The Madikwe Game Reserve, bordering the Kalahari Desert and Botswana in South Africa’s north west corner, is one of the country’s lesser known and more remote of the Big Five safari experiences. Moreover, it’s malaria-free, making the area great for families.

This is South Africa‘s fifth largest game reserve at 75,000 hectares yet it’s relatively unknown despite its variety of wildlife consisting of a large population of elephants, 300 types of bird and over sixty different mammal species including the ‘Magnificent Seven’ (elephant, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, leopard, lion and African Wild Dog).

The reserve also possesses some of the most stunning sandveld terrain in the country, and it’s exactly this range of varying habitats that supports the impressive variety of creatures found here.

When to go

Madikwe is great to visit year round.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

What to do

  • Safaris
  • Hiking
  • Rock climbing and abseiling
  • Fishing
  • Birdwatching