What to do and Where to Stay in Madikwe & the Kalahari

Extraordinary Africa>South Africa>Madikwe and the Kalahari

Safari in Madikwe is something special. Not only do you have an extraordinary variety of landscapes, ranging from plains to lush river valleys and rocky inselbergs, you have all of the Big Five, and an incredible community involvement in the reserve. Madikwe’s also malaria-free, visitor numbers are carefully managed, and it’s probably one of the best places to spot wild dog on safari in South Africa- what’s not to love?

There are a handful of luxury lodges in Madikwe, and a number of glorious “private homes” in the bush for those who want the ultimate in exclusivity (or simply have small children and want to operate at their own pace).

West of Madikwe lies the vast expanses of the Kalahari, where golden grasses sway over dusky red dunes and grasslands stretch for miles, against a backdrop of looming mountains. There’s just one glorious private game reserve we’d recommend here, but oh, what a game reserve! Tswalu is a truly magnificent wilderness, home to everything from vast black rhino to tiny scampering meerkats.