9 Day Madikwe Safaris

The Madikwe Game Reserve is a protected area that was added to South Africa’s park system relatively recently. It was established in 1991 and encompasses 750 km2 of bushland north of Groot-Marico, up to the Botswana border. It derives its name from its location in the basin of the Madikwe or Marico River.

The South Africa-Botswana border is located in the Madikwe Game Reserve, 90 kilometres north of Zeerust. The reserve is quite close to Johannesburg and Pretoria, both of which can be accessed in approximately 4.5 hours by automobile. Also, the distance to the nation’s capital, Gaborone, is only one to two hours by automobile.

The Madikwe Game Reserve was once utilized for agriculture, but failed due to the soil’s poor quality. Before deciding that a provincial park would be the greatest way to stimulate the economy in this otherwise destitute area, the South African government conducted extensive research.

In 1992, Project Phoenix initiated the process of returning wildlife to the region by introducing breeding herds of elephants, Cape buffalo, south-central black rhinos, southern white rhinos, and many species of antelope. The number of large mammals in the reserve has climbed to over 10,000, and rare predatory species such as lions, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, and Cape wild dogs have successfully returned. More than sixty animal species are currently present in the park.

Open grasslands and bushveld plains dominate the landscape, which is scattered by solitary mountains and rocky outcrops. Madikwe has earned a reputation as one of Africa’s premier conservation areas due to the presence of all key species, including the highly sought-after “Big 5”.

While it is South Africa’s fifth-largest wildlife reserve, few people are aware of its existence. The park’s overall area is currently 750 km2, of which 680 km2 are privately owned property. The 150 kilometres of the reserve are encircled by an electric fence that confines the larger animals to their designated area.

Madikwe is distinguished by the fact that it is situated in a transitional zone between the bushveld and the Kalahari, where a variety of uncommon species occur natively. Even though winter nights might be frigid, the temperature is often pleasant to hot. At Madikwe, about 350 different bird species have been identified. Given their proximity, there is a proposal to construct a corridor between the reserve and Pilanesberg Game Reserve in the distant future.

The diverse soils and rocks of Madikwe are the result of eons of erosion on the underlying geological formations. This erosion has also had a severe influence on the local fauna. Temperature, which varies widely from location to location, is another element that affects the kind of plants that may be found in Madikwe. Madikwe’s uneven vegetation is a result of the different veld management practices utilized by the farmers that first occupied the area.

Due to its various distinct ecosystems, the Madikwe Game Reserve is home to a vast array of species. There are mountains, a plateau, rocky hills, a perennial river, seasonal wetlands, bushveld, savannah, and several sand and clay ecosystems in the reserve.

Since day visitors are not permitted in the park, the Madikwe Game Reserve is regarded as a particularly exclusive safari location. Thus, only vehicles connected to the park’s lodges are permitted inside the park during wildlife drives.

Singles, couples, and families with children have a range of housing alternatives, from eco-friendly wilderness camping to exceedingly expensive and ultra-luxurious resorts. Malaria-free Madikwe is only one of the benefits of visiting this reserve.