What to do in Madikwe

An easy hour’s flight from Johannesburg, you won’t waste a moment before setting off in search of Madikwe’s wildlife. The 75,000-hectare reserve encompasses a variety of habitats, from red desert sands to woodlands, making for exceptional biodiversity and incredibly photogenic scenery. On game drives (offered twice daily), keep your eyes peeled for sable, oryx and over 300 species of birdlife, and Madikwe’s ‘Super Seven’: cheetah, lion, elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo, leopard and African painted dog - it’s one of the best places to see them on the hunt. To get a closer look at the landscape, explore on foot with an expert guide who will reveal tiny, often overlooked details of the bush. Many lodges are located along the river’s edge with fantastic hides and activities, while some offer night drives for tracking down bat-eared fox, aardwolf and brown hyena.