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Madikwe Dithaba Lodge surveys the beautiful and topographically diverse Madikwe Game Reserve, a 75,000-hectare sanctuary with broad savanna plains, dense woodlands and mountain belts flanking its borders. With just four suites hosting at most eight guests, this small lodge offers the utmost in exclusivity and intimacy. The private team, including a chef, guide and butler, deliver top-notch hospitality with a personal finesse. And with the potential to see both black and white rhino and wild dogs, among all the usual charismatic suspects, this place gets to the core of what a safari is meant to be.
From $1,090 person/night
Wild dogs. Arguably the best action and intensity to be found in the bush is following these wily pack animals on the hunt. Madikwe is one of the best places to see them.
This is a truly private getaway. Because of its size and layout, Dithaba is the perfect lodge to book as a single group or family – what could be better than spending time with your best mates in the bush?
The level of luxury. From the hillside perch with deck-encircled suites (each with its own plunge pool) to the foldaway glass doors in the bedroom and bathroom, you'll enjoy stellar settings all around.
The main area, with its open-sided lounge and glassed-in dining room, enjoys supreme vistas of the reserve. The thatched roof and sand-coloured walls give it a down-to-earth feel, and the furnishings strike just the right balance between smart and comfortable. Incorporating natural textures and materials such as wood, stone and brushed concrete, the decor blends harmoniously with its surroundings. Plush furnishings, a well-stocked bar, generous deck and cosy fireplace all ensure you'll want for nothing in this wilderness.
The four spacious suites all enjoy equally marvellous views of the reserve, and allow guests to be as independent and private as they like. Outside, the large decks, each with a plunge pool, and inside, the wood-burning fireplaces, may tempt you to linger at your suite. Beds are deeply welcoming too, with outward-facing views through foldaway glass doors. There are seating areas both indoors and out, and en- suite bathrooms with showers and deep stand-alone bathtubs – with a view.
May to September, when the vegetation is sparser and water sources are dwindling, is generally the best time to see wildlife in the bush.
Twice-daily activities are offered – game drives, bush walks, or more specialised outings such as birdwatching and astronomy. Drives are typically the core activity during a stay, but it's worth trying the other options to appreciate the breadth of what Madikwe has to offer. Unless the camp is booked on a private basis, activities will be shared with other guests. Look out for healthy populations of wild dog, lion, rhino, cheetah, hyena, baboon, giraffe, warthog, wildebeest and antelopes galore.
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Madikwe Game Reserve lies on a transition zone with a mix of Kalahari thornveld, denser bushveld and open savannah areas providing the perfect habitat for an abundance of species including the famed Big Five, with both black and white rhino present. The not-to-be-missed wildlife specials for this region include brown hyena, sable antelope and gemsbok. However, the real highlight for Madikwe is its resident pack of wild dogs, providing exciting moments on the hunt.