Madikwe River Lodge
Madikwe River Lodge is the original safari lodge in the Big 5, malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve. Each wooden en-suite chalet has a private deck overlooking the Marico River and is set amongst lush, riverine bush. The lodge is family-friendly and has an excellent position in one of the best regions of Madikwe from a game-viewing viewing point-of-view.
Highlights
- Good value for money
- Set in a game-rich northeastern corner of Madikwe
- Malaria-free, Big 5 game viewing from open safari vehicles
- Two swimming pools, including a novel rock pool
- Charming boma set on an island in the river
- Tribal dancing and singing in the evenings
- Abundant birdlife
Madikwe River Lodge offers great value for money and is an ideal safari lodge choice for families. The split-level chalets are spacious and secluded, and the private decks offer lovely views over the riverine forests, which are alive with birdsong in the mornings.
River Runs Through It
Life revolves around the Marico River at the Madikwe River Lodge. You may witness all kinds of wildlife – even elephants - coming down to drink early in the mornings and late afternoons right from your balcony. The boma where delicious evening meals are served is on an island and accessed via a bridge over the river. On balmy summer nights, the local villagers entertain enthusiastically with tribal dancing and singing, which is always a special treat.
A Choice of Accommodation
Madikwe River Lodge is one of the larger safari lodges on the game reserve with 16 en-suite chalets. Whatever your needs, there's something to suit you: twins, doubles, family units and a luxury suite with a separate lounge and charming open-air shower.
Getting there
By car - The lodge is an easy four-hour drive from Johannesburg. Road transfers are available.
By air - Scheduled flights leave from OR Tambo (Johannesburg) International daily for Madikwe. Charter flights and helicopter transfers are also available on request.
Our take on Madikwe River Lodge
Madikwe River Lodge is the grand old dame of Madikwe Game Reserve with a charm and style of its own. It offers good value, is reasonably priced and is not a bad option for slightly older children (there are no real children's activities as such, but the rock pool is a particular favourite with children who are old enough to jump from the rocks into the pool) The game viewing around Madikwe River Lodge is great. Madikwe River Lodge enjoys loyal support from many local families who return year after year.
Includes
- Accommodation and three meals daily
- Two game drives daily
- Game drive refreshments
- Afternoon high tea, tea and coffee
- Complimentary in-room tea butler
- TOMSA levy and VAT at 14%
Excludes
- Madikwe Game Reserve entrance fees
- Madikwe Airstrip landing fees
- Items of a personal nature
You may also want to look at
Tau Game Lodge
Tau Game Lodge (Tau meaning 'lion' in Tswana) is in the far north-western corner of the malaria-free, Big 5 Madikwe Game Reserve. The vegetation here is less dense Kalahari-thornveld, easier for game spotting. The main lodge and luxury safari chalets all look out over the vast waterhole where a pageant of wildlife comes to drink at all hours of the day and night.
Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe is one of South Africa's popular Big 5 safari destinations for those looking for a malaria-free safari. It's especially family friendly as there's no need for malarial prophylactics. Most lodges in Madikwe Game Reserve welcome children and offer specially designed child-friendly programmes to keep the little ones busy and to help them really enjoy their safari experience, too.
