Marataba Safari Lodge / Madikwe Safari Lodge (Transfer and Fly Package)

Duration: ±3 hours

Game drives, in open safari vehicles, head out each day at sunrise and again in the late afternoon to find the reserve’s many fascinating animals, both
diurnal and nocturnal. This is a truly personal experience: no more than seven vehicles are in the concession at any one time and, because the animals
are accustomed to them and do not see them as a threat, the field guides are able to take guests within close range of Africa’s most impressive species.
Photographic opportunities are spectacular!

• Includes: a hot beverage or sundowner stop in a scenic spot to purely appreciate being in the bush and in the moment
• Children 6 years and older are welcome on the twice-daily game drives
• The children’s game drive (for young guests 3 to 5 years) goes out after breakfast daily - parents are welcome to go along, subject to availability
of seats

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Marataba Game Drive Credit: Marataba Game lodges

Marataba Game Drive Credit: Marataba Game lodges

Marataba Game Drive Credit: Marataba Game lodges

This offering is inspired by Rob and Britt More’s first-hand experience of travelling with their twins, Mack and Madi. Along with the options and
flexibility around accommodations and meals at Safari Lodges, we offer tailor-made activities for children (5 to 11 years) that provide a little extra
freedom to explore and just be kids – and make family travel child’s play. Our pledge is to show your children the wonders of our beautiful world and
to introduce them to fascinating people – encouraging them to discover and learn through having FUN!

Our Safari Club Eco Garden is a dedicated children’s entertainment and education space that keeps young guests occupied with the wonders of
the natural world, as well as sporting and creative activities, during their stay. Just some of the fun includes family morning game drives, ‘spoor’
identification and mould making, pool games, rock painting, cookie baking in the kitchen, kids’ picnic, toasting marshmallows, stargazing, and kids’
outdoor cinema. Parents are welcome to join in or sneak a few hours for themselves.

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Marataba Mack & Madi Eco Garden Credit: Marataba Game Lodges

Marataba Mack & Mad Credit: Marataba Game Lodges

Marataba Mack & Madi Eco Garden Credit: Marataba Game Lodges

Marataba Mack & Madi Credit: Marataba Game Lodges

A Night in a Treehouse*

Thabametsi is our newest and most impressive Treehouse yet! It is solar powered and built on two levels – with a main bedroom, shower room and

furnished decks offering views of the Waterberg and across the verdant expanse of the Marakele. Guests, delivered by safari vehicle in the late

afternoon, spend the sunset hours enjoying a sundowner and sharing a gourmet picnic whilst spotting animals out on the plains, before falling asleep

counting shooting stars. This is the ideal hideout for a family of four (including two children, 6 to 15 years) who want to experience an authentic night

out in Africa – in complete luxury.

• A Treehouse Experience is booked in conjunction with lodge accommodation

• A Treehouse stay is charged at a per person sharing per night rate, over and above the lodge accommodation rate

• Guests pack an overnight bag with their essentials, leaving the rest of their belongings back in their room

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Thabametsi Treehouse Credit: Marataba Game Lodges

Thabametsi Treehouse Credit: Marataba Game Lodges

Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on guests’ fitness levels

These are our after-breakfast walks on the wild side. Guests are immersed in the bush, rather than just observing it. All five senses are engaged, as
they feel scrub crunch beneath their feet, touch the velvety acacia seed pod, hear the crack of a branch indicating they are not alone, and spot big
game at eye level – exhilarating! Our expert guides will tailor walks to each of our guest’s area/s of interest, focusing on mammals, birds, insects, plants,
geology, etc.

