Tau Game Lodge ★★★★★

"We had a wonderful time. The service and food was top quality. Our guide, Lazarus, went out of his way to find terrific animal sighting. Overall top notch experience "

Last Word Madikwe ★★★★

"Top notch, excellent customer service is what you will receive at Last Word. The staff is exceptional. Very kind and engaging. The attention to detail is remarkable. The rooms were spotless. Loved the snack left on your nightstand every evening. The hot water bottles, greetings with a wet towel and a drink were a treat. The water hole is bustling with activity. Finally got my photo of a giraffe drinking! The food was incredible."

Madikwe Safari Lodge ★★★★★

"My stay at Kopano one of the three lodges that make up the Madikwe Safari Lodge was unbelievable- I can’t wait to go back. The food was out of this world and sometimes served in different locations- but wherever it was served or what ever I ate it was delicious! The service was special- very attentive but without being intrusive - Corine and Ellen couldn’t have been more helpful and caring. My Ranger Mike made the game drives exciting and informative with great sightings. I am planning to return as soon as I can."

Impodimo Game Lodge ★★★★★

"Come for the safari. Remember the people. We were a family of five – my dad, my father-in-law, my wife, my son and myself – and flew into Madikwe by prop plane after spending the previous night in Johannesburg. From the moment we landed, the experience started. We were met at the airstrip by Sebastian, who would also be our ranger throughout our stay. What was supposed to be our transfer to Impodimo very quickly became our first mini game drive! When we arrived at the lodge, we were given the usual briefing – meals, timings, game drives, etc. Then came one instruction that we didn’t quite understand: At night, you cannot walk between your room and the main lodge without being accompanied by a ranger. It didn’t take long for us to understand why. Shortly afterwards, while Sebastian was accompanying us to our room, our path was blocked by an elephant. Welcome to Madikwe! 😂 Impodimo sits along a route used by elephants travelling up and down towards the waterhole. So yes, you can quite literally have elephants wandering past the lodge. It is an incredible experience, especially for kids, but also a reminder that you are very much a guest in their home. ~ THE SAFARI ~ Sebastian was our dedicated ranger and Mpo our tracker, and having both of them with us on every game drive was fantastic. For anyone going on their first safari, there is something important to understand: This isn’t a zoo. The animals aren’t sitting around waiting for your vehicle to arrive. Nobody makes a phone call and asks the lions to come out. 😂 Madikwe is MASSIVE, and finding wildlife takes patience, experience and sometimes a fair amount of luck. So let your ranger and tracker do their jobs. Watching Sebastian and Mpo work was part of the experience itself. They read tracks, prints, broken vegetation and even dung to understand where animals had been, what direction they were moving and what they might be doing. You realise very quickly that what looks like absolutely nothing to you is giving them a whole bunch of information. And that knowledge comes from years of experience. One of the reasons we chose Madikwe was also the diversity of the landscape. As you drive through the reserve, the terrain changes significantly, which means you get to experience different animals within their natural habitats rather than simply ticking animals off a checklist. I’ll let the pictures do a better job of showing what Sebastian and Mpo managed to find for us. ~ THE LODGE ~ Impodimo itself is beautiful. The rooms are absolutely five-star, the setting is spectacular and the food was excellent – beautifully presented, delicious and easily at the standard you would expect from a luxury international hotel. But once again, the thing we will remember most wasn’t the room or even the food. It was the people. The entire team was warm, hospitable and incredibly helpful throughout our stay. And then my dad lost his camera lens. Not a lens somewhere inside the lodge. He had"

Motswiri Private Safari Lodge ★★★★★

"We had an incredible stay at Motswiri. The rooms overlook the watering hole, so when you are not out on game drives, you can still see the wildlife up close and watch their natural behaviour. The elephants and giraffes were really entertaining while we sat with a glass of wine watching. With two 3 hour game drives each day, there are lots of opportunities to see the wildlife in it’s own habitat and the guides are very knowledgeable. We really enjoyed the morning coffee stops and the sundowner gin and tonics while out on the game drives. The staff were very friendly and helpful. We requested if one of our rooms could have something special for my daughter and son in law who were just married, the effort the staff made was incredible and added to the precious memories for the couple. Not much else to say really apart from AMAZING! Would highly recommend and hope to return soon."

