Madikwe Lelapa Lodge | Best South Africa Safari Lodges

The place

We walk out the French doors onto our verandah, looking past the private plunge pool into the endless plains of Madikwe Game Reserve. The 76,000ha of diverse and untouched wilderness is just northwest of Johannesburg, bordering Botswana. Here, against the backdrop of the Dwarsberg range, we can see a number of large volcanic intrusions, known as inselbergs. Madikwe Safari Lodge has three intimate camps on its expansive grounds, and we choose to stay in Madikwe Lelapa Lodge. ‘Lelapa’ means family, and the name is a perfect fit for this warm, welcoming place.

We walk out the French doors onto our verandah, looking past the private plunge pool into the endless plains of Madikwe Game Reserve. The 76,000ha of diverse and untouched wilderness is just northwest of Johannesburg, bordering Botswana. Here, against the backdrop of the Dwarsberg range, we can see a number of large volcanic intrusions, known as inselbergs.

Madikwe Safari Lodge has three intimate camps on its expansive grounds, and we choose to stay in Madikwe Lelapa Lodge. ‘Lelapa’ means family, and the name is a perfect fit for this warm, welcoming place.

The room

With its high, thatched roof and queenly bed, and a colour palette of earthy tones including white, cream and beige, our spacious and light-filled room feels like an African palace. And, fit for royalty, is a romantic circular fireplace in the bedroom. The room is rounded with soft curved walls and dressed with woven baskets and three-legged wooden ‘potjie’ tables that completes the authentic African feel. As I walk through it, I point out its standout features to my partner: the smooth stone, tree-trunk beams and gilded chandeliers that mimic nature’s palette, as well as a stand-alone bath (that opens to the deck) and both indoor and outdoor showers. It’s all perfectly designed to allow us to watch the wonders of Africa from anywhere we might be – the lounge, bathroom or bedroom. Walking out onto our sprawling deck, we spot the private pool, perched right on the edge. Its sparkling waters are too tempting to resist, so we quickly change into our swimsuits and plunge in. Lying on a lounger after our refreshing swim, I watch the adjacent waterhole, where elephant, warthog and zebra are well-documented guests. Sure enough, as we’re about to head inside, we see a family of warthog approaching for a decadent mudbath. We watch them for many enthralled minutes before they make their way back into the African bush. Though a pampering session at the spa is most definitely on my agenda, my partner’s enthusiasm for a game drive is now at an all-time high, so we join our knowledgeable guide Gerhard and head into the wild.

With its high, thatched roof and queenly bed, and a colour palette of earthy tones including white, cream and beige, our spacious and light-filled room feels like an African palace. And, fit for royalty, is a romantic circular fireplace in the bedroom.

The room is rounded with soft curved walls and dressed with woven baskets and three-legged wooden ‘potjie’ tables that completes the authentic African feel. As I walk through it, I point out its standout features to my partner: the smooth stone, tree-trunk beams and gilded chandeliers that mimic nature’s palette, as well as a stand-alone bath (that opens to the deck) and both indoor and outdoor showers.

It’s all perfectly designed to allow us to watch the wonders of Africa from anywhere we might be – the lounge, bathroom or bedroom. Walking out onto our sprawling deck, we spot the private pool, perched right on the edge. Its sparkling waters are too tempting to resist, so we quickly change into our swimsuits and plunge in.

Lying on a lounger after our refreshing swim, I watch the adjacent waterhole, where elephant, warthog and zebra are well-documented guests. Sure enough, as we’re about to head inside, we see a family of warthog approaching for a decadent mudbath. We watch them for many enthralled minutes before they make their way back into the African bush.

Though a pampering session at the spa is most definitely on my agenda, my partner’s enthusiasm for a game drive is now at an all-time high, so we join our knowledgeable guide Gerhard and head into the wild.

What sets it apart

We love the secluded location of Madikwe Lelapa Lodge, nestled away in the eastern part of the reserve. Here, we’ve been able to enjoy marvellous sightings without many other safari vehicles to share them with. We’re also very pleased with the family feel of the South African safari lodge; both the staff and the other guests have been very friendly, yet we’ve been given space when we wanted it. Dinners have been varied and delicious, our favourites so far being the outdoor braais and pizza evenings, when we’ve chatted late into the night with the guides, managers and other guests. The natural and earthy ambiance of the main lodge’s open lounge and deck area comes a close second however, where ancient and gnarled tree trunks support the thatch roof, particularly beautiful when lit up by paraffin lamps at night. From guided bush walks and birdwatching to revitalising treatments at the spa, we’ve had plenty to keep us busy, while still having enough time to simply relax.

We love the secluded location of Madikwe Lelapa Lodge, nestled away in the eastern part of the reserve. Here, we’ve been able to enjoy marvellous sightings without many other safari vehicles to share them with. We’re also very pleased with the family feel of the South African safari lodge; both the staff and the other guests have been very friendly, yet we’ve been given space when we wanted it.

Dinners have been varied and delicious, our favourites so far being the outdoor braais and pizza evenings, when we’ve chatted late into the night with the guides, managers and other guests. The natural and earthy ambiance of the main lodge’s open lounge and deck area comes a close second however, where ancient and gnarled tree trunks support the thatch roof, particularly beautiful when lit up by paraffin lamps at night.

From guided bush walks and birdwatching to revitalising treatments at the spa, we’ve had plenty to keep us busy, while still having enough time to simply relax.

At a glance

Secluded safari lodge with swimming pool, restaurant and spa. Its 12 suites each have private plunge pools.
Private reserve, private dining available and private vehicles available (additional cost).
Game drives, walking safaris, swimming, birdwatching, astronomy, Ecology House visits, cultural visits, bush breakfasts and dinners and spa treatments (additional cost).
Children are welcome, and children’s activities provided. Babysitting available at an additional cost.

Secluded safari lodge with swimming pool, restaurant and spa. Its 12 suites each have private plunge pools.
Private reserve, private dining available and private vehicles available (additional cost).
Game drives, walking safaris, swimming, birdwatching, astronomy, Ecology House visits, cultural visits, bush breakfasts and dinners and spa treatments (additional cost).
Children are welcome, and children’s activities provided. Babysitting available at an additional cost.

Prices

Not only do African safari lodge prices shift with the seasons, they also change based on your length of stay, room type, travel party composition, special offers, if your trip involves stays at sister lodges – and for more reasons besides.
It’s worth noting that depending on your itinerary, your lodge cost will make up about 75–85% of your total safari trip cost.
Our safaris are tailor-made to match your personal safari dream, we’d be delighted if you’d allow us to create a bespoke proposal for you. Simply enquire now – our quotes are complimentary and obligation-free.
However, to help you get an idea of safari lodge prices we’ve created three safari-lodge categories with various price ranges, to find out more click here.

Not only do African safari lodge prices shift with the seasons, they also change based on your length of stay, room type, travel party composition, special offers, if your trip involves stays at sister lodges – and for more reasons besides.
It’s worth noting that depending on your itinerary, your lodge cost will make up about 75–85% of your total safari trip cost.
Our safaris are tailor-made to match your personal safari dream, we’d be delighted if you’d allow us to create a bespoke proposal for you. Simply enquire now – our quotes are complimentary and obligation-free.
However, to help you get an idea of safari lodge prices we’ve created three safari-lodge categories with various price ranges, to find out more click here.