REVIEWS


The ROYAL MADIKWE Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa


LOCATION: The Royal Madikwe is nestled in South Africa’s Madikwe Game Reserve – a 680sq km conservation area in North West Province bordering Botswana in the north and the Dwarsberg Mountains in the south. It takes about three-and- a-half hours to get there by car from Johannesburg. It can also Li Ài>Vhi` LÞ >iÀ Ûi> `>ilÞ ÃhÕÌÌli yi}hÌà oÀ «ÀiÛ>Ìi Vh>ÀÌiÀð


FIRST IMPRESSIONS: It’s super-stylish. The open-plan, thatched-roofed Clubhouse at which guests arrive makes quite an impression with large, wooden furnishings and support pillars made from tree trunks. The look is completed by cream ÃÌoni yooÀin}] >nim>l-«ÀinÌ ÀÕ}Ã >n` li>ÌhiÀ Ãi>Ìin}] Ühili Ìhi statement lighting, made from dozens of white leather strips, sets a warm and relaxed ambience. The highlight, though, is the view. The lounge overlooks a large watering hole where zebras, elephants and buffalo gather. A large outdoors dining terrace takes guests even closer to the action.


THE FACTS: /hiÀi >Ài ÃiÝ ÃÕiÌiÃ] wÛi ov ÜhiVh >Ài loV>Ìi` iiÌhiÀ side of the Clubhouse. All come with their own private terrace with plunge pool and outdoor shower. The Emperor Suite is located on the second level of the Clubhouse. This, the Royal Villa and Sovereign House are ideal for families or groups and have generous communal spaces. The Lenlayo Honeymoon Suite has a round bed on the balcony from where loved-up couples can watch animals in the waterhole. The Naledi and Korone Luxury Suites boast spacious en suite bathrooms.


EXPLORE: Daily dawn and dusk game drives take guests `ii« inÌo Ìhi