Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe Game Reserve located in the North West Province, a mere 4-hour drive or 1-hour light aircraft flight from Johannesburg, is a 75 000-hectare partnership by tourism stakeholders North West Parks and Tourism Board, local communities and private sector. Madikwe, South Africa’s premier malaria-free Big Five safari destination, is known for its endangered African predators, diverse birdlife and landscapes
History of Madikwe Game Reserve
‘Operation Phoenix’ 1992 saw entire breeding herds of elephant, Cape buffalo, black and white rhino, along with various antelope and predator species including lion, cheetah, spotted hyena and critically endangered African wild dog relocated to Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa. Madikwe is home to the ‘Magnificent Seven’ namely the Big Five, cheetah, African wild dog, 350 bird species and, staggering biodiversity.
Best time to visit Madikwe Game Reserve
A year-round destination, Madikwe Game Reserve is glorious in any season. The dry, sunny winter months of May through September offer prime game viewing, with chilly mornings and evenings. October and November welcome the thunderstorms, a harbinger of upcoming summer rains. December to April, coinciding with lambing season, offers verdant, lush Madikwe landscapes. Birdwatchers and photographers celebrate this time, especially.
Access to Madikwe Game Reserve
Access to the Madikwe Game Reserve is seamless. Federal Air offers reliable seat-in-plane or private charter flights from Johannesburg. There are two airstrips inside the reserve, and Morukuru Family Madikwe uses Madikwe East Airstrip, approximately 40 minutes’ drive away. Functional road networks ensure self-drive access is easy, requiring a 2WD vehicle preferably with slightly higher ground clearance. No 4WD is necessary.