Varied, beautiful landscapes and high concentrations of wildlife
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 where a wide variety of wildlife can be found. There is 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. Activities in Madikwe include exceptional game drive safari experiences, leaving early in the morning to catch the sunrise, returning for lunch and then setting out again in the late afternoon as the animals come alive again after hiding from the midday sun.
Highlights
Explore the different habitats of Madikwe on exhilarating game drives that take you deep into the bush.
Start the day early and journey into the bush for a gourmet picnic breakfast in the middle of nowhere.
Enjoy fully bespoke and family-friendly safari activities, designed to captivated safari-goers of all ages.
As the sun goes down, gaze skywards for spectacular stargazing with an expert guide to explain the constellations.
![Black and white illustration of Amie Larsen's headshot](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/392546/Amie-Larsen-square-140x140-c.jpg)
Amie Larsen
Travel Designer
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Madikwe holds a special place in my heart as I've been on safari here a few times and absolutely loved it, once with my daughter when she was little. The landscapes here are stunning, so varied and interesting. And, when it comes to wildlife and incredible places to stay, you won’t be disappointed.
![](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Amie-Larsen-square-150x150.jpg)
Amie Larsen
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in Madikwe
Why book with Jacada?
![An illustration of a zebra](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/451416/WILDLIFE-600x600.png)
Safari expertise
Our experts bring decades of first-hand expertise. They’ve lived and travelled across Africa and are regularly on the ground reviewing the most exclusive camps and experiences. You’ll also have the support of a personal concierge, based in region.
![Illustration of a family on safari](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/451417/Jacada_SAFARI-600x600.png)
Unforgettable guides
We handpick the most knowledgeable guides, who bring each destination to life with care and passion. They’re chosen for their ability to provide unrivalled insight into the region’s wildlife and landscapes as well as a genuine, memorable experience.
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Positive impact
By travelling with us, you directly support a range of initiatives spanning wildlife conservation to community engagement. Our luxury trips are designed to prioritise experiences that are positive for you and the places you visit.
Trip inspiration
Discover more of South Africa
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Cape Town
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Sabi Sands
A private reserve spanning 600,000 hectares and boarding the game-rich Kruger Park means safari experiences here are exclusive and full of wildlife. A place of leopards and wild dogs, luxury lodges and endless savannahs.
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The Kruger
A world famous national park, and for good reason. The wildlife in the Kruger is abundant, the big five reside here in large numbers. The park is home to many luxurious lodges for a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience.
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The Winelands
Pretty towns and villages punctuate the green rolling hills of South Africa’s Wine Region. Home to fantastic wine, restaurants and plenty of outdoor activities that make the most of the stunning landscapes.
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Luxury Rail Travel
Luxury trains cut through dramatic landscapes, enjoyed from the comfort of stylish carriages. Any journey through South Africa will be a beautiful one and taking the journey by train delivers a wonderful sense of calm or romance.
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The Kalahari
The Kalahari showcases the massive diversity of the country's landscapes. Unique desert species roam the arid plains, waiting for the rains to bring dry land to life with a flurry of desert flowers.
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The Whale Coast
On the Atlantic shoreline of the western cape there’s a beautiful collection of bays, towns and villages. Whale watching boat trips can be arranged to spot southern right whales and evenings are spent in fine restaurants and stylish hotels.
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Limpopo Province
Known as ‘The Great North’ Limpopo is characterised by majestic scenery, ancient landscapes and millions of hectares of protected land. There are numerous outdoor activities including some of the best horse riding safaris in the country.
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The Garden Route
The Garden Route is a place of magnificent natural beauty. The coastline is made up of small bays, beaches and quaint towns. In the distance rolling, green hills and forestland runs down to meet the coast, laden with marine life.
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Phinda
Phinda is a private reserve offering exclusivity, conservation-lead hospitality and exciting wildlife encounters. A varied collection of habitats attracts plenty of wildlife and with its proximity to the coast, beach and bush combine perfectly.
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The Elephant Coast
Just below Mozambique the Elephant Coast boasts some of the best beaches in South Africa. Highlights include the UNESCO wetlands of Lake St Lucia, the coral reefs of Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay with it’s sea turtle residents.
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Drakensberg Mountains
The Drakensberg mountains are an epic and exciting place to visit. Huge tabletops, massive ranges, ancient san rock-art sites and crashing waterfalls can be explored on hikes, exhilarating zip lines and expedition horse rides.
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The Western Cape Mountains
The Cape Mountains span the northern and southern capes, taking in the Cederberg mountains and most of the Karoo plateau. A perfect place for jaw-dropping road trips on the famous route 62 and all just a convenient distance from Cape Town.
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The Battlefields
One of South Africa’s historically significant regions, a must-stop destination for any historian. Famous for outstanding expert guides who bring the stories to life as you wander the fields.
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Durban
A subtropical climate, beautiful beaches and laid back atmosphere makes Durban a great city to spend time in. It also holds plenty of cultural and political importance as the capital of the KwaZulu Natal region.
Discover moreMeet your safari experts
When to visit
The best time to visit Madikwe Game Reserve is during the dry, cool winter months of May to September. These months offer clear weather with little rain which are the perfect conditions for spotting wildlife and exploring deep into the reserve. If you travel at this time, be sure to pack some warm clothes for early game drives.
![Gold sun icon](https://www.jacadatravel.com/wp-content/uploads/fly-images/374702/Sun@2x-120x120.png)
Sunny Winter
May – September
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Rainy Season
October – April
South Africa Travel Guides
Plan your trip to Madikwe
Whatever you want from your adventure in Madikwe, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
We booked our honeymoon in South Africa with Jacada. James helped us book the trip and he was really helpful walking us through different itineraries and helping us stay organized while deciding what we wanted to do from all the amazing options. Once we got to South Africa, we felt really well-taken care of - with a dedicated WhatsApp group…
I will never travel internationally without Jacada again! I've never used a travel agent before, but booking 8 days on safari in South Africa was intimidating. I did weeks of research on my own, and I'm an experienced and confident traveler, but I really wanted help and guidance for this one. I reached out to Jacada after seeing an article…
From start to finish everyone I interacted with was wonderful to work with! I’ve never worked with a travel agent before my trip and now I'll never travel without one!! It was so nice to sit back and relax and have a trip planned for me that was totally customized to me and my preferences. We had an absolutely incredible…
Excellent 2 week experience with Jacada Travel guidance. It was comforting having someone there to meet and greet us at our many relocations. We thoroughly enjoyed our guides. Great personalities, knowledgeable and upbeat. Our vacation went way beyond our expectation or imagination. We would definitely use Jacada Travel again.
Jacada was incredibly attentive throughout the process. They work with great vendors and clearly communicated all our requests/needs to hotels, camps, tours, and guides. Monitored the trip throughout and followed up after.
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Plan with peace of mind
When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.