ENCOUNTERSAFRICA
6-Day Madikwe Malaria-Free Safari

South Africa - Fly-in safari

6-Day Madikwe Malaria-Free Safari

Duration
6 days
Countries
South Africa
Suited to
2-8 guests
Pricing
From USD 6,180

The journey

Madikwe sits against the Botswana border in North West province, where Kalahari sand gives way to bushveld and thornveld. It was proclaimed in 1991 on worn-out cattle farms, then restocked by Operation Phoenix, which moved more than 8,000 animals of 28 species into the reserve over seven years. Today it carries the full Big Five across roughly 75,000 hectares, and it does so at an altitude and in a climate that make it malaria-free all year. That single fact is why this programme exists: families with young children, travellers who cannot take prophylactics and nervous first-timers get the same wildlife without the medication. The route keeps things simple. Five nights, two lodges, one reserve, and an hour in a light aircraft rather than a full day in a car. Three nights at Tau Game Lodge put you above a natural waterhole that works hard in the dry months. Two nights at Madikwe Safari Lodge lift you onto a ridge with longer views and quieter camps. May to September is the best window, when the grass is short, the bush is thin and animals come to water in daylight.

Your camps, day by day

Stay 1

Wheels Up From Johannesburg

You clear Johannesburg mid-morning and board a light aircraft for the hour-long hop north-west to the Madikwe airstrip. Tau Game Lodge collects you for the short drive to camp, where the main deck looks straight onto a natural waterhole that elephant work through the afternoon. Lunch, then your first game drive at four with a FGASA-qualified guide reading tracks in red Kalahari sand.

Stay 2

Waterhole and Wild Dog

Coffee before first light, then out into cold air while the predators are still moving. Your guide works the sectors where Madikwe's wild dog packs den and hunt, and the reserve holds one of the healthiest populations in South Africa. Back for a late breakfast and a swim, then an afternoon drive that ends with a drink somewhere with a long view west.

Stay 3

On Foot in the Bushveld

A guided walk this morning drops the safari to ground level: dung beetles, porcupine quills, the difference between white and black rhino browse lines. The afternoon drive runs towards the Dwarsberg foothills, then dinner in the boma. The waterhole in front of camp is lit after dark, so the last hour before bed is often the best game viewing of the day.

Stay 4

Up Onto the Ridge

After a final drive at Tau you transfer across the reserve, about 45 minutes, to Madikwe Safari Lodge. &Beyond's Lelapa Camp runs along a rocky ridge, the suites set far enough apart that you hear francolin and little else. Check in, lunch under the trees, then an afternoon drive into the eastern plains where the larger elephant herds tend to gather.

Stay 5

Riverbeds and Koppies

A full day at Madikwe Safari Lodge. The morning drive follows sandy riverbeds where leopard move between koppies, and the guides here have worked the same ground for years, so they know which pride is holding which territory. Brunch, then a spa treatment on your deck if you want one, and out again at four. Dinner is served on the ridge.

Stay 6

Last Drive, Then Home

One more drive at first light, with coffee and rusks out in the reserve, then breakfast at the lodge and a short transfer to the airstrip. The flight to Johannesburg takes about an hour and lands in time for most afternoon and evening departures home. You will have spent five nights in Big Five country without once taking a malaria tablet.

Safari highlights

  • Big Five in a malaria-free reserve, no prophylactics required
  • One of Africa's most reliable places to find African wild dog
  • One-hour light aircraft hop from Johannesburg, no long road day
  • Three nights above Tau's natural waterhole, lit after dark
  • Two nights on the ridge at &Beyond's Madikwe Safari Lodge
  • Two game drives daily across 75,000 hectares of bushveld

What is included

Included

  • 5 nights accommodation, per person sharing
  • Return light aircraft flights Johannesburg (OR Tambo) to Madikwe airstrip
  • Road transfers airstrip to lodge, and Tau Game Lodge to Madikwe Safari Lodge
  • All meals as shown, with selected local drinks at both lodges
  • Two game drives daily in open 4x4 vehicles with a FGASA-qualified guide
  • Guided bush walks where offered by the lodge
  • Madikwe Game Reserve conservation levy and airstrip landing fee
  • South African VAT and tourism levy on all listed services

Not included

  • International flights to and from Africa
  • Visas and any visa processing fees
  • Comprehensive travel and medical insurance, including evacuation cover
  • Premium spirits, champagne and imported wines
  • Spa treatments, laundry and curio shop purchases
  • Gratuities for guides, trackers and lodge staff
  • Items of a personal nature

Frequently asked questions

Is Madikwe malaria-free?

Yes. Madikwe Game Reserve lies at roughly 1,000 metres in North West province, well outside South Africa's malaria transmission zone, and it is classed as malaria-free all year. No prophylactics are needed and no anti-malarial prescription is required before you travel. It is the main reason families with small children and travellers who cannot tolerate the tablets choose Madikwe over Kruger or the Okavango Delta.

How much does a 6-day Madikwe safari cost?

This programme starts at USD 6,180 per person sharing in shoulder season, rising to about USD 6,680 in peak season. That covers five nights at Tau Game Lodge and Madikwe Safari Lodge, all meals, selected local drinks, two game drives a day, return light aircraft flights between Johannesburg and Madikwe, all road transfers inside the reserve, and the Madikwe conservation levy.

Are international flights included in the price?

No. International flights to and from Africa are excluded and are quoted separately, so you are free to use miles or your own booking. The price does include the return light aircraft sector between Johannesburg OR Tambo and the Madikwe airstrip, which takes about an hour each way. Most travellers fly into Johannesburg overnight and connect to Madikwe the same morning.

Can you see the Big Five in Madikwe?

Yes. Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and both white and black rhino are all present and resident. The reserve was restocked from 1991 under Operation Phoenix, which relocated more than 8,000 animals of 28 species. Madikwe also holds one of South Africa's strongest African wild dog populations, which is the sighting most guests remember. Leopard are present but the least predictable of the five.

How do you get from Johannesburg to Madikwe?

Two ways. A scheduled light aircraft from OR Tambo takes about an hour to the reserve's airstrip, and that is what this programme uses. The alternative is a road transfer of roughly 350 kilometres, about four hours each way via Zeerust. Flying costs more but returns most of a day to the bush, which matters on a five-night trip.

When is the best time to visit Madikwe?

May to September is the strongest game viewing. Winter is dry, the grass is short and animals concentrate at waterholes in daylight. Mornings sit near freezing and afternoons reach the low twenties Celsius, so pack layers. October to April is green, warm and better for birds and newborn animals, with afternoon thunderstorms. The reserve is malaria-free in every month.

Is Madikwe good for a safari with children?

It is one of the better options in southern Africa. There is no malaria risk, the flight from Johannesburg is short, and Tau Game Lodge runs a children's programme with family units and family suites. At Madikwe Safari Lodge, Lelapa Camp welcomes all ages while Dithaba is adults-only. Most Madikwe lodges set a minimum age of six for shared game drives, with private vehicles available on request.