now Madikwe. Operation Phoenix, the largest game re-introduction programme of its kind in that over 8000 head of game were re-introduced in to the area, helped restore wildlife levels to their natural equilibriums. Today Madikwe has an amazing variety of mammal species for a reserve of its size and the bird life is excellent. Madikwe boasts:
- Over 350 species of birds have been recorded there.
- 60 larger species of mammal.
- Over 40 tree species
- And over 20 reptile species
Madikwe is a provincial reserve under the custodianship of the North West Parks Board. However unlike other provincial reserves and national parks it does not allow day visitors on to the property. Only guests staying at one of the commercial or private lodges can have the privilege of being able to explore the Madikwe wilds. Madikwe is a great example of a successful public-private initiative in conservation. The private camps and lodges are generally aimed at the high to top end market and by and large offer exceptional service and accommodation standards.
Madikwe lodges and camps:
Located on the South African and Botswana border, Madikwe is a four to five hour drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria and there are daily scheduled flights from Johannesburg that take approximately one hour. The closest city is Botswana’s capital Gaborone which usually takes under an hour to get to including border control processes. There are several entrance gates to the reserve and it is also located within an hour’s drive of Sun City.