• Children under 16 years are not permitted on the bush walks
• Guests should wear: neutral-coloured clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
• Guests should bring along: a lightweight dry mac jacket, camera/smartphone, and binoculars

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Marataba Bush Walk Credit: Marataba Game Lodges

The hours between safaris are an ideal time to spend being pampered. A selection of indulgent therapies is offered by expert therapists in the quiet

retreat of guests’ own rooms or private decks – a luxury unique to Africa. Guests choose from massages, exfoliations, reflexology, and facials with

TheraNaka herbal-infused spa therapy products – all ethically formulated with the finest natural and organic healing ingredients – as well as manicures

and pedicures. Yogis will find no better place to stretch out any leftover tension than on their private decks overlooking the serene reserve. Guests

need not pack their mats with these available to borrow from the lodge reception.

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Wellness Treatment Credit: Marataba Game Lodges

Take an unhurried cruise along the Matlabas River on Miss Mara. Nothing tops watching the sun shimmy into a liquid horizon in vivid colour, as you sip on a G ‘n T to the splash of a grunting hippo.

The perspective of the bush is quite different when experienced from the water. An excursion on Miss Mara is highly recommended as a unique and highly enjoyable way to immerse yourself in the magnificence of the reserve.

Morning and afternoon cruises are conducted on the Matlabas River, just 20 minutes drive from the Lodge. Delicious refreshments and snacks are provided; from pastries and hot chocolate, to G ‘n Ts and Canapés.

One of Marataba’s experienced Field Guides will conduct the slow cruise along the river. You can expect to see birdlife a-plenty, hippos in the water, and the many creatures that walk the plains of Marataba along the water’s edge.

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Guests staying at Marataba Luxury Lodges will meet the team, receive a pre-operational briefing, and depart at the predetermined time.

Once the rhino has been located and darted, guests will actively participate in the activity, involving tasks that may include: fitting tracking collars, ear-notching, collecting blood and tissue samples, and micro-chipping of horns. This experience does not include dehorning interventions.

Each intervention offers a unique and singular experience with one animal. It's important to note that, with smooth operations, the duration can vary from approximately 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Once the intervention is complete, the blindfold and earplugs are removed, and the reversal drug are given to the rhino.

Opportunities are provided for guests to take photos, and if safe to do so, take photos with the animal and field team. The guide will also photograph the guests experience and these images will be made available upon return.

After the intervention, the conservation team provides a debriefing and a 'behind the scenes' tour of their operations room, for a comprehensive understanding of how the intervention aligns with conservation efforts and how the collected data contributes to the cause.

Please note that interventions are limited to the months between April and September, due to more favourable weather conditions, ensuring the safety of the animals, and there are approximately 60 activities that take place place throughout the year.

Cost:
R95 000.00
For a group of 15 guests

Availability:
April to September

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The Safari Boutique at Lelapa Camp carries a carefully curated selection of safari clothing, accessories, and lodge-branded keepsakes. A considered edit rather than a gift shop, it offers pieces that feel at home in the bush and travel well beyond it. Open to all guests across the collection.

Game drives at Madikwe Safari Lodge last approximately three hours, departing twice daily in open 4x4 safari vehicles. Morning drives leave at first light into cool air and active wildlife. Afternoon drives return well after dark, with sundowners served in the field and a spotlight return leg where leopard, brown hyena, aardwolf, aardvark, bat-eared fox, and owls may be encountered. Drive times shift slightly with the seasons to make the most of the light.
The pace is unhurried and shaped entirely around the guests on board. Experienced guides balance education, storytelling, and silence, knowing instinctively when to speak and when to let the bush do the talking. Vehicles are equipped for the conditions, with canopies in summer, warm blankets and hot water bottles for cooler drives, waterproof ponchos, and individual bucket seats.
Children aged 6 and older are welcome on scheduled drives. Dedicated kiddies' bumble game drives close to camp are available for younger guests. See separate activity listing.

For younger children, kiddies' bumble game drives are offered close to camp; short, age-appropriate excursions that introduce children to the bush through engaging, sensory-led activities. Guides are experienced at hosting families, with drives paced and pitched to the children on board and content adjusted naturally to their ages and interests.
Bumble drives typically take place after morning breakfast, once the scheduled-drive vehicles have returned to camp. Timing shifts seasonally; summer drives are scheduled as early as possible to make the most of the cooler hours, while winter drives are moved slightly later to allow for the chill to lift.

