Welcome To Etali Safari Lodge, Madikwe Game Reserve
Out of the heart of the spectacular Madikwe Game Reserve, embraced by pristine bushveld nurtured by Mother Africa’s rich red soil, Etali Safari Lodge rises to meet you with lavish hospitality.
Built in harmony with nature under the vibrant African sun, Etali is an exclusive, intimate haven, where body and soul are rejuvenated in surroundings created by people who understand luxury.
Directions
Please refuel at Sun Village / Zeerust as there is no fuel available inside the reserve.
There are 2 routes to Etali
1. Via Rustenburg/Zeerust
Via Rustenburg/Zeerust will take approximately four to four and a half hours (depending on amount of stops made) to the Abjagterskop Gate and another hour inside the Game Reserve.
2. Via Sun City/Molatedi
Via Sun City/Molatedi will take approximately three to three and a half hours to the Molatedi Gate and another thirty minutes inside the Game Reserve. (This is the route we prefer to use). It is advisable to fill up with fuel at the Sun Village, just after the Sun City entrance on the right as there is no fuel available inside the reserve.
After passing Sun City on the right, continue straight (approximately 5 km) until you reach a four-way junction. Turn right to DERDEPOORT.
Follow the road for approximately 8 kms and turn left at the sign saying, "BAPONG" (ignoring ALL signs saying "MADIKWE") after passing through MABESKRAAL at the 4 way junction/stop turn right to DERDEPOORT .
After 26kms the road will become gravel, the Dwarsberg Liquor Store will be on your left.
Continue straight along this road, passing through the Molatedi village, over the Marico River and straight to the MOLATEDI GATE entrance into the Park.
From here, just follow the signs to Derde poort gate, until you get a Etali safari lodge sign. We are 21 km from this gate.
Accommodation
You’ll find the accommodation at Etali Safari Lodge sheer bliss in any one of our eight luxurious air-conditioned suites, each set apart for total privacy in its own bushveld domain. The mix of cool and earthy colours in the decor is a peaceful contrast to the unsurpassed beauty of the sweet-thorn Acacia trees outside.
Cooling off in the splendid outdoor whirlpool, sipping a cocktail as you watch the breathtaking African sunset on your own deck is the ultimate indulgence. Nothing beats a long, lingering shower taken in our inside/outside showers with only a bird or little antelope as audience. Second to that may be to soak away in our partner bath and enjoy a relaxing bath therapy prepared by our therapist.
Big comfortable beds with fine crisp linen promise an unforgettable night’s sleep beneath the thatched roof.
We also cater for families with our Family Suite and if you have teenagers, we can offer you two slightly smaller back to back rooms, the only in camp with a connecting deck. These rooms do not have an outside shower; however they share a heated plunge pool.
Mammals: As a result of Operation Phoenix, one of the largest relocation programmes of its kind, Madikwe Game Reserve has a diverse mammal population.
Birds: A special feature of Madikwe lies in its unique location, a transition zone on the edges of the Kalahari, where a number of rare species occur naturally. Over 350 species of birds have been recorded at Madikwe including many interesting raptors. Listed here is a number species to look out for. Read More...
While touring in the North West Province visit:
Pilanesberg Game Reserve Explore the nearby Pilanesbeg Game Reserve - in an ancient volcanic crater "The Volcano that gave birth to a game reserve" Read More
Sun City Resort and Hotels Deep in the rugged bushveld, in the heart of an ancient volcano, lies the world's most unique resort. This is the internationally acclaimed Sun City. Read More
Top Destinations
Cape Town Hotels
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Garden Route Hotels
Travel to South Africa and visit the Garden Route. The Garden Route is one of the most scenic parts of South Africa. Situated on the Southern Cape Coast almost midway between Cape Town...Read More...
Pilanesberg Game Lodges
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Durban Hotels
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Johannesburg Hotels
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Day Tours and Scheduled Tours
Scheduled Tours and Day Tours from selected african destinations...Read More...
Kruger National Park
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(Panthera leo) Most people will hope to see a lion or three while on safari in Africa. Luckily they are not quite as difficult to spot as the rhino or leopard. You have a good chance of seeing lion at most of the major game parks in southern and eastern Africa. Unlike most felines, lions are actually quite social and live in prides of up to 15 members. So, you can get the chance to watch the little ones play and interact with their bored looking mothers. There is nothing quite so chilling as hearing a lion roar in the night while you are camping but they are actually not prone to attacking humans unless you're unlucky and come across a man-eating lion.
Leopard
Big 5 - The Leopard
(Panthera pardus) While leopards are more numerous than rhino in the Big 5 pantheon, they are sometimes just as difficult to spot while on safari in Africa. Leopards use trees as observation platforms and for protection, so you have to remember to look up to see this solitary, beautiful cat. Leopards are shy and nocturnal, quite modest for a cat that can climb, swim and live in a wider range of habitats than most other wild cats.
Elephant
Big 5 - The African Elephant
There are two distinct species of African elephant: African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) and the African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana). The largest mammal in the world is remarkably adaptable; you can see elephants in rain forests, deserts and savannahs while on safari in Africa. Elephants are usually quite peaceful if left alone, but if they feel threatened, watch out. There's nothing quite like being charged at by 12,000 lb's of animal, flapping its ears and trumpeting loudly. Did you know that an elephant's trunk has more than 40,000 muscles?
Buffalo
Big 5 - The Cape Buffalo
(Syncerus caffer) When you spot the Cape Buffalo while on safari in Africa, you usually don't spot them alone. They tend to appear in very large (and intimidating) herds. Even when looking at them through binoculars from a distance, the males always seem to be staring right at you with intense dislike. Weighing in at over 700 kg's (1540 lb's) even lions don't dare take a chunk out of this beast. Cape Buffalo are said to have killed more big game hunters than any other animal in Africa. Hence they have earned their place in the Big 5.
Rhino
Big 5 - The African Rhino
In Africa, there are two distinct species of rhinoceros; the Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) and the White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). Both of these species have two upright horns on the snout.
Rhinos are large mammals (only second in size to the elephant), shortsighted, bad tempered but magnificent to look at. Unfortunately there aren't too many to look at these days due to poaching. Rhino horn, used for medicinal purposes, is much prized in the Middle East and the Far East where it is more valuable than gold.
There are two species of rhino in Africa, the Black rhino and the White rhino, both of which you can see while on safari. Black rhinos have suffered the most drastic reduction in population in the last 20 years. There are now only about 3500 left in the wild although valiant conservation efforts are increasing those numbers.
A Game Translocation Program Operation Phoenix is one of the largest game translocation exercises in the world. More than 8,000 animals of 28 species have been released into the Madikwe Game Reserve including... Read More
Park Entry Fees
The North West Parks Board has announced that the entry fee to Madikwe Game Reserve will be increased as of 01 February 2008. This is a once-off fee and is paid directly by clients on entry to the park. The new tariff for self-drive clients is R50 per adult and R20 for pensioners and children under the age of 12. Clients who fly in are charged landing fees of R100 per adult and R40 per child for park entry.
How to get to Madikwe
From Johannesburg travel to the Hartebesspoort Dam, Rustenburg and continue with the N4 to Swartruggens and then Zeerust... Read More