Thakadu River Camp
Madikwe
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Inside park
Where to stay in and near Madikwe Game Reserve
Malaria-free Big Five destination
North West, South Africa
Big Five
About Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe is a 75,000-hectare Big Five reserve on the Botswana border in the North West, created in 1991 from cattle farms through Operation Phoenix, one of the largest game translocations ever attempted. It is malaria-free, about four hours from Johannesburg, and lodge-only: there is no self-drive and no day visiting, so game viewing is by guided open vehicle from around thirty lodges. Wild dog are a particular strength, alongside elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo and leopard. It is the reserve most often recommended for a first family safari from Gauteng.
Things to do: Game drives · Photography
Where you can stay: Camping · Chalets · Nearby B&Bs
Wildlife near Madikwe Game Reserve
What people record most across North West. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across North West, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Stay in & near Madikwe Game Reserve
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
Jaci's Private Lodge
Madikwe
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Can support Jaci's Lodge Trust
Price on request
When to visit Madikwe Game Reserve
Most of the rain at Madikwe Game Reserve falls from December to February, peaking in January at about 101 mm. The dry season runs from May to September, with little or no rain. October is the hottest month, with average highs of about 31°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 6°C.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 101 | 30 | 20 |
| February | 73 | 30 | 20 |
| March | 49 | 29 | 18 |
| April | 35 | 26 | 14 |
| May | 8 | 25 | 9 |
| June | 8 | 22 | 6 |
| July | 2 | 22 | 6 |
| August | 2 | 25 | 9 |
| September | 6 | 29 | 14 |
| October | 25 | 31 | 17 |
| November | 58 | 31 | 18 |
| December | 90 | 31 | 20 |
Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 1129 m above sea level. Weather data from Open-Meteo.com (opens in a new tab) (ERA5), CC BY 4.0.
Getting there
2 stays we sell in Madikwe Game Reserve. Tap a pin for the listing.
24.7557° S, 26.2907° E800 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Madikwe Game Reserve wild
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
- Built into every booking
- A conservation share
- Where it goes
- Local causes & communities
Madikwe Game Reserve: your questions
Where is Madikwe Game Reserve?
Madikwe Game Reserve is in North West, South Africa.
Does Madikwe Game Reserve have the Big Five?
Yes. Madikwe Game Reserve is a Big Five area, home to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
What wildlife can you see near Madikwe Game Reserve?
In North West, commonly recorded species include animals such as Tsessebe, Serval, Blue Wildebeest, Sable Antelope and birds including Tree Pipit, Great Sparrow, Kalahari Scrub Robin, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
When is the rainy season at Madikwe Game Reserve?
Most of the rain at Madikwe Game Reserve falls from December to February, peaking in January at about 101 mm. The dry season runs from May to September, with little or no rain. October is the hottest month, with average highs of about 31°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 6°C. Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 1129 m above sea level.
When is the best time to visit Madikwe Game Reserve?
The best time to visit Madikwe Game Reserve is Apr-Sep.
What is there to do at Madikwe Game Reserve?
Popular activities at Madikwe Game Reserve include game drives, photography.
Where can you stay in Madikwe Game Reserve?
Places to stay inside Madikwe Game Reserve include Thakadu River Camp. Request them on Spekboom and pay once your dates are confirmed. Lodges just outside the park are listed too. Every booking funds conservation.
Parks near Madikwe Game Reserve
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Pilanesberg National Park
North West, South Africa
Pilanesberg National ParkNational Park · 98 km
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Big Five
Marakele National Park
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Marakele National ParkNational Park · 144 km
Waterberg Mountains wilderness
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Mafikeng Game Reserve
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Historical town game reserve
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Madikwe Game Reserve.
Big Five parks and reservesNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in North WestAll protected areas
