South Africa Madikwe Private Game Reserve

Near the border of Botswana, the 187,800 acre Madikwe Private Game Reserve supports a diverse combination of bushveld and semi-arid Kalahari life. Madikwe is famous for Operation Phoenix, the world’s largest game translocation exercise. Established almost 20 years ago, the reserve has successfully reintroduced more than 8,000 animals of 28 species, including lion, elephant and buffalo, as well as black and white rhino. This area now boasts the Super Seven, adding cheetah and the endangered African wild dog to the already famous Big Five, as well as 350 bird species. Apart from wildlife, the region also boasts a rich history ranging from Stone Age discoveries to the travels of David Livingstone.

Madikwe Safari Camp

The rich red timbers of the African earth are reflected in the warm tones of Madikwe Safari Lodge. Cradled between rolling hills, just twenty suites are clustered in three intimate camps. With huge circular fireplaces at the heart of every suite and big glass doors to blur the boundary between inside and out, Madikwe embodies the warm, bold heart of this spectacularly rugged corner of Africa. Spacious wooden decks embrace inviting plunge pools, and book-filled shelves in quiet corners entice and captivate. Offering a commanding view of the game-rich plains, each room overlooks the majestic panorama of the Dwarsberg Hills and down below the Marico River, a green ribbon cutting through the landscape.

The conical roofs and chimneys of the lodge’s suites blend imperceptibly into the surrounding bushveld. Glass doors blur boundaries between inside and out, and your private sitting area is the perfect vantage point for an afternoon spent gazing at the bush. Watch elephant, giraffe and warthog from the depths of your deep, copper-plated bathtub, which opens out onto a private deck, or indulge in a cool splash in the strategically placed plunge pool. Take your shower indoors or out, with only the whisper of the wind and maybe a curious yellow hornbill for company.