Home›Destinations›Madikwe
Madikwe: a different kind of safari, not a Kruger substitute.
Madikwe Game Reserve sits in North West Province, close to the Botswana border, and offers a lodge-based, fully guided safari that’s often chosen specifically for its malaria-free status. It isn’t a smaller version of Kruger — it’s a different safari built around a different set of priorities.
Why Madikwe, Specifically
Madikwe is entirely lodge-based and privately run, similar in structure to Greater Kruger — fully guided game drives, no self-drive, and a more all-inclusive style of stay. Its most distinctive feature is being malaria-free, which is why it’s a common choice for families with young children or travellers who’d prefer to avoid anti-malarial medication. That single factor changes who Madikwe is right for more than almost anything else about it.
Getting There
Madikwe is roughly a three-to-four-hour drive from Johannesburg, or reachable by a short charter flight — both genuine options depending on time and budget. It’s further from Johannesburg than Dinokeng but closer than most Kruger-area routes, which is part of what makes it a distinct point on the safari map rather than a straightforward alternative to either.
Accommodation and Pace
Like Greater Kruger, Madikwe’s lodges vary in style and size, and the right one depends on group size, budget and how much you want included in the stay. Most visitors spend two to four nights — enough time for a proper safari rhythm without the longer commitment a Kruger trip might involve.
Madikwe and the Wider Journey
Madikwe combines naturally with Johannesburg on either end, and works well as a safari component within a longer tailor-made South African itinerary. We handle the transfers and the surrounding plan alongside the reserve booking itself.
WITH SPURWING
Experience Madikwe with Spurwing
Madikwe is a lodge-led safari — the stay is the safari. Spurwing arranges the lodge, the drives that come with it and the road in from Johannesburg.
- Stay in the reserveMadikwe accommodation — the reserve’s lodges, each with its own game-drive rhythm
- Plan the safariMadikwe safaris — how the days run, and how many nights make sense
- Get thereJohannesburg to Madikwe transfers — three to four hours by road with a driver, or a short charter flight
STAY IN THE RESERVE
Three Madikwe lodges to start from
Every Madikwe stay is lodge-led — the game drives, the guiding and the meals come with the room. These three show the range; the full list is one click on.
Madikwe Game Reserve
Etali Safari Lodge
Safari Lodge
Eight standalone suites and one family suite create a quiet, high-comfort safari stay for a maximum of 16 guests.
Accessible Stays · Family Safari Lodges · Luxury Safari Lodges
View Stay
Madikwe Game Reserve
Impodimo Game Lodge
Safari Lodge
A malaria-free Madikwe stay combining classic lodge suites with a two-bedroom private villa option.
Family Safari Lodges · Luxury Safari Lodges · Malaria-Free Safari
View Stay
Madikwe Game Reserve
Jaci's Private Lodge
Safari Lodge
A flexible malaria-free safari stay with classic suites, family-friendly Expedition suites and exclusive-use villas.
Exclusive Use · Family Safari Lodges · Luxury Safari Lodges
View Stay
Considering Madikwe?
Tell us who’s travelling and what’s drawing you to Madikwe specifically, and we’ll help you work out whether it’s the right fit compared with the other safari regions.