Travel Arrangements

Shared Shuttle Flights

The Royal Madikwe is easily accessed by daily shuttle flights from (OR Tambo) Johannesburg International Airport to Madikwe Game Reserve Western Airstrip. Approximate flight time is 1 hour. Guests will be collected from the Western Airstrip by one of our guides and transferred to Royal Madikwe at no extra cost – approximately 25 minute drive time. Shuttle flight times may vary by up to an hour, so please ensure to allow a minimum of 3-4 hours between connecting flights.

Depart Johannesburg	13h00
Arrive at Madikwe Western Airstrip	14h00

Depart Madikwe Western Airstrip	11h15
Arrive in Johannesburg	12h15

Luggage restrictions are very strict with an allowance of 20kg checked luggage per person in soft sided bags only as well as 5 kg hand luggage per person. For excess luggage, the complimentary luggage storage facility at the Federal Airlines lounge can be utilized, or an additional seat must be booked and is dependent on availability at the time of enquiring. Please do note that seats are very limited and if flights are fully booked there is an option of Private Charter flights, or a Road Transfer as below.

Luxury Accommodation Conservation Safari At Royal Madikwe South Africa

Private Charter Flights

Private Charters can be arranged in the event of the Shared Shuttle Flights being fully booked, or for a more luxurious experience and includes a meet & greet facility whereby guests will be escorted off international flights through customs / immigration on arrival. Flight times are reasonably flexible to suit guests’ requirements and dependent on flight and lodge operations.

Private Road Transfer

Alternatively, a road transfer can be arranged to transfer guests to/from The Royal Madikwe. Approximately 4.5 hours’ drive from Johannesburg, approximately 3 hours’ drive from Sun City and approximately 1.5 hours’ drive from the Sir Seretse Khama Airport in Gaborone, Botswana. Please enquire for transfers from other destinations.

Driving Yourself

For the more adventurous, there is also the option of renting a vehicle at the airport and driving yourself to the lodge. This is a great way to see more of the country and the roads are generally in good condition, thus a 4×4 vehicle is not a requirement. We do advise using the downloadable directions to the lodge.

Please be sure to enquire with Reservations about the possibility of an earlier check-in or later check-out as a surcharge may be applicable for transfers to / from the airstrip.

Reserve Entry Fee

A compulsory fee charged per person once off and is dependent on mode of travel on arrival, i.e. if you arrive via shuttle flight you will be liable for the Landing Fee.

Gate Entry Fee

ZAR 200 per adult | ZAR 100 per child (0-8yrs)

Landing Fee

ZAR 280 per adult | ZAR 180 per child (0-8yrs)

Conservation Levy

A compulsory fee charged per person per night which contributes towards conservation, anti-poaching initiatives and community development.
ZAR 450 per adult | ZAR 225 per child (0-8yrs)

Check-in / Check-out Times

Get in touch with our travel designers should you require an earlier check-in or later check out.

Check-in time is 14h00
Check-out time is 11h00

Royal Madikwe 5 Star Luxuxry Accommodation In South Africa

Please contact our travel desingers for a personalised transfer quote.

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Children on Safari

Children of all ages are welcome at our African home!

The Royal Madikwe is a world renowned family safari destination with award winning Family Villa’s. Our Villa’s come standard with a Private Safari Vehicle and Guide, meaning that your child’s age does not restrict them from joining the whole family on a magical safari! Our guides are well versed in conducting safe, all-inclusive, fun filled family safari’s where each experience is tailored to your family’s interest.

As a family run safari lodge, we understand the need for children to keep busy and burn off excess energy in between the dawn and dusk safari’s. We reinvent our childrens program daily to immerse our little guests into their natural surroundings and inspire them to really look and learn more about this magical environment around them.

Taking the time to reimagine a wild adventure from a child’s perspective allows us to tailor our children's’ program to suit their individual needs, because just like no two cheetah’s have the same spots, no two children are alike. Our children’s activities do not follow a strict timetable and with so many exciting new experiences to choose from, our little explorers will have endless fun!

