×
BOOK NOW    Enquire

A Haven For Wildlife

Madikwe Game Reserve

The malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve covers about 75 000 hectares of bushland stretching all the way up to the Botswana border, and is one the largest and most popular game reserves in South Africa.

A wilderness haven, it is home to 86 mammals (from mice to elephant), 420 bird species (110 being rare) and 104 tree species. Notably it plays host to the Big 5, cheetahs, African wild dogs, hyenas, black & white rhino, giraffe, and various antelope. The landscape is predominantly grasslands and bushveld intermingled with lone mountains and rocky outcrops.

The Madikwe Game Reserve is the North West Province’s most extensive conservation area. Once farm land, development of the reserve and reintroduction of game began in 1991, after which the reserve was eventually restored to its former natural environment.

Conservation in Action

Operation Phoenix

Operation Phoenix is the code name for the largest reintroduction of game (10,000 large mammals) undertaken by anyone in any game reserve in Africa. During the early 1990s, the relocation of entire breeding herds of elephant, various antelope species, buffalo, black and white rhino, zebra and more recently lion, cheetah, spotted hyaena and endangered African wild dog increased the large mammal population to over 16,000. Some species such as kudu, spotted hyena and leopards occurred naturally in the area; in fact the Dwarsberg kudu bulls are reputed to have the most spectacular horns in the country.

Unique Fauna & Flora

Vegetation

Madikwe is unusual in many respects. The rich diversity of the vegetation in the reserve is a reflection of its complex geomorphology. The vegetation, hydrology, topography, climate, soil and other factors such as the previous farming activities in the area, have a direct bearing on the varied fauna present in the reserve. This includes impala in the bushveld areas, gemsbok in the dry savannah sections, Bushbuck along the Marico (Madikwe) River and species such as klipspringer and mountain reedbuck that prefer the various rocky outcrops and mountainous regions.

Rich Cultural Ties

Historical Points

From the centre of the Dwarsberg range through to Derdepoort runs the famous Mafikeng Road, which during the 19th century was the main road Northwards from Cape Town to Bulawayo. Many explorers, traders, hunters, missionaries and Mzilikazi and his followers passed this way during the making of South African history.

Herman Charles Bosman lived among and wrote about the inhabitants of this area, also travelling along this road. A visit to the historical town of Groot Marico, featured in Bosman’s stories, is essential if only to sample his infamous “Mampoer”, a locally made alcoholic beverage, and to meet its hospitable inhabitants.

A dilapidated Jesuit Mission Station steeped in history and now in need of restoration work can also be found along the Mafeking Road within the reserve.

Topography

The Dwarsberg Mountain range geologically related to the Magaliesberg range, forming the southern boundary of the reserve, runs from east to west. This range has been drastically eroded; with Brandwacht in the highest point in the Dwarsberg range within the reserve, reaching only 1228 metres, with a slightly higher peak of 1250 metres situated to the west of Brandwacht on the reserve’s border.

Northwards, an undulation plateau covered in dense bushveld vegetation suddenly drops away at the Tweedepoort escarpment to a lower flat savannah plain. Scattered inselbergs dot this savannah bringing relief to an otherwise flat area. The Tshwene Tshwene group of hills, more or less in the centre of the park reach 1326 metres, making it the highest point in the Reserve.

The Molatedi Gate on the eastern boundary is close to Lotteringskop, and the entrance gate on the western side has a good view of Abjaterskop which at 1144 metres and 1377 metres respectively, are both landmarks referred to later.

African Wild Dogs & Cheetah

History in Madikwe Game Reserve

In 1994, as part of the game translocation Operation Phoenix, wild dogs were relocated into the Madikwe Game Reserve. Three female dogs, captive bred at a breeding station for rare and endangered species, were put into an enclosure in the reserve with three male dogs captured just outside the Kruger National Park. The six animals formed a new pack and were then released into the reserve. The project was resoundingly successful and today the Madikwe Game Reserve has a viable and thriving population of Wild Dogs.

The history of cheetahs in Madikwe Game Reserve began in 2012 with the introduction of six males, four from the Eastern Cape and two from another reserve. Over the years, several cheetahs were relocated, and new ones were introduced from various places, including Phinda, Sable Ranch, and De Wildt. Some cheetahs died due to conflicts, predation, or health issues, while others escaped or were relocated. By early 2019, the blue and red-tagged females were the surviving cheetahs, with blue recovering from an illness under veterinary care.

Weather

A dry climate with very warm summers, experiencing beautiful quick thunderstorms and cooler dry winters.

Explore

Our Location

Madikwe Hills is located in the middle of the Madikwe Game Reserve.

Explore

Directions & Transfers

There are a number of options to get to and from Madikwe Hills in the Madikwe Game Reserve.

Explore