South Africa     •       Cape Town      •      Cape Winelands     •     Garden Route      •      Kruger National Park      •     North West

North West Province: The Heart of Game Country

The North West Province is home to the Madikwe Game Reserve, one of South Africa’s largest game reserves with one of the most interesting stories. As the name depicts, the Madikwe is located in the northwest area of South Africa, and some of its border lies on the border of Botswana. It is a newer game reserve and has the distinction of being an up-and-coming destination for fantastic safari options. The reserve is an incredible success story in conservation and sustainable tourism and serves as a great inspiration for projects around the world.

Madikwe has an interesting history and plenty to offer visitors on South African safari tours:

• The area was originally farmland taken from the Tswana people during the apartheid era.
• During the early 1990s, the post-apartheid government decided to rehabilitate the land and turn it over to conservation and tourism, which would provide the most jobs.
• Madikwe was populated with animals by a massive wildlife-transrelocation exercise, known as Operation Phoenix. By 1998, more than 10,000 animals and 28 species had been introduced from around the world.
• Today, Madikwe is thriving and currently one of South Africa’s largest game reserves and best-kept secrets.
• The reserve has a fantastic variety and consists of vast plains, open woodlands, and sprawling grasslands, which are dissected and bordered by rugged mountain ranges and rocky hills.
• Animals introduced include The Big Five, cheetah, wild dog, spotted hyena, giraffe, zebra, and various species of antelope and other herbivores.

There is truly nothing else like being in the heart of such a prominent game country.

Call us at (877) 845-4802 to learn more about our honeymoon safaris or our South Africa family safaris.