Children On Safari Luxury Accommodation Royal Madikwe South Africa

Children On Safari Luxury Accommodation Royal Madikwe South Africa 09

Children’s’ Activities include:

Seasonal Movie Night under the Stars
Nature walks around camp
T-Shirt Painting
Tracking & Spoor Casting with Plaster of Paris
African Beading Lessons
Basic Archery
Nature Centered Arts & Crafts
Children's Spa Day
African Stories with Hot Chocolate & Cookies
Impala Dung Spitting Competitions
African Drumming Lessons
Junior Guide Challenge
African Hair Braiding

What To Pack

All year round Necessities

Sun Hat
Sun Glasses
Sun Block
Lip Balm
Closed Shoes for Bush Walks
Camera with extra Film/Memory Card
Extra Batteries
Charger

Safari Necessities Royal Madike Lodge South Africa

SUMMER: December - February

Summer is our rainy season and we experience some of the most breathtaking thunderstorms in the Southern Hemisphere, which can continue for 10 minutes or up to 2 hours. As Madikwe is a semi-arid area, with an average annual rainfall of only 500mm, it does not typically rain every day and thunderstorms generally occur in the afternoons. Daytime temperatures can vary from 25°C to 40°C, with an average of 31°C.
Recommended Clothing: Light cotton / linen fabrics are recommended for the hot daytime temperatures and a light jumper for the game drives. Short trousers, summer dresses, swimming trunks / costume and open toe sandals are recommended.

AUTUMN: March - May

One can still expect some rainfall in Autumn, but much less than in summer time. By now, the daytime temperatures have dropped down to 20°C, with a maximum of 31°C. The early morning and afternoon game drives are a little cooler, but we do provide cozy blankets on game drives for extra comfort.

Recommended clothing: Light summer clothing will still be required, but we recommend a warm jumper, long trousers and closed shoes for the game drives which can be a little cooler.

WINTER: June - August

Winter in Madikwe boasts lovely warm days with temperatures between 15°C and 25°C – much like European Summer temperatures! By now, the early morning and afternoon game drive temperatures have dropped and can be as low as 10°C to 0°C on some mornings, with an average of 6°C.

Recommended Clothing: Long trousers, long sleeve shirt, jumper, closed shoes and a warm jacket, scarf, gloves and a wooly hat for the cooler game drives is recommended, as well as some lighter clothing for the warmer daytime temperatures.

SPRING: September - November

There is a definite change in temperature and, although the early morning and afternoon game drives still present a chill, midday temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C with an average of 25°C most days.

Recommended Clothing: Trousers and a warm jacket are still required for the game drives, but lighter clothing can be worn during the warmer midday temperatures. Both closed shoes and sandals will be useful.

Medical Requirements

Madikwe Game reserve is a Malaria FREE area, therefore no anti-Malaria medication is required. We have a medical box availible with basic medication for your convience, however, if you are taking any prescribed medication, please ensure that you have an additional supply in case of any unforseen circumstances.

A paramedic is stationed in the reserve and can be called out to the lodge in necessary situations. Emergency Medical evacuation is also available for emergency cases, but each case is assessed individually and therefore no guarantees are given. We do advise that all guests take out personal travel insurance.

Rose and Isaac H

The most amazing, breathtaking, and luxurious safari ever!
We were there for our honeymoon and had a great time!
For starters, the staff is super friendly, pleasing and goes out of the way for you! Its always a pleasure for them to greet you and serve you, the best attention ever (and we've been places)! Service is super customizable! For example, since we are kosher they made sure to have all kosher ingredients and new kosher equipment (if you are kosher specify that when you are booking and ask for new pots, etc), we were able to check all the ingredients beforehand and the kitchen staff were more than happy to assist and collaborate to make our experience super enjoyable! Not to mention the food is out of this world! Gourmet meals with fresh produce and local dishes! Out of this world!
Now for the room, we stayed in a room that had view to the water hole and it was like a movie!!! We saw all kinds of wild life walk and drink water from the hole! Absolutely surreal waking up to zebras and elephants and giraffes just in front of your bedroom!
The games were sooo good! Our guide was super engaged in making us part of the discovery and we learned so much (we got to see the big 5, and some other animals too, we saw lions hunting zebras)
To sum up, no words. Just hope you have an amazing time at RM Safari!

