Madikwe & Pilanesberg
Tailor-made safaris that include Madikwe & Pilanesberg
Most requested
Special
12-Day Cape Town, Kruger and Madikwe Safari
- Most meals
- Most activities
- All flights & transfers
- 3 nights at Kensington Place in Cape Town's Gardens suburb
- Private full-day Cape Peninsula tour with Cape Point and Boulders Beach penguins
- 14-course African food safari with live drumming and dancing at GOLD Restaurant
- 3 nights at Kapama Buffalo Camp in Greater Kruger with twice-daily Big Five drives
From
R 136 860 R 152 610
per person, complete package
Most requested
Special
5 Day Madikwe Big 5 Safari Escape
South Africa
- All meals
- All activities
- All transfers
- 4 nights at 5-star Tuningi Safari Lodge in malaria-free Madikwe
- Twice-daily game drives with qualified rangers across 75,000 hectares
- Big Five tracking plus Madikwe's renowned wild dog sightings
- Optional guided bush walks and in-suite massage treatments
From
R 51 110 R 64 810
per person, complete package
Most requested
7-Day Madikwe to Vic Falls Luxury Safari
South Africa, Zimbabwe
- Most meals
- Most activities
- Most transfers
- 3 nights at Jamala Madikwe Royal Safari Lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve
- Twice-daily Big Five game drives with all meals and beverages included
- 3 nights at the colonial-era Victoria Falls Hotel overlooking the falls
- Guided tours of Victoria Falls with optional helicopter flights and Zambezi cruises
From
$6,065
per person, complete package
3-Day BIG 5 self-drive tour to Pilanesberg
- All meals
- All activities
- All transfers
- 2 nights at Lush Private Lodge in malaria-free Pilanesberg
- Self-drive from Johannesburg in your included rental vehicle
- Twice-daily game drives across 55,000 hectares of private concession
- Big Five tracking with chances of black rhino and African wild dog
From
R 18 130
per person, complete package
Special
7 Day Madikwe & Cape Town
South Africa
- Most meals
- Most activities
- All flights & transfers
- 4 nights at Madikwe Safari Lodge in malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve
- Twice-daily game drives tracking the Big Five and endangered African Wild Dog
- Optional bush walks and family drives between safari activities
- 2 nights at Cape Cadogan, walking distance from Cape Town's restaurants
From
R 82 770 R 98 770
per person, complete package
4-Day BIG 5 Pilansberg Adventure Safari
South Africa
- All meals
- All activities
- All transfers
- 3 nights at 5-star Shepherd's Tree Game Lodge in Pilanesberg
- Twice-daily game drives in a malaria-free Big 5 reserve
- Guided 4-hour cultural tour of Lesedi Cultural Village
- Dinners around the fire pit and outdoor boma
From
R 36 430
per person, complete package
Special
8-Day Ultra-Lux Fly-In Madikwe to Chobe Safari
South Africa, Botswana
- All meals
- All activities
- All transfers
- 3 nights at Jamala Madikwe Royal Safari Lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve
- Big Five game drives across Madikwe with optional guided walking safari
- 4 nights at Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge in Chobe National Park
- Twice-daily drives through the Savute region's vast elephant herds
From
$14,525 $15,080
per person, complete package
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Brochure
Southern Africa Guide
Southern Africa's icons, shaped into one itinerary: Greater Kruger, Victoria Falls, the Okavango Delta and Cape Town.
Where to stay
Lodges in Madikwe & Pilanesberg.
8 lodges across this destination, ordered by what guests pick most. Rates per person sharing, per night.
-
Live availability
01 PremiumTuningi Safari Lodge
Situated only four and half hours drive from Johannesburg and in the heart of one of South Africa’s most pristine reserves, Tuningi Safari Lodge offers exclusive accommodation surrounded by the 75,000 hectares of tranquil wilderness which makes up the Madikwe Game Reserve.
Per person sharing, per night, from
R 10 270 R 13 700
Current offers
Stay & Pay
Stay 4 Pay 3 - Valid May & June 2026/7
Last minute
Book 21 days prior to arrival and receive a 50% discount. Valid 1 January to 31 December 2026.
