Luxury safari

A concept like “luxury safari” seems contradictory, since “safari” means being exposed to wild animals where they roam freely, whereas “luxury” implies the best of what modern man has become accustomed to. In Madikwe Game Reserve in the Northwest-Province of South Africa a combination of “luxury” and “safari” is what is on offer – as a matter of fact, you can expect nothing less than a “luxury safari” at this reserve. As far as “luxury” (in "luxury safari") is concerned Madikwe has at least 14 safari lodges throughout the reserve with the highest rating possible: Five Star. And they live up to their rating – no question about that! Some are small and exclusive, hosting 15 guests or less; others can host op to 25 guests and a few go beyond that, hosting 50 – 200 guests. The main lodge forms the heart of a safari lodge. This is where people come together around the pool, or dine in the dining area. In addition to this guests are accommodated in separate, private units placed strategically towards the river front or water hole. Each of these Madikwe chalets has luxury written all over it. They are very stylishly and typically African decorated, but with all the facilities you can expect from a Five Star facility. Each unit also boasts a private deck overlooking a river or a water hole where game gather; a private plunge pool on your own deck is just what you need to cool off. The main lodge is where meals are served and where guests can cool off in a big swimming pool. All of the lodges have a “boma” – a protected area in the bush where guests can enjoy their meals surrounded by the true African night sounds and clear African skies. Guests can get pampered in spas and receive special therapies; some even have wellness centers where guests can recover their strength and get relief from the stress associated with the modern way of living. and qualified therapists introduce guests to age-old African therapies nowhere else available. Families or groups are catered for as well in family/group units. In some cases these clusters are apart from the main camp, like Little Thakadu, with a dedicated chef, game ranger and even butler in some cases. In general, all of the lodges cater for families and have special activities exclusively for children. Fully equipped conference facilities are available at most camps. Being only 45 minutes from the Gauteng metropolis, some of these safari lodges have actually become popular as wedding venues. As far as the “safari” component of “luxury safari” is concerned, Madikwe will live up to expectations. With 15,000 wild animals roaming freely in Madikwe, you can expect to see a lot of animals each day. Due to different habitats found in the reserve a wide variety of animals are at home here. Of the 60 mammals the “Big Five” (lion, leopard, African elephant, black and white rhino and African buffalo) top the viewing menu, and guests can also expect to have regular sightings of the fastest animal on our planet, the cheetah, as well as the highly endangered African wild dog. A wide variety of grazers (like eland, gemsbok and impala) and browsers (like waterbuck and kudu) completes the picture. The night game drives are very exciting as well, since many animals only become active at sunset. rnEncounters between the spiky porcupine and leopard can be one of the most memorable incidences of your holiday. In addition to this Madikwe hosts as many as 340 different bird species – a real birders’ paradise. This diversity is possible due to the variety of habitats and eco systems. In addition to viewing game from your private verandah, a game drive early in the morning and one late in the afternoon are activities to look forward to as well as safari walks. Every time they are accompanied by knowledgeable game rangers. You will never feel deprived from special sightings, since game rangers will follow animals into the bush if they feel necessary, like a lion kill or a leopard stalking its prey. A special privilege reserved for guests staying at one of the lodges in the reserve is the fact that only they are allowed in the reserve – no day visitors. So your game drive vehicle may be the only one at a very special sighting!