
Timbuktu is the No. 1 Tour Operator in the 2024 edition of the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards!
A major milestone indeed
Madikwe is one of those places that gets under your skin and makes you want to keep coming back. The dry red earth, thick acacia woodland and towering rocky inselbergs combine to create a dramatic landscape and the perfect backdrop for a safari. The reserve itself is packed with wildlife, including wild dog, cheetah (which, along with the Big Five, make up the famed "Madikwe Super Seven" ) and more unusual Kalahari species. Roughly four hours from Johannesburg by road and 30 minutes by plane, it's more accessible than many other parks and great value for money. Oh, and did we mention it’s one of the few places that’s totally malaria-free. Bring the family and enjoy!
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An easy hour’s flight from Johannesburg, you won’t waste a moment before setting off in search of Madikwe’s wildlife. The 75,000-hectare reserve encompasses a variety of habitats, from red desert sands to woodlands, making for exceptional biodiversity and incredibly photogenic scenery. On game drives (offered twice daily), keep your eyes peeled for sable, oryx and over 300 species of birdlife, and Madikwe’s ‘Super Seven’: cheetah, lion, elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo, leopard and African painted dog - it’s one of the best places to see them on the hunt. To get a closer look at the landscape, explore on foot with an expert guide who will reveal tiny, often overlooked details of the bush. Many lodges are located along the river’s edge with fantastic hides and activities, while some offer night drives for tracking down bat-eared fox, aardwolf and brown hyena.
There is something for everyone at Madikwe, from littlest nephews to great-grandma and everyone in between. Not only is it malaria free and easily accessible, there are more activities than you can shake a stick at, and animals around every corner.
Madikwe’s location in northern South Africa on the border with Botswana spans both Kalahari Desert and bushveld, meaning there are a number of rare species around. Keep your eyes peeled for bat-eared foxes and even aardwolf.
There are a LOT of lodges in Madikwe. If you’re travelling on a budget, you’re sure to find something that suits, but if your passion is for vast open spaces and a true wilderness escape, you might not find it here.
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