Rhulani Safari Lodge ★★★★

"Amazing experience at Rhulani Safari Lodge. My wife and I went on the trip with a large group in July and we had an incredible time. The service was fantastic--all of the guides were great and the food was wonderful. We saw tons of wildlife (including 4 of the big 5). The accommodations and the staff were all excellent--it is a special place and we had a vacation that we will always remember. Highly recommend Rhulani and Madikwe Game Reserve."

Tuningi Safari Lodge ★★★★★

"We recently stayed at Tuningi in early February this year. We were my Fiancée and my parents . Our stay at Tuningi Safari Lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve was nothing short of extraordinary. We booked the family suite, which was absolutely amazing, complete with its own private pool — pure luxury and comfort. This was my parents’ first safari, and it was so important to us that they experienced safari at its very best. Tuningi exceeded every expectation. The timing of our visit was perfect, and the wildlife sightings did not disappoint. We would give more than 100% if we could! Everything was exceptionally clean, and the suite was beautifully equipped with a well-stocked bar and every comfort you could possibly need. The main lodge pool was a highlight — the staff would bring drinks directly to you while you watched animals gathering at the nearby watering hole. It was surreal to witness wildlife activity while relaxing in the pool. The hide was another fantastic feature, allowing us to observe animals safely and up close, watching their natural behaviours undisturbed. The food was truly Michelin-standard — every single meal was exquisite, with not one disappointment. The braai evening was especially memorable, made even more special by the outstanding staff and their beautiful choir performance. We had the pleasure of meeting the chef, whose passion, care, and dedication to perfection were evident in every dish. A special thank you to Heidi and Gavin, who made our experience even more enjoyable. Gavin was incredibly determined to ensure we had amazing sightings, and seeing the cheetah brothers coalition was an unforgettable highlight! What truly sets Tuningi apart is the personal touch. The warmth, attention, and genuine care from every staff member made this experience unique compared to other lodges. We felt completely looked after from start to finish. We will absolutely return. Thank you to the entire team for making our time in Madikwe so memorable and unforgettable"

Rockfig Lodge Madikwe ★★★★★

Jamala Madikwe ★★★★★

"Having been met by Federal Airlines staff on arrival from London, I was quickly transferred by minibus to their Private Terminal at O.R. Tambo Effortless check in, with a small lounge for drinks and food. Escorted then to the waiting Pilatus aircraft and just an hour later were landing on the dirt strip at Madikwe East. The Manager/Owner Rodney Steyn was seeing off some guests, so he personally met and welcomed everyone one of us upon arrival. Literally within minutes luggage was removed from the plane and loaded onto the Land cruiser, and we were off to the Lodge. The drive was a safari in itself, spotting elephants, giraffe and zebra and many birds on the way! Cold towels and a welcome drink greeted our arrival, and paperwork was swiftly dealt with. There are just five luxury Villas at Jamala Madikwe, so everything is very personal. The day's routine is explained, from an early morning game drive, lavish breakfast with food cooked to order, late afternoon game drive, and a stunning three course dinner. I was escorted to my Villa and shown around the inside and outside, having features explained. From the private pool, outside showers, complimentary drinks in the fridge, red & white wine, tea & coffee facilities, shower, bath tub with salts and bubbles for relaxing, a huge double bed with mosquito net (which i suspect is more for show as Madikwe is in a malarial free area). Ample power points thoroughout to to recharge devices. Air conditioning was not needed being early winter, but a hearty log fire was lit whilst at dinner. Comfy sofas to relax and read beside the fire late into the evening. Every conceivable item appeared to have been thought of, in fact I believe some guests are happy just to relax and watch game from their Villa, and only come out for dining. There is a well equipped bar where guests mingle before dinner in front of a large fire, a library and drawing room again with roaring fires. Every evening a different venue is utilised outside or inside the Lodge for dining. The cuisine is exceptional, in terms of quality and presentation. Complimentary drinks are available at all times. Tables are impeccably laid even with candlesticks. There is a small pool, sun loungers, suncreams, a gym, health spa, all overlooking a huge watering hole where game pass through constantly. A true spectacle. I could write endlessly eschewing the virtues of this establishment, but the one thing that sets Jamala Madikwe apart from other Lodges are the fantastic dedicated and loyal team of staff to wait upon your every whim. Nico the GM and Chef Jacques are at the top of their game. Lazarus was my superb ranger. There are so many other individuals that I could mention. A big thank you for making this my best Game Lodge in maybe over fifty stays throughout Africa."