Call646-895-8368

Luxury Madikwe
Safaris made for you

Family friendly, malaria free safari in the north west
A front facing vector art of a lion face drawn in bold gold lines

The Magnificent Seven

Look out for elephants, rhinos, buffalos, cheetahs, leopards, lions and wild dogs

Trees icon

Varied Landscapes

Explore the varying ecosystems of savannahs, woodlands and riverine forests

Vector art of safari jeep from the side drawn in bold gold lines

Safari Activities

game drives, bush walks, bird watching and many more experiences

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.

Visit Madikwe for an unforgettable safari experience, where the Big Five roam freely across breathtaking landscapes and diverse ecosystems. Far from the crowds, this destination offers an intimate connection with nature, unmatched tranquility and luxurious lodges nestled in the wilderness.

Jamey Lowis headshot

Jamey Lowis

Travel Designer

Luxury accommodation in Madikwe

There are many incredible places to stay in Madikwe. Here are some of our favourite camps and lodges, handpicked by our experts:

Why book with Jacada?

Safari expertise illustration image

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.

Unforgettable guides illustration image

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.

Positive impact illustration image

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.

Ready to plan your adventure?

Whatever you want from your Madikwe trip, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Discover more of South Africa

Cape Town thumbnail

Cape Town

Vibrant and beautiful, Cape Town is an essential stop on any South Africa trip. Table Mountain dominates the skyline and offers exciting outdoor pursuits while the streets below are full of history, culture and buzzing bars and restaurants.

Discover more
Drakensberg Mountains thumbnail

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.

Discover more
Durban thumbnail

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 more
Eastern Cape Safaris thumbnail

Eastern Cape Safaris

South Africa’s Eastern Cape continues to win visitors over with its pristine coastline, accessible and malaria-free wildlife reserves, picturesque villages and surreal hinterland landscapes.

Discover more
Johannesburg thumbnail

Johannesburg

South Africa‘s ‘Big Apple’, this sunny city is not only one of the world’s largest urban areas and South Africa’s commercial and economic hub, it’s also been branded the new capital of cool.

Discover more
KwaZulu Natal thumbnail

KwaZulu Natal

Known as the ‘Kingdom of the Zulu’, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa’s most north-easterly coastal province, quite literally has it all.

Discover more
Limpopo Province thumbnail

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.

Discover more
Luxury Rail Travel thumbnail

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.

Discover more
Northern Kruger National Park thumbnail

Northern Kruger National Park

The Makuleke is the northernmost section of the Kruger National Park. It is something of an open secret among safari aficionados, a diverse and dramatic region that is perhaps the park’s most beautiful, yet kept wonderfully quiet thanks to its remoteness and community run concession status.

Discover more
Phinda thumbnail

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.

Discover more
Pretoria thumbnail

Pretoria

Located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, this handsome city is one of South Africa‘s three capital cities. Pretoria is made up of grand buildings, large, leafy green suburbs and wide, tree-lined streets.

Discover more
Sabi Sands thumbnail

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.

Discover more
The Garden Route thumbnail

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.

Discover more
The Kruger thumbnail

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.

Discover more
The Kalahari thumbnail

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.

Discover more
The Western Cape Mountains thumbnail

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.

Discover more
The Whale Coast thumbnail

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.

Discover more
The Winelands thumbnail

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.

Discover more

Meet 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.

Sunny Winter main icon

Sunny Winter

May – September

Rainy Season main icon

Rainy Season

October – April

When is the Best Time to Visit South Africa?

When is the Best Time to Visit South Africa?

Read more

Plan your trip to Madikwe

Whatever you want from your adventure in Madikwe, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Herd of zebra in the grasslands in the golden light, TanzaniaHot air balloon over Marrakech in the sunset light.

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.

Find out more
Ariel view of waves breaking on a forested shoreline