Sumptuous safari lodge: Set deep in the heart of the rare Dry Sand Forest, the spectacular stilted suites of this award-winning safari lodge are an exemplary exercise in building eco-sensitive structures with a light footprint.
• 16 spacious, hand-built glass-encased suites
• All with air-conditioning
• Private viewing decks
• Luxurious en suite bathrooms
• Sparkling rim-flow swimming pool
• Crafts gallery with a range of local Zulu artefacts
Wake up to the sight of graceful nyala and duiker browsing in the foliage of the Sand Forest right outside the glass walls of your private suite. Inventively designed in what is often called "Zulu-Zen", each suite is a combination of glass, wood and minimalist design incorporating high-gloss wooden floors and crimson Zulu artefacts.
Delicious Pan-African cuisine is served to you on the deck overlooking the grassy plains or in the boma (outdoor dining area) illuminated by dozens of candles and lanterns. Enjoy adventurous breakfasts and romantic dinners in spectacular African safari locations.
Phindas exciting safaris: Twice-daily interpretive game-drives, nature walks, riverboat cruises and canoe trips along the Mzinene River are enjoyed at no additional cost. As Phinda is close to the Indian Ocean, several optional beach-related adventures are also on offer, from scuba diving and deep-sea fishing to spectacular air safaris.
Phinda Mountain Lodge
Scenic African safari lodge: With wrap-around views of the spectacular Ubombo Mountains and the South African bushveld below, Mountain Lodge is set apart from other safari lodges due to its dramatic location.
• 20 air-conditioned suites
• Private sitting room and en suite bathroom
• Great family safari destination
• Shaded swimming pool with spectacular game-viewing deck
• African craft gallery
• A well-equipped conference room (maximum of 70 guests)
Observe the serenity of the South African wilderness from your private deck, surrounded by the indigenous trees and shrubbery of the pristine Zululand bushveld. Each suite features a comfortable sitting area below the large beds. Paved pathways lead down the mountainside from the main guest areas to the spacious suites a subtly executed blend of avant-garde and ethnic design.
Delicious Pan-African cuisine is enjoyed in the dramatic boma (outdoor dining area) illuminated by dozens of candles and lanterns, or served to you in a spectacular clearing in the bush under a star-studded sky. Phinda is renowned for wonderful bush banqueting in surprising settings.
Phindas unparalleled safari experiences: Little can compare to Phindas exciting range of safari activities. Apart from the twice-daily game-drives, nature walks, riverboat cruises and canoe trips along the Mzinene River (available at no additional cost), Phinda also offers a range of optional thrilling Indian Ocean adventures from scuba diving and deep-sea fishing to spectacular air safaris.
Phinda Vlei Lodge
Sophisticated safari lodge: Fringing Phindas unique vlei (wetland) system, this gracious safari lodge is a study of intimacy and integration with the African bush.
• Six elegant thatched, air-conditioned suites
• Private game-viewing decks and plunge pools
• Dressing room and en suite bathroom
• Dining area overlooking the grassy vlei
• Sitting area with open fireplace
Watch the drama of South Africas wilderness unfold while relaxing in your private plunge pool. Each suite decorated in a subtle blend of North and West African styles with hints of Balinese influences overlooks the grassy vlei, where youre likely to see a dazzling variety of wildlife including herds of zebra and grazing antelope. The atmosphere is exclusive and personal, a mixture of understated sophistication and sheer luxury.
Delicious Pan-African cuisine is served to you on the game-viewing decks, or in a dramatic bush setting near the lodge. Phinda is renowned for its unforgettable bush banquets in beautiful, remote settings.
Phindas exciting safari packages: There is so much for guests to do at Phinda, the list of activities is endless: twice-daily game- drives, nature walks, riverboat cruises and canoe trips along the Mzinene River are offered at no additional cost. Guests are also able to enjoy a variety of optional Safari Activities in or near the Indian Ocean, from scuba diving and deep-sea fishing to spectacular air safaris.
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
With Cape Town's spectacular geography and its amazing vibe it is not hard to see why it is consistently voted amongst the world's best cities. It is also South Africa's oldest city, the point at which South Africa as we know it today started.Read More...
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
The crater of a long extinct volcano is the setting of Pilanesberg National Park - a fascinating alkaline complex produced by volcanic eruptions some 1300 million years ago...Read More...
Addo Elephant National Park
The first settlers in the Addo region immediately decimated the big elephant herds, because they frequently devastated their fields and plantations. So the number of elephants continuously decreased...Read More...
Durban Hotels
Delightful Durban is the largest city of the vast and varied Kwa-Zulu Natal province of South Africa. A coastal port with a more than equable sub-tropical climate and wide golden beaches washed by the warm Indian Ocean, Durban is a holidaymaker's paradise...Read More...
Johannesburg Hotels
A city of astonishing contrasts, a huge metropolis where opulent wealth and desperate poverty live side by side: Johannesburg is the intriguing, dynamic heart of this turbulent country...Read More...
Day Tours and Scheduled Tours
Scheduled Tours and Day Tours from selected african destinations...Read More...
Kruger National Park
The Kruger National Park is the primary destination in South Africa for many international tourists. Each year more than half a million visitors are registered...Read More...
Lion
Big 5 - The Lion
(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
Madikwe WOW Factor
Madikwe Game Reserve is set to become the new hub of South African eco-tourism
This website is not affiliated, associated or connected in any way with the North West Parks and Tourism Board or the Madikwe Game Reserve. Its purpose is to provide great accommodation deals, news, information and opinion on the Madikwe Game Reserve.