Tour702057

Better than your wildest dreams !

The staff (TJ, Margaret, Elias especially) were so generous, kind, and knowledgeable! The people behind the amazing meals introduce themselves to you, wildlife strolls right past your room and the watering hole, and the game drives are unlike anything we have ever experienced

Salzgitter - Germany

Unforgettable moments - we were speechless

We will come back. That is sure. Amazing nature with superb Lodge and very friendly staff. We felt always like home. From the big 5 we saw 4; unfortunately Leopard not, but maybe we were just unlucky. There's really nothing to complain about.

TCSP - London UK

Simply Magical!

We spent two nights at the lodge in November 2019 and could have stayed far longer. We stayed in the honeymoon suite with views of the watering hole that kept us mesmerized for hours. The room was incredibly comfortable with small touches like a fully stocked mini-fridge, snacks, lovely toiletries - it seemed they had thought of everything.

Then there is the game drives that were spectacular. Doctor went out of his way to extend drives when we were looking for animals and was informative and friendly along the way. The sundowner drinks and coffee in the morning overlooking sunset and sunrise are just another bonus.

Finally, the staff at the lodge are the warmest, friendliest and most helpful you could wish for. We were particularly fond of Elias with his warmth and amazing singing voice! (The staff singing one night was also something really special)

Thank you to everyone at Royal Madikwe for making our experience one we will never forget!

Lorna K

Luxury adventure!

This lodge is outstanding. The staff is amazing, so friendly and welcoming. They are all happy to do anything for you. The lodge is beautiful. Lovely and comfortable to relax in. The foods amazing. The muffins on game drive are the best ive ever had. Most importantly the safari experience is amazing. Theres loads of animals to see living in their natural enviroment. I,ve been twice and have been fortunate enough to see the big 5. The second time we never found the elusive leopard however i still enjoyed the experience just as much. If possible the honeymoon suite is a must as you balcony face the waterhole where all the animals like to come and vist. Theres nothing better than relaxing in the sun looking out onto herds of elephants, zebras and rhinos
I strongly recommend this lodge for a luxury safari experience and hope to return again

hawkeye10001

Second visit a year later and still perfection!

This was my wife and my second visit and in no way did it disappoint!

We were welcomed like old friends by the team and it was wonderful to see everyone again.

Elaine, ably assisted by Gift and the fantastic front of house team, looked after our every need with the most genuine smile and total charm.

Amos and the kitchen team provided us with mouth watering and perfectly cooked dishes with local flavours. His spicy Chakalaka is one of my favourite things ever and a perfect accompaniment to a night under the stars at the Boma with a nice Kudu or Eland steak.

The lodge and its grounds are immaculately kept by the housekeeping and grounds team.

For our game drives this year we had Doc, who was fantastic. The other rangers always wanted to know where he was as he tracked everything and got us into the best positions to see the greatest show on earth. Our drives were topped off by finally finding the illusive leopard and spending some magical time with this most beautiful of big cats.

If you get the opportunity to visit this incredible place then go! You will never regret it and the brilliant memories will stay with you forever. Sat on our deck one day we counted 32 elephants drinking at the watering hole a matter of meters from us... need I say more.

Anil T - Mumbai India

Amazing place to stay & awesome service.

Spectacular experience!! From the arrival to departure, everything was absolutely incredible, the lodge, the rides, the food, the service was simply amazing.
Awesome views from cottages overview waterhole. Could sit and sip a G&T and the wildlife will come to you.