Madikwe Game Reserve

Madikwe Game Reserve is one of South Africa’s best-kept secrets and one of the largest game reserves in the country covering 75000 hectares along the Botswana border. Created in 1991 through Operation Phoenix — one of the most ambitious wildlife translocation programmes ever undertaken — over 8000 animals were relocated to Madikwe to establish a fully functional ecosystem. Today the reserve supports all Big Five alongside healthy populations of wild dog, cheetah, and brown hyena. Madikwe’s malaria-free status makes it an excellent choice for families with young children and its location just four hours from Johannesburg provides easy access. The reserve operates on a community-partnership model benefiting local villages while several luxury lodges offer intimate and exclusive safari experiences. The varied landscape of bushveld, grassland, and rocky outcrops supports over 350 bird species.