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Waterberg and Madikwe Holidays

Located on the edge of the Kalahari in South Africa's North West province, the Madikwe Game Reserve is a 290 square mile expanse bordering Botswana, and is a great alternative to the Kruger National Park. It is the fourth largest game reserve in South Africa, and has a range of habitats allowing for a wide variety of wildlife to flourish. These include white and black rhino, a thriving population of endangered wild dog, lions, elephants, and over 350 species of birds. Not far away, in Limpopo Province, are the Waterberg Mountains - an ancient escarpment rising dramatically from the surrounding plains. Like Madikwe, this is an interesting conservation story and a stunning wilderness area, with the mountains and ravines adding an extra dimension to the beautiful scenery. The area has been designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Waterberg and Madikwe holidays are particularly good for families, because both regions are to all intents and purposes malaria-free and have excellent family-friendly accommodation and activities.
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Madikwe & the Waterberg Guide

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South Africa Testimonials

5 reviews
4.6 / 5
"The choice of lodges to stay in were brilliant. The settings were amazing as was the food! We were very well looked after. The guides were great too. So knowledgeable. We saw so much. It was good to have the Concierge always available in the background, though everything was so well organised beforehand we didn't really need to use them."
Jill - Surrey
Published on 11th March 2025
"Our honeymoon was absolutely incredible. The booking process was excellent, our consultant showed a great deal of expertise, listened to what we wanted and reassured us. The wraparound services you provide are superb, the whole honeymoon was easy and relaxed. The Original Travel app is extremely clear, as was the itinerary, and it was really useful and exciting to be able to refer back to this. The Concierges were AMAZING. They were so kind, kept in regular communication and were really helpful with recommendations."
Louise - London
Published on 5th September 2024
"To say we had the holiday of a lifetime would be an understatement. The attention to detail was unbelievable and it's those things that helped contribute to the great time we had. Given my brief was pretty vague(!), you did an incredible job at creating the most magical of holidays. I could wax lyrical about all the amazing things we saw and did but I won't bore you. But suffice to say, it really surpassed all of our expectations and then some! My husband loved it and both boys have got some memories that will last them a lifetime. The team (and I mean a team!) listened to my rather vague ideas and came up with a wonderful plan for my holiday, which had a significant meaning and they were really respectful of that. Their attention to detail was fantastic, their communication was great and the holiday itself was wonderful in every way. They even handled my last-minute panic (my son was ill 48 hours before we were due to travel!) with calmness, reassuring me and putting an alternative plan into place, should we have needed it (thankfully we didn't!). I would not hesitate to recommend them or indeed use them again. The only downside - they have rather spoilt me for holidays as I only want to do big, 'holidays of a lifetime' with them....! Incredible on every level. The locations, the staff, the resorts, the little touches, the smooth transitions, the planning, the detail - just fantastic. "
Peter - London
Published on 24th April 2018
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Who is the Waterberg and Madikwe best for?

For families with a really wild streak, Waterberg and Madikwe holidays offer an electrifying (and malaria-free) opportunity for children to get up close and personal with their favourite cast of animal characters. Plus, Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa’s North West Province is just two hours ahead of UK time, a godsend for sleep-deprived parents hoping to keep disruption to a minimum. Adventurers who want a city detox will find solace in the Waterberg’s underexplored wilderness, and for more active travellers, there’s mountain biking, trail running and horse riding to sink your teeth into.


Need to know about Waterberg and Madikwe

Safaris during Waterberg and Madikwe holidays are generally recommended for children aged six and above, and young nature enthusiasts will be captivated by the number of activities put on for them at family-friendly lodges. Mini nature spotters will squeal with delight on organised treasure hunts; love finding and tracking the fascinating bugs that scuttle through camp; enjoy making their own cookies and pizza and picking up essential bush skills. Happy children means grown-ups are free to slip away for their own immersion into the awesome animal kingdom.


Special things to do in Waterberg and Madikwe

Waterberg road trip

The Waterberg Meander is a 220-mile long road that showcases the highlights of ‘Africa’s Eden’, dominated by incredible mountain peaks, fascinating sandstone rock formations, shimmering savannahs and soaring river valleys. One of the best road trips in South Africa, away from the crowds, you’ll head into the heart of the Waterberg biosphere on your four-wheeled adventure, including Welgevonden Game Reserve (make sure you say hi to the big five) and the spectacular Marakele National Park.


Sofa safari in Madikwe

The beauty of staying in a lodge in the thick of the Madikwe Game Reserve is the wildlife will often come directly to you. Watch elephants frolicking in the water of an adjacent water hole, spot colourful birds in the corner of your eye as you relax by the pool and catch a zebra emerging from the bush as you reach for a sip of your morning coffee.

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