Reviews of Tau Game Lodge

This was my third visit to Tau Game Lodge, and it was a pleasure as always. It has one of the best locations in Madikwe Game Reserve, overlooking a huge natural waterhole where there’s a continuous movement of wildlife. The friendly staff took great care of us. Some even remembered us from previous visits.

A Family friendly luxury lodge with heat rangers and high class tours. Two pools, outdoor showers in each lodge and renovated bathrooms.

We simply loved every minute of our Tau Lodge adventure. Lazarus our ranger had such a special connection to the abundant wildlife. Location was special.

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

We were a family of 6 of all ages grandparents to children. We loved this lodge. The rooms were beautiful, clean and amazing views. Loved the outdoor showers. Food was delicious and plentiful. Our guide Tania was simply amazing she went out of her way to find as many animals as possible. Her knowledge led us to follow a lioness with blood on her chest back to her cubs eating their kill of a young zebra, we were so close! Another highlight was watching the 5 cheetah brothers, so incredibly beautiful. We enjoyed her company at dinner and had fun with her whilst learning a lot. It was all perfect but the main reason was the wonderful staff, so helpful and smiley, from the warm welcome to the waving goodbye. Perfect!

What a beautiful place to stay. The room overlooked a waterhole which made it perfect to see an array of animals even before going on safari. The rooms were well appointed, with an elevated deck, perfect for relaxing whilst watching the world go by. The staff were all excellent with strong attention to detail. The highlight of course were the safari drives. Herman our driver was very experienced and knowledgeable. He knew exactly where to go for the best viewings (even finding the African Wild Dogs). It was such a highlight. A perfect place to stay in Madikwe!

We traveled from the USA.This was our first time in Africa. Tau Game Lodge was recommended by a friend. The only disappointment was we should have reserved a longer stay. What an amazing place! I hope to return someday.

​I recently spent three nights at Tau Game Lodge (Feb 13–16), and it was truly a world-class experience. From the moment I arrived, the hospitality was warm and professional, making me feel right at home in the heart of the Madikwe Game Reserve. ​Highlights of the stay: ​The Wildlife: The game drives were spectacular. Our ranger ( Haarty) was so kind and professional we were able to see a diverse range of animals up close in their natural habitat 4 out of big five. ​The Lodge: The views over the waterhole are mesmerizing. There is nothing quite like watching elephants and other wildlife gather while you enjoy a meal or a coffee. ​Service & Dining: The staff went above and beyond to ensure every detail was perfect. The food was consistently delicious, with a great variety of flavors. ​If you are looking for a blend of luxury, adventure, and authentic South African hospitality, I cannot recommend Tau Game Lodge enough. Thank you to Renate and the entire team for making my stay so special. I will definitely be back!

It was a great experience specially as solo woman traveller in South Africa. I felt safe and the game reserve offers a variety of animals and birds it was a good choice to come here. There are many animals that come to the water hole and we can sit in our room whole day and watch them. We also hear lions come by at night and during the day I saw lioness walk by the path outside the lodge. The only disappointment was when I shortened my trip by one day and was told I was eligible for 50% of the charges refunded later the resort said they can’t refund due to the amount routed via ***********. Given the cost per night is so high it was a big amount to fore go.

What a fantastic reserve and malaria free. The lodge is great but the best part was the food and the staff. It just created such a good vibe. The lodge staff were excellent and always there to help and never without a smile. Our guide Hardie was brilliant and incredibly knowledgeable. The piece that stood out though was the respect he gave to the animals and always made us and them feel at ease.

Stayed with two children aged 11 and 14 for 2 nights. It was an expensive trip but worth every penny. The lodge itself was perfect for us, relaxed enough to feel comfortable and the view over the watering hole provided endless entertainment. The food was delicious and we were never hungry. The staff were just the right amount of attentive and so friendly and helpful, we felt very welcome. The game viewing was amazing, we saw 4 of the big 5 and many other big mammals as well as hyenas and african wild dogs. Our guide, Rose, was excellent and worked really hard to help us see as much as possible, giving us fascinating information about the animals and the park. Sundowners out on the drive was a lovely touch too. Loved the pool and the outdoor showers and our two rooms joined by a shared lounge was ideal our family as well.

Tau Lodge is absolutely spectacular. We stayed for 3 nights and honestly, I can’t think of a single bad thing to say. Everything — and I mean everything — was perfect. Starting with the staff, who go above and beyond to make your stay unforgettable. They’re incredibly helpful and genuinely lovely people. The food is divine — every meal we had was absolutely delicious. The rooms are comfortable and spotless (we stayed in the family option, which has two bedrooms and two bathrooms connected by a lounge). The bed was super comfy, we even had two baboons visit our deck, and the outdoor shower was such a treat! Of course, being in the middle of the African bush, you’ll spot a few little insects here and there, but they’re harmless. Housekeeping comes by once a day, and in the evening they lower the mosquito nets, so the room always feels clean. Something we really loved is how Tau makes an effort to match guests with the right group. For example, our jeep had another Aussie family with kids the same age as ours — it was perfect! We became great friends, met up again in Cape Town, and are already planning to catch up in Melbourne. It might sound like a small thing, but it made the experience even more special. And I’m sure it wasn’t by chance — Tau clearly puts thought into creating great groups. Our ranger, Honest, was absolutely fantastic — super experienced and did everything possible to give us the best safari experience. And wow, did he deliver! On our very first drive, we witnessed a “National Geographic” moment — an elephant chased a pride of lions, and then the lions (with their cubs!) spent about 20 minutes right next to our jeep, the little ones playing while we all sat there in awe. Then three rhinos showed up and sent the lions running — all just a few metres away from us. Honest positioned the jeep perfectly so we could watch it all unfold. Every single safari was amazing, thanks to the abundance of wildlife and Honest’s incredible skill. The lodge restaurant overlooks a large waterhole, and during every meal we had the most amazing view of animals. One lunch we counted 28 elephants, heaps of kudus, five baboons, zebras, a crocodile, and more. Tau Lodge is about a 5-hour drive from Johannesburg airport, but it’s worth every minute of the journey. Huge thanks to the entire team for what was truly one of the best holidays we’ve ever had. If you get the chance, don’t miss the opportunity to stay at Tau — we already miss it so much!

Always a pleasure to come back to Tau lodge! It's all about location, being close to the waterhole, animals passing constantly. Delicious food and excellent service, with a personal touch! We are loving the rooms makeover. Coming back soon!

An incredibly beautiful safari experience with the friendliest staff imaginable. Highly recommended, especially with children! We stayed at the lodge for 5 nights with our two children, aged 10 months and 3 years. From the room to the food, safaris, and babysitting, everything was perfect!