Children aged 6 and older are welcome on scheduled adult game drives. Children under 6 may not join scheduled drives unless parents book a private safari vehicle (additional cost; included as standard at Elela Villa). Alternatively, parents may arrange childminding at an additional cost.

The Eco-House is a dedicated children's space at Lelapa Camp, designed to keep younger guests engaged with the bush between game drives. Through hands-on, nature-led activities led by experienced childminders, children discover the reserve at their own pace and in their own way.
Activities include nature walks, animal tracking, craft sessions, and guided games, each thoughtfully designed to be age-appropriate and adaptable for a range of ages.

The Eco-House is part of what makes Madikwe Safari Lodge one of South Africa's leading family safari destinations, ensuring younger guests have their own meaningful experience of the wilderness while parents enjoy the wider lodge offering.

The Spa is a quiet, restorative space designed for complete rest between drives. Treatments are carried out by intuitive therapists using an African botanical skincare range that blends traditional plant wisdom with modern scientific formulation. Located between Kopano and Lelapa Camps, and easily accessible to guests of all camps and villa

◦ Three treatment rooms, including a dedicated couples space
◦ Relaxation deck
◦ Steam room
◦ Dipping pool

Meals are a defining part of the Madikwe Safari Lodge experience. The kitchen’s approach is generous, seasonal, and attentive to dietary preferences and requirements – with no two meals served in the same setting.

Where guests dine:
◦ Boma dinners – under the stars, around the fire
◦ Private dining setups – for couples, families, or special-occasion moments
◦ Deck dining – overlooking the waterhole and the reserve
◦ Bush breakfasts and bush dinners – out in the wilderness, away from camp (weather and operations permitting)
◦ In-suite dining – available on request
◦ Poolside dining – informal, sunlit, and unhurried
◦ High tea – a mid-afternoon ritual served in the main camp areas

All dietary requirements are accommodated with advance notice – including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, and halaal (details and cost confirmed at time of booking).
For families, kid-friendly options are always available – including early meals, custom plates, and familiar favourites alongside healthier choices.

For guests who want to experience conservation in action, the lodge offers Conservation Safaris – accompanying trained specialists on active conservation missions.

These may include:
◦ Rhino notching and microchipping
◦ Wildlife collaring operations, such as lions, cheetahs, or wild dogs

Conservation Safaris are strictly subject to reserve needs and availability, and cannot be guaranteed at the time of booking.

The gym is located at Lelapa Camp and open to all guests across the collection. Fully equipped and air-conditioned, it looks directly out onto the waterhole, so the rhythm of wildlife remains part of the experience even during a workout. Cardio and strength equipment, free weights, and mats are all available, along with a dedicated changing room and shower.

For guests who prefer to move at their own pace and in their own space, each suite across the collection includes a yoga mat.

Madikwe Game Reserve's remote location and near-total absence of light pollution make for one of southern Africa's most extraordinary night skies. After the evening drive, when the bush settles into darkness and quiet, the stars take over completely. It is one of those effortless, unhurried moments that a safari stay in Madikwe tends to produce.

Stargazing can be arranged at all camps on request.

For guests who want to slow down and experience the bush at a different pace, guided walking safaris offer a more intimate, sensory encounter with the reserve. On foot, the smaller details come alive: animal tracks, plant life, birdsong, and the textures of the landscape that drives often pass by. Walks take place close to camp or in carefully selected areas of the reserve, always led by a fully qualified trails guide with deep knowledge of Madikwe Game Reserves ecology.

Available to guests aged 16 and older.
Madikwe Game Reserve requires guests aged 60 and older to provide a doctor's note confirming good physical health prior to participation, a regulation applied consistently across all Big Five walking areas in the reserve.
Duration, timing, and group size are subject to availability and will be confirmed at the time of booking.