NORTH WEST PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA


transfer to Madikwe Safari Lodge, another of the reserve's five-star properties. Until recently the lodge was owned by andBeyond Africa. With several African safari lodges the company is known for its sustainability practices and community projects. Our large suites feature terracotta


streaked by the Milky Way, we head back to the lodge, spotting a pair of white rhinos and several lumbering giraffe on the way. At Makanyane that evening we enjoy


an al fresco ‘boma dinner’ – but not before we are greeted in style by the lodge staff who treat us to a selection of moving tribal songs. Their perfect harmonies and shuffling feet, the twinkling candles, the cackle and


walls, a sunken bath, a log fire and a cosy couch. For our afternoon/evening game drive we head west, over a vast open plain. Madikwe is fascinating in that it sits


at the junction of two distinct 'biomes': the Kalahari and Bushveld. Species from both biomes can be seen in the same reserve. We see springbok (desert) and impala (bush) standing side by side, which is unusual. The rangers use a variety of Tswana


or Xhosa 'code words' to communicate animal sightings in the


"Every day of our trip brought new sights, sounds and experiences which added up to a fantastic overall experience. We were treated to a well- conceived itinerary that was superbly executed" Roger Benn, Benchmark Travel


occasional distant roar from somewhere deep in the inky bush all add up to a magical evening that few will forget.


DAY FOUR Bush Babies "Before I would have immediately pointed clients to Kruger and Sabi Sands, but I will now be suggesting Madikwe to families and honeymooners looking for a quality


experience in a malaria-free setting" Amy Victor, Africa Collection


After another early-morning game drive into the bush we enjoy a cooked breakfast as we watch yellow bee- eaters entering their carefully-built nests which seem to hang from the end of a branch by a fine thread. After saying our goodbyes we


reserve. Thus 'Ngala' means lion and 'Inyati' buffalo. When Gregg, our ranger, whispers the word ‘Makanyane’ we know we were on the track of the rare African wild dog, which has successfully been reintroduced in Madikwe but is still on the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) endangered species list. After several minutes racing along


the dirt track, sure enough, we spot several of the black, white and brown animals skipping along the road ahead of us. In many parts of Africa, wild dogs have been driven to extinction by farmers’ guns, but there’s a better chance of seeing the animals at Madikwe than in most other reserves. Driving back to the lodge, we see


more elephants, lions, kudu, giraffe, and spring hares.


08 www.tourismnorthwest.co.za


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