This reserve created in 1991, sits right on the South Africa-Botswana border in a malaria-free area. In the largest movement of animals since Noah filled his arc, the 30,352 acre (75,000 ha) reserve was stocked with 10,000 head of game from 27 different species. The park's very existence contributes to the preservation of local fauna and flora and rare animals such as rhino and wild dog, and also provides a more sustainable environment for the local people.

ANIMALS & BIRDS
Not only does this reserve boast the ‘Big Five’ but it also has the ‘Super 7’! This adds cheetah and wild dog to the traditional five; leopard, lion, buffalo, elephant and rhino. Plus brown hyena, sable, eland, gemsbok, giraffe and large herds of plains game and plenty of birds.

Wild dogs are a speciality of the area and due to their rarity and fascinating behaviour, are a wonderful sight. They are also known as Cape hunting dogs or painted dogs because of their tricoloured (black, white and tan) abstract coat. Wild Dogs are Africa’s most formidable hunters (followed by hyena and lion), and the essence of their successful social system is co-operative hunting and food sharing. Not only do they regurgitate food for the young but the babysitter gets fed too. They travel great distances while hunting and as a result often traverse farmland where they were almost shot to extinction. Luckily they are thriving in Madikwe.

SEASONS
Rainy Season: it rains from October to April with the highest rainfall expected between November and February. Daytime temperatures are hot and humid with an average of 88°F (31°C).
Dry Season: the winter months of May to September are dry and cold with evening temperatures as low as 35.5°F (2°C) and only 72°F (22°C) in the daytime.

MADIKWE GAME RESERVE SPECIALITIES

· ‘Super 7’ big game animals
· Rare and endangered wild dog
· Few other tourist around
· Small number of select lodges

FACTS
Madikwe is 3½-4 hour’s drive from Johannesburg or 45 minutes by aircraft.
This is not a malarial area.

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Safari Seasons

Russell Weston 6th Jun 2019

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Private Safari Concessions

Russell Weston 4th Apr 2019

A concession gives the operator the exclusive rights to make the area private, beyond the access of the general public. Vast tracts of the most sort after wildlife areas are divided up into manageable blocks and allocated into concessions for private and commercial use. Private companies are awarded the privilege of operating luxury safari establishments and exclusive activities, based on …

Traversing and your Safari Experience

Russell Weston 4th Apr 2019

Some Safari lodges and camps occupy relatively small territories and need to make an arrangement with the larger land owners to extend their game drives into the adjacent area. This special permission is highly monitored and strictly controlled. Traversing rights come at a high cost and are based on vehicles having access within a quota arrangement. Most of the sorts …

Safari Activities

Russell Weston 4th Sep 2018

Game Drives All game drives are undertaken in an open sided 4×4 drive vehicle with a driver / naturalist who has experience and knowledge of the area, and is thus an expert on game movement and other ecological aspects of the region. Drives usually depart in the early morning and late afternoon when it is cooler and there is a …

Madikwe Game Reserve

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