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Live availability
02 PremiumMadikwe Safari Lodge
Madikwe Safari Lodge is situated in the 75 000 hectare malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, located north-west of Johannesburg and bordering Gaborone, Botswana. The area is well known for providing the best game viewing within the Reserve, as well as having the lowest concentration of safari vehicles, which makes for a superior Big 5 game viewing experience.
Per person sharing, per night, from
R 12 000 R 16 000
Current offers
Stay & Pay
Stay 4 Pay 3 - Stay at any one of the Madikwe Safari Lodge camps or villa for 4 nights and only pay for 3 (Valid: From 09 January 2026 – 20 December 2026)
Honeymoon
Dedicated Honeymoon Chalet room category at R 12,787 pppn single. R 8,592 pppn sharing
-
Live availability
03 AffordableTau Game Lodge
On the far Northern border of South Africa lies a beautiful area known as the Groot Marico and it is in this spectacular setting, in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, that Privately owned Tau Game Lodge is situated.
Per person sharing, per night, from
R 7 450
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04 AffordableLush Private Game Lodge
An ideal family retreat, Lush Private Game Lodge boasts 5 spacious luxury suites and 1 deluxe suite, which will ensure guests comfort and style.
Per person sharing, per night, from
R 7 350
Current offers
Stay & Pay
WINTER SPECIAL: Stay for 4 nights and only pay for 3: Valid from 13 April - 31 August 2026 Terms and Conditions Apply
Honeymoon
50% off the last night; complimentary 30-minute back, neck & shoulder massage per person in the spa; romantic private dinner on deck or in wine cellar; romantic turndown service
Last minute
Exclusive SADC Resident Offer: Save up to 15% on last-minute bookings made within 45 days of your arrival date. Valid for stays between 6 January and 30 June 2026.
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Live availability
05 LuxEtali Safari Lodge
- Luxury
- Big 5
- Bush & beach
Etali Safari Lodge sits in the 75,000-hectare Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa's North West Province, a malaria-free Big Five wilderness on the Botswana border. Suites face a private waterhole, twice-daily game drives are led by resident guides and trackers, and the kitchen has run a dedicated Kosher operation for two decades.
Per person sharing, per night, from
R 11 000 R 18 500
Current offers
Last minute
Book 3 months before travelling and receive up to 30% discount on your stay.
-
Live availability
06 LuxMadikwe Hills
Set on a hilltop amongst huge boulders and age-old Tamboti trees, the lodge is situated in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, traversing over 75,000 hectares of true untamed Africa, where the plains teem with wildlife and the endangered wild dog roam freely.
Per person sharing, per night, from
R 13 870 R 18 500
Current offers
Stay & Pay
Stay 4 Pay 3 - Valid May & June 2026/7
Honeymoon
2 nights free (stay 8 nights, pay for 6); includes fully-inclusive bush stays, Ultimate Elephant Experience picnic with sparkling wine, B&B at Camissa House with high tea and local beverages
Last minute
Book 5 weeks prior to travel and recive a 48% discount. Valid from 1 January to 31 December 2026
Combo
6 Night Luxury Bush Duo Choice of 3 nights at any two luxury lodges: Leopard Hills, Kings Camp, Madikwe Hills - flights and transfers will be included in your package
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07 PremiumRockfig Lodge Madikwe
Perched high on a hilltop near to the Botswana border in the Madikwe Game Reserve, the small and intimate Rockfig Madikwe offers luxury accommodation with magnificent views of the African wilderness.
Per person sharing, per night, from
R 12 700
Current offers
Honeymoon
Stay 5 nights, pay for 4 nights (1 night free)
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08 AffordableShepherd's Tree Game Lodge
Nestled within the exclusive-use zone of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge offers an exceptional luxury safari experience. Located in a Big 5, malaria-free reserve, this lodge provides breathtaking views of the bushveld.
Per person sharing, per night, from
R 8 030
The basics
Why, when, and where.
Why
Madikwe Game Reserve is one of the lesser-known game reserves and the fifth largest in South Africa. Encompassing grassland, forest and rocky hills, this pristine wilderness borders Botswana and boasts exceptional wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and endangered wild dogs.
