Madikwe Safari Lodge Reviews

We stayed at Lelapa Lodge, which is excellent with fantastic staff. It’s typically African in style, and everything is to a high standard, and totally relaxing. The food is of a very good standard, and the game drives are awesome, so many animals our ranger Brendin was extremely knowledgeable. The main meals area looks out towards the pleasant pool, and the waterhole beyond. At times you could just sit there and watch large numbers of game just wandering up including many elephant, wildebeest, impala, rhino and giraffe - plus of course the adorable warthogs. It was a long 4 hour drive from Jo’Burg, so in future I would try and fly into their airstrip, and I would go back without hesitation, our three days went by way too quickly, we felt we could stay for longer, and would definitely consider going back.

Madikwe safari lodge. We have just completed a week’s stay at Madikwe safari lodge and wow what can I say! This was a holiday of a lifetime booked after having recently been given the all clear after 2 years of cancer treatment. We booked on a last minute whim as a safari was on the whole families bucket list. We could not have chosen better! From the moment we arrived being greeted by the attentive and smiley staff ,we felt at home. Nothing was too big an ask, the lodges and main lodge are stunning. Our rooms were spotless and had lovely little touches like African fables left on the bed each night to share from oisile and Rosina. Our youngest was left a gift bag which contained an animal guide and check book which he absolutely loved. As a family we are quite split in our food habits the males love trying things and said the food was incredible, us girls are a little more picky but it didn’t matter we where catered for and had something every night we enjoyed. The madikwe staff at food times are another level. Remembering what you like to drink, your favourite spot to sit and accommodating beyond belief. Every night after being treated to our amazing food, the lovely guide who showed us to our room would say welcome home and good night. This was something my son commented on, that he loved how he said welcome home as it really did feel like home. During the day between game drives we have loved relaxing at the main pool, watching the animals come and drink from the water hole opposite. This really was a highlight with there being a range of animals but a favourite moment being 13 elephants coming to drink with their new one day old baby. The fantastic lady at the pool seemed to know exactly when we got to hot or needed refreshments and would appear with the biggest smile. That leads me on to the main event, the safaris drives. Absolutely incredible, what a place, what majestic animals. Every single drive was fantastic with so much to see not just the big animal which we saw them all, but the bird, insects and habitat. Our guide Mitch was possibly the most knowledgeable person ever. He taught us all so much. My son a keen questioner, did exactly that and Mitch answered all of them in depth but at the right level for my two children. The children found the whole trip fascinating. My daughter a teenage has decided to go back to school and use madikwe and safari as her topic for her exam at school. Inspiring a teenage is no easy feat. Mitch’s skill set for animal spotting and identifying tracks was crazy and something we all found fascinating. Something we all appreciated about madikwe is the ethics, the animals are respected and the guides work hard to make sure that there happiness and our safety is key. Mitch never failed to amaze us one point spotting a ghekko from 20 feet, in the dark. Another mention is the star gazing wow! we sat in the middle of madikwe reserve in silence watching the most incredible night sky, unlike anything we had ev

We spend parts of our honeymoon in the Lelapa Lounge and had a wonderful time. Amazing Game drives, very friendly people and a stunning lodge.

From the moment we arrived there it was just perfect! The food is superb, everything is very clean, the staff is friendly and helpful and go out of their way! Mike, our ranger, did not only have unbelievable knowledge but was also awesome with our little one (5 years old). We loved every single moment of our stay and just want to say THANK YOU!

What a special holiday with my parents, husband and eight year old son. Madikwe Lelapa lodge is an extraordinary place - so luxurious with amazing food, friendly and helpful staff and what has to be the best swimming pool ever, with its view of a waterhole. The reserve is beautiful with its lead wood trees standing in the savannah. Our ranger Mike was so knowledgeable and so kind to our little son and found every kind of animal for us - cheetahs, lions, spotted and brown hyenas, wild dogs, elephants, kudu, baby rhinos - you name it. It was just the holiday of a lifetime and we are so grateful to the team at Lelapa lodge for making it unforgettable.

From JNB Airport to Madikwe Lelapa Lodge we had a relaxing drive of 5:30hrs . From JNB AIrport to Madikwe Abjaterskop gate it is a very fine road straight forward road . The adventurous road start now when u are driving inside the game reserve . You will have about 17 KM on the mini concrete road than have about 5 KM of dead road . Dont forget as u still locating the lodge alongside the road u will be seeing wild animal rooming around grassing and others crossing the road , wild animals like Elephant , Rhino , Giraffee and Zebras .

I enjoyed a visit to Madikwe some years ago and found that standards had not slipped. All staff went out of their way to make my stay comfortable and the game watching was as good as on the previous visit.

This was our first African safari after thoroughly enjoying a luxury safari stay in Sri Lanka, and Madikwe Safari Lodge was incredible! We were picked up from Jo'burg airport and transferred to the lodge, the drive took 4.5 hours and was a mini safari in itself! We saw so many animals on the way, and the driver would frequently stop while we enjoyed the show! I'd highly recommend the transfer as it's super comfortable, professional and the sightings are amazing. We stayed in Dithaba, since Lelapa was being renovated. Dithaba was incredibly peaceful and felt so exclusive. The communal pool there was also a bonus as we didn't realise it had one, and although much smaller than the Lelapa pool (which overlooks a watering hole), it was lovely and overlooked the Savannah. Mr T gave us a super warm welcome and our first impression was Wow! The rooms were so gorgeous, we loved how they were so rounded (like a hobbit house!) and all the special touches put in to it are so thoughtful. The food was delicious and nourishing with lots of plant based options too. We had such a laugh with Priscilla who made our stay so memorable, and all the staff make such an effort to make you feel at home. Our guide was Petrus who was incredibly knowledgeable, super considerate and shared so much of his wisdom. He really loves what he does and this just shines through! We had some incredible sightings and plenty unusual ones too! We're definitely turning into Safari ******* now.

We had an amazing four night stay at the Lelapa lodge. We weren't sure what to expect as this was our first luxury holiday destination. It was a very relaxing experience, and the food was of a very high standard. The view of the waterhole from the pool area, and the many animals visiting it during the day, was a particular highlight. The only minor criticism is that some aspects of the facility, particularly the accomodation, are showing their age and could do with some refurbishment. However, the main reason for visiting is of course the twice daily game drives and these were exceptional and very rewarding. This was made possible by our amazing guide, Petrus, who's knowledge of the natural world far exceeded what was necessary for the game reserve. There was a 7 year old on our game drives, and no weird question from him ever phased Petrus who always had an answer! I'm sure all of the guides are knowledgeable, but if you get Petrus as your guide, you're in for a very special experience.

We stayed at Madikwe Safari Lodge in the ‘family villa’ and what an experience it was. The beds are super comfortable, the living area full of leathery luxury, a refreshing pool to cool down and a fire pit that reminds me of a love island villa. The staff are friendly, helpful and sport a great attitude. The bush is teeming with life and the guides may as well be Google they’re so clued up. Don’t think twice about it. This is a special set up and the only regret you will have is not going.

We had been looking forward to coming here for a few years but it sadly didn’t live up to standard. The photos on the listing are outdated (taken when the property first opened years ago) The property is now looking tired and the staff in the restaurant didn’t seem to have much of a clue! Our waitress took one drink order at a time! We have stayed in much nicer and better value for money lodges in the park. The safari however was exceptional and our ranger was outstanding in knowledge.

Madikwe Safari Lodge will always have a special place in mine and my Partner's heart. I have travelled to quite a few places in South Africa and I can confidently say none can quite compare to the experience we had at Madikwe! The rooms were amazing and clean, a place where you can truly relax and call home for a couple of days. The location of the lodge is positioned beautifully in the heart of Madikwe Game Reserve and you have quick and easy access to rest of the Safari. The views from the lodge were spectacular and the dining area was at the center of it all, where you have an amazing view of the watering hole. The lodge had also assisted me with making arrangements for my proposal and made it special in everyway. It is and will always be unforgettable moment for both of us. Thank you! On top of all this, I would say it was the staff that made the trip the most enjoyable with Emry and Henny checking up on us to ensure we are having good time and assisting where they can, Pricilla "Queen of the Desert" always bringing out her bright smile on the coldest day and making you feel welcomed and to our amazing game drivers Ryan, Mitchell and Billy for making every excursion out to the safari something unique and amazing. This is only a handful of the amazing staff they have at Madikwe that we had the pleasure to interact with. I could not recommend this place enough, especially if you are coming from overseas! We will be definitely coming back, as soon as we can! Thank you again for this amazing experience!

Everything about our stay at the Lelapa, Madikwe Game Reserve was incredible. We were met at the airstrip by our guide for our stay, Nic. He was an exceptional guide who shared his knowledge & passion for the park, animals & birds. Our accommodation was a private lodge with a spacious bedroom/lounge area, beautiful bathroom, private deck with a plunge pool, outdoor shower & lounge. The staff at Lelapa were all friendly, gracious, competent & very helpful. My husband & I both had birthdays during our stay, and the staff made these an unforgettable experience. The food at Lelapa was delicious. The menu provided varied options, the meal sizes were perfect and to eat lunch under the trees near the pool watching giraffes, elephants, zebras, impala & warthogs drink at the nearby waterhole was surreal. Our stay at Lelapa was a trip of a lifetime & we will cherish our memories of this special game park.

From the time we arrived at Madikwe to the time we left, we were in paradise! It really was the holiday of a lifetime and was absolutely perfect in every way! The lodge itself is stunning, and immaculate and you immediately feel at home. The staff are AMAZING and can't do enough to assist and make your stay relaxing and fun. I thought I would struggle with the 5am wake ups for the morning safari drives but when you see the beautiful sunrise you quickly forget any tiredness and there is coffee and muffins to get you going! We went as a family of four and we all had such a brilliant time. Although there is a great programme of activities for kids, our boys were a bit too old for it but it didn't matter as they had both the main pool (with the nearby watering hole that attracts the elephants!) and the private plunge pool to keep them occupied and it was great to spend some family time playing board games and card games when we weren't out seeing cheetahs, lions, elephants, giraffes and rhinos with Mike, our wonderful game driver. The game drives were spectacular and we saw so many amazing animals up close on every drive. The accommodation was sublime and really luxurious. The indoor and outdoor showers were so powerful and were the best way to wake you up before the early game drive. They make our home power shower feel like a dribble!! The kids loved the enormous bath too! The food was also out of this world. Really beautifully presented with lots of choice. They also have a kids menu which is great for fussy eaters! Whilst we didn't want to leave, at least we know we can always come back. Something to look forward to!