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Protecting Our Heritage

Conservation

At Madikwe Hills, we are all passionate and in love with our magnificent environment, and are spoilt on a daily basis living in this special wilderness.

At Madikwe Hills, we strive to be as eco-friendly as possible without compromising our guests’ experiences. To achieve this, we have implemented several green initiatives. We have installed a solar plant with solar panels, inverters and batteries. Our swimming pool pumps operate on timers to save electricity, and we have replaced all light bulbs with LED low-energy alternatives. Additionally, all our cleaning products are SABS-approved and environmentally friendly. We use a carbon filter to remove chlorine from water post-treatment and treat our septic tanks with environmentally friendly bacteria and ozone, ensuring the safety of the bush and its wildlife.

To reduce plastic waste, we have installed a water purifier in the restaurant (providing still and sparkling water) and provide each guest with a new aluminium, BPA-free water bottle. By using and refilling glass water bottles in the restaurant and the minibars in the suites, and by guests refilling and reusing their aluminium bottles during game drives and gym sessions, our guests help us save approximately 2,000 plastic bottles per month. Furthermore, we support anti-rhino poaching efforts by auctioning safari experiences and donating the proceeds.

Conservation

Herbivore Management

The NWPB herbivore population management programme is aimed at building up game numbers as fast as natural conditions will allow. The long-term plan is to have a varied population of large herbivores in the Reserve representative of the species originally found in the area. Additional rare species, such as roan antelope may be introduced later subject to availability of funds. One of the objectives is to ensure that rare species are able to increase at their maximum potential rate. When required, population management will take the form of cropping through live capture.

Conservation

Rhino Trust Fund

Saving our Heritage is top on our priority list. One of the programmes in the Madikwe Game Reserve is to notch and microchip the rhino population. Due to the very high costs involved, this initiative is taking longer than anticipated. You can make a difference in protecting our rhino population by financially assisting in this initiative or donating towards essential equipment for anti-poaching teams. Any donations are welcome, and will make a difference.

You also have the option to make a substantial donation and participate in this exhilarating experience turning your African Safari into a Conservation Safari. By paying to participate in the Rhino chipping, not only do you get to experience a once in a lifetime event, but also contribute to conservation and the furthered protection of these amazing creatures.

Conservation

Monitoring

Monitoring of all components of the ecological system (fauna, flora, fire, hydrological processes, erosion etc. is done in order to measure the success of management actions by NWPB. Use of Natural Resources: Wildlife based tourism is the prime form of resource use. Other secondary uses, such as wood harvesting, thatch and clay collection and harvesting of medicinal plants will be allowed from time to time.

Conservation

Madikwe Game Reserve Objectives

The primary objective of the Reserve is to stimulate ecologically sustainable economic activity based on wildlife through joint-venture operations involving the NWPB, private sector and local people for the benefit of the people of the region. Resulting from this objective, the continued conservation of the biodiversity of the area will be ensured. An extensive land-use study of the area by a team of consulting resource ecologists and economists showed that wildlife-based tourism was the most cost-effective.

Predator Management

Leopards occur naturally in the area and are at high densities already so there is no need to supplement their numbers. Cheetah, of which about seven occurred naturally in the Reserve prior to proclamation, have had their numbers supplemented during 1995/96 – 6 cheetah were released in the park in 2012. Wild Dogs were introduced on a trial basis during 1995 and have done extremely well. Spotted Hyaena did occur naturally in the area in small numbers before fences were erected, and additional animals have subsequently been introduced.

Brown Hyaena are relatively common in the Reserve, although their numbers may drop due to the newly introduced competition in the form of other predators and also the provision of artificial water points which increases competition in formerly dry areas in which brown hyaenas thrived.

Lions were introduced in small numbers initially, until prey species increase sufficiently. These magnificent specimens originate from Etosha Game Reserve in Namibia and were chosen in preference to lions from other areas as they are free from Feline Aids.

Madikwe Game Reserve is managed by the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPB). NWPB are responsible for all ecological management with the focus on restoring Madikwe to its former state and with overview to enhancing the visitor’s experience.

Become a Rhino Warrior

An outstanding experience while you do your bit to save our rhino. You can make a difference.

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