Two of South Africa’s hidden gems, Madikwe and the Waterberg offer malaria-free game viewing in spectacular surroundings, well away from the crowds of Kruger and elsewhere.
Madikwe is one of South Africa’s best-kept secrets, closer to Jo’burg than Kruger but far less visited, affording crowd-free game viewing of the highest order
Madikwe is home to the Super Seven, adding cheetah and wild dog to the established Big Five of lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino
The Waterberg’s spectacular mountain country contains two of South Africa’s most underrated safari destinations: Marakele National Park and Welgevonden Game Reserve
Birding is excellent and Marakele National Park, which is home to the world’s largest colony of endangered Cape vultures
Both Madikwe and the Waterberg are malaria free, making them great options for families with young children
Madikwe Game Reserve is one of South Africa’s best-kept secrets. Set in the North-West Province near the border with Botswana, about a four-hour drive from Johannesburg, this malaria-free reserve is the fifth largest in the country, covering 75,000 hectares of open savannah, seasonal wetlands, woodlands and rocky outcrops. Its habitats provide sanctuary to a wide array of wildlife, including the Super Seven, adding cheetah and wild dog to the established Big Five of lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. It’s also home to around 350 resident and migrant bird species.
To the east, across the border in Limpopo province, the rolling mountains and scenic valleys of the Waterberg conceal two more exceptional safari options. Set right in the heart of mountain country, Marakele National Park provides an amazing setting for game drives and river cruises, with healthy populations of elephant, rhino and other large species. While Welgevonden Game Reserve – an easy 45-minute flight from Johannesburg – is home to no fewer than 65 mammal species, from the famous Big Five to lesser-seen species like cheetah, brown hyena, caracal, aardwolf and aardvark, all living in a swathe of malaria-free bushveld that’s breathtaking to behold.
A luxury lodge perfectly poised among boulders and age-old tamboti trees in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve.
An exclusive lodge catering to just ten guests in the game-rich and malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve.
Owner run and managed, Jamala Madikwe is tucked beneath a canopy of age-old leadwood trees overlooking a bustling waterhole in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve.
An exclusive five-suite sanctuary in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve.
Three exclusive-use luxury bush houses set in the malaria-free Madikwe Private Game Reserve, known for its endangered African predators, diverse birdlife and breathtaking landscapes.