Pilanesberg National Park is situated between the Kalahari and the Lowveld and is easily accessible from Johannesburg. The 55,000-hectare park promises thrilling big-game viewing in a malaria-free environment.
Both Madikwe and Pilanesberg are Big Five game reserves that offer a wide selection of accommodation and exciting safari activities, including open-vehicle game drives, guided bush walks, and bird hides that offer incredible photographic opportunities.
When
The North West is a great year-round destination. For birding enthusiasts, the hot, wet summer months (November to March) are best. The reserves are at their most beautiful at this time, with lush vegetation providing an ideal backdrop for wildlife photography. This is also the animals’ calving season, so it’s perfect to see gambolling babies. If you want to combine your safari with a South African beach holiday, this is the best time to visit.
The dry, winter months (June to September) are the most rewarding for game viewing, and the weather is pleasant, with warm days and cold nights. During this period, vegetation thins out significantly, and animals congregate around permanent waterholes, making them far easier to spot. Visitors will require warm clothing for the evening and early-morning game drives.
Where
Madikwe, Pilanesberg and Sun City lie in South Africa’s wild, thinly populated North West Province. This is a great, malaria-free Big Five area within easy striking distance of Johannesburg. The region has good ecotourism infrastructure, superb scenery and diverse appeal, especially for families.
Madikwe Game Reserve is all about big skies, red earth and wide-open plains in a zone where South Africa’s Bushveld meets the Kalahari Desert. Comprising 760 square kilometres, this reserve has a rich diversity of vegetation that attracts a wide range of fauna and birdlife, and topography that is ideal for game viewing.
The reserve comprises more than a dozen private lodges and doesn’t allow day visitors or self-drive safaris. Most of its lodges are luxurious, top-end affairs and the game viewing throughout is excellent.
Madikwe is a relatively new reserve and an ecological success story. In 1991, when the park was declared, the region comprised a series of degraded cattle farms and the wildlife had all but disappeared. An extensive translocation project was instituted. Operation Phoenix was reputedly the largest reintroduction of game in the world, and today, the reserve is home to more than 16,000 mammals comprising nearly 100 species.
Occupying an eroded volcanic crater north of Sun City, the 550-square-kilometre Pilanesberg National Park is a wonderfully scenic place to see a variety of southern African wildlife.
In 1979, Operation Genesis reclaimed this area from agriculture and released 6,000 animals into the new park. Today, all the Big Five are here, as well as cheetahs, African wild dogs and 300-plus bird species.
At adjacent Sun City, the creation of entrepreneur Sol Kerzner, Disneyland meets ancient Egypt in Africa’s version of Las Vegas. Filled with gilded statues of animals, acres of man-made beaches, 1200 hotel rooms, a famed golf course and a casino, it’s an entertainment mecca. Even if you find the resort kitschy, visiting Sun City can be huge fun.
Must-see: During your game drive, stop and enjoy a sundowner drink on the banks of the languid, green Marico River and watch a scarlet sun setting over the bushveld.
Photos from our guests
A traveller's view.
Every photo below was taken by a guest of ours on a recent trip to Madikwe & Pilanesberg. No stock imagery, no marketing shots. What they saw, on their cameras.
Imagery
Madikwe & Pilanesberg, in pictures.
Recent travellers
Word from people who have just been to Madikwe & Pilanesberg.
Quotes pulled directly from Trustpilot. Where we have specific reviews mentioning Madikwe & Pilanesberg, those come up first. Otherwise these are recent five-star notes from across the trips we have planned.
"Absolutely seamless from start to finish. I had to change my travel options several times, and the team was incredibly patient, understanding, and accommodating throughout the process. We're so happy we found them. They took the time to tailor our trip perfectly to our family's needs, making everything stress-free and enjoyable. I highly recommend their ser…"
"Our travel agent Monica could not have been more helpful, we are very grateful for the effort she made to secure us a Safari at short notice. We are looking forward to travelling to Africa in September. Karen & Clive"
"i will have to say i had a pleasant time on my trip, full of fun experiences, that is something that i can say that i can knock out of my bucket list"
"Very easy to book with Safari.com. It looks as though it will be a fantastic trip."
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