Safari Experiences

Where the wild things are

Madikwe Game Reserve sits in the North West Province of South Africa, on the border of Botswana, spanning an extraordinary 75,000 hectares of bushveld, open grassland, and ancient river systems.

Established in 1991 through one of the largest wildlife relocation programmes in history, known as Operation Phoenix, Madikwe was transformed from degraded farmland into one of Africa’s most biodiverse and celebrated conservation areas.

Today, it is home to more than 66 mammal species and over 340 bird species, including the Big Five, the endangered African Wild Dog, cheetah, brown hyena, and vast herds of elephant, buffalo, and plains game.

Malaria-free and magnificently wild, Madikwe remains one of South Africa’s best-kept safari secrets — and The Royal Madikwe places you at the very centre of it.

75,000Hectares

66+Mammal species

340+Bird species

Game Drives

No two drives are ever the same

Our signature game drives are tailored to your interests and pace, whether you are tracking the Big Five, following a Wild Dog pack on the hunt, or simply absorbing the beauty of the bush as the light shifts across the plains.

Set out in the early morning as Africa stirs to life, or in the late afternoon as the golden hour transforms the landscape. Your dedicated guide brings deep knowledge, genuine passion, and an unhurried approach that turns every sighting, however brief, however unexpected, into part of your own safari story.

On cooler mornings and evenings, ponchos, hot water bottles, and blankets are always on hand, ensuring nothing stands between you and the magic of the bush. Binoculars are available to bring even the most distant sightings into sharp focus.

Each guest will also receive a beautiful Sightings Booklet to record memorable wildlife encounters and personalised water bottles to stay refreshed throughout every adventure.

In partnership with Africology

The Royal Madikwe Safari Essentials Kit

To further enhance your safari experience, we have partnered with Africology to create an exclusive travel-sized Safari Essentials Kit. Thoughtfully curated and presented in a durable khaki safari bag, the kit is designed to accompany you on every game drive, ensuring comfort, care, and a touch of luxury wherever the day takes you.

A black rhino on a game drive at The Royal Madikwe

Ponchos & Blankets

Warm layers for cooler mornings and evening game drives, always to hand.

Hot Water Bottles

A small but convenient comfort for those crisp Madikwe mornings.

Binoculars

Available to our guests on every drive, ensuring that even the most distant sightings won’t be missed.

Sightings Booklet

Pocket sized A5 booklet to record every memorable encounter, from wildlife to the night sky constellations.

Personalised Water Bottle

A keepsake to stay hydrated and refreshed throughout every adventure.

Safari Essentials Kit

Our exclusive Africology collaboration — curated for comfort on every game drive.

For those who wish to surrender fully to the rhythm of the bush, the Royal Safari Experience carries you deeper into Madikwe than a traditional game drive, reaching the Central and Western reaches of the reserve that are rarely explored, and moving at a pace that allows the landscape to truly reveal itself.

Freed from the usual turnaround times, your guide is able to slow down, linger, and seek out the quieter wonders of the bushveld. A bush walk can be incorporated upon request, subject to group size, conditions, and separate pricing. The Full Day Safari is available by reservation.

07:30Hearty breakfast at the Clubhouse
09:00Depart into the reserve
MiddayPop-up bush lunch with drinks
Late afternoonSundowner stop in the bush
17:00 / 19:00Return — all timings guided by the day

Bush Walks

Step into the heart of the Wilderness

Ages 16+

Step outside the confines of the vehicle and into the heart of the wilderness. For guests aged 16 and over, guided bush walks offer a rare and grounding opportunity to experience Madikwe on foot, to pause and notice the finer details that a vehicle so often passes by, and to develop a deeper understanding of the intricate balance that holds this remarkable ecosystem together.

Walking in the bush is an entirely different kind of safari experience, and one that stays with you long after you leave.

Junior Guide Challenge

For Explorers

Ages 5 — 15

The Junior Guide Challenge is designed for our younger guests, led by our resident guide Ernie, whose lifelong connection to Madikwe brings extraordinary insight, infectious enthusiasm, and a genuine gift for bringing the bush to life for curious young minds. From tracking animals to identifying birds, reading the landscape and understanding the stories the bush tells, the Junior Guide Challenge turns a safari into an education, and an education into an adventure.

A beautifully illustrated Children’s Sightings Book gives young explorers a place to capture every encounter, track every discovery and carry the magic of the Madikwe home with them.

Elusive. Fiercely Social. Breathtaking to Observe.

Madikwe is one of a handful of reserves in South Africa where the endangered African Wild Dog can be found. A Wild Dog sighting is among the most coveted in all of African safari. Our guides know this reserve and its Wild Dog packs intimately, and will always pursue every opportunity to bring you face to face with one of Africa’s most extraordinary predators.