Malaria-free Big Five destination
North West, South Africa
Madikwe Game Reserve is a national park in North West, South Africa, managed by North West Parks. Visitors come for self-drive safari, camping, hiking, fishing. The best time to visit is Apr-Sep.
The species most recorded in North West, drawn from citizen-science observations. Tap any to find stays where you can see it.
Ranked by how often they are recorded in the province, from iNaturalist observations. Tap one to find stays where it lives.
Species birders log most in this province. Numbers are records, not guarantees.
Occurrence data from iNaturalist, aggregated by province. It reflects where a species is seen across North West, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Apr-Sep
Why book here
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.
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
Manyoni Private Game Reserve is one of the largest privately-owned reserves in Kwazulu-Natal. This 23,000-hectare reserve is the product of 17 dedicated landowners who dropped their fences in 2004 to create one contiguous protected area for our wildlife. The selection of the area as a potential release site for the WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion Project was a major driving factor in the establishment of Manyoni. In 2005, the newly established reserve was confirmed as a release site by the WWF and a founder population of black rhino were released into their new home.

A family-run safari lodge set in Madikwe Game Reserve, one of South Africa's most rewarding Big Five reserves. Jaci's has built its reputation on warm, unhurried hospitality — a lodge that feels less like a hotel and more like returning to a place you already love. The property comprises a main lodge with shared spaces, six classic Safari Suites for couples, four flexible Safari Suite Expeditions for families or couples travelling together, and three exclusive-use villas: Kubu (newly rebuilt, private pool, dedicated team), Nare (refurbished three-bedroom villa set above its own waterhole) and Jaci's Madikwe House (the largest, five en-suite bedrooms for multi-generational groups). Each villa comes with its own staff and private game vehicle. Madikwe is malaria-free and welcoming to children, with rhino notching, conservation safaris, photographic safaris, walking experiences, sleepouts, a treatment room, and a bush gym among the activities. Meals run from fireside dinners under the stars to open-air breakfasts.
Madikwe Game Reserve is in North West, South Africa.
In North West, commonly recorded species include mammals such as Serval, Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe, Impala and birds including Kalahari Scrub Robin, Violet-eared Waxbill, Crimson-breasted Shrike, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
The best time to visit Madikwe Game Reserve is Apr-Sep.
Popular activities at Madikwe Game Reserve include self-drive safari, camping, hiking, fishing.
2 places are listed in and near Madikwe Game Reserve on Spekboom, from inside-park camps to nearby lodges. Every booking funds conservation.