Madikwe Reserve

The Madikwe Game Reserve
This 75 000 hectare reserve is situated in the North-West province of South Africa, on the border with Botswana. The large diversity of vegetation and ecozones allows for a rich diversity of game and bird species to inhabit the reserve

Herman Charles Bosman has woven many a tale about Abjaterskop and the Marico River. It is perhaps he that best describes the vast area where enselsberg rise from the savannahs and an area that is given life from the Marico River. This is the malaria free Madikwe Game Reserve, 75 000 hectares of unique topography and breathtaking beauty, it is also the home to the big 5, wild dog, cheetah and a large variety of mammal and bird life. Situated a scenic three and a half hours drive from Johannesburg guests are also welcome to join the scheduled charter flight between Grand Central Airport (Midrand – Johannesburg) and the reserve.

The Reserve and Wildlife
The reserve is situated in an ecotone between the kalahari sandveld and the northern bushveld. The reserve consists of vast plains, open woodlands and thickets. The area is also dotted with huge rocky hills or inselbergs and the dwarsberg mountain range forms the southern boundary. There is only one river in the reserve, the Groot Marico, but a number of dams and pans provide water year round for the game species present.
The reserve is home to 28 different mammal species which where released into the park through a relocation process called Operation Phoenix. This was the largest game translocation exercise in the world, with more than 8 000 animals being released into the reserve, starting in 1991 and the project was completed in 1997 and included the release of species such as elephant, both black and white rhino, buffalo, lion, cheetah, wild dog, and other plains game species.
Madikwe is also a bird watchers paradise, with over 350 bird species already recorded in the reserve.

>> Animal and Bird Checklist

History of the Reserve
The reserve was proclaimed in August 1991, but officially became the estate of the North-West Parks Board on the 31 October 1991. The reserve is one of very few in the world that was proclaimed purely on the grounds of it being the most appropriate sustainable land use for the area in which the reserve lies. Studies done through independent consultants clearly showed that wildlife-based tourism would be the most beneficial option for an area that was in an economic depression. The vision for Madikwe was to have a joint venture run by the North-West Parks Board, private investors and the local communities living in the surrounding area. The reserve has now become a role model for many similar ventures country wide due to the successes achieved within the reserve.

Prior to the park being proclaimed, work had already begun on clearing derelict farm buildings, fencing, and a number of alien plant species. The park has a number of old buildings that were spared from demolition and now serve as The Parks Board headquarters. There were other game scout outposts built to house game scouts and other reserve staff. The perimeter was fenced with approximately 150km of electric game fencing, which is electrified to prevent the escape of the larger game species. In the park local business and labour was used to demolish buildings, erect fences and to construct roads, dams and lodges.
Functioning

Madikwe functions through a system designed to benefit the three main parties involved in the reserve, these being the North West Parks Board, the private sector and the local community. All three work together in a mutually beneficial partnership in conservation.
The parks board being responsible for the infrastructure and management of the reserve, as a major conservation area in the province. The private sector is then leased suitable sites that are utilized for tourism based developments and activities. The private investors provide the necessary capital to build game lodges, market and manage them in such a way that private sector funds are used to develop the tourism potential of the reserve.
The Reserve itself does not accept day visitors; all visitors are residents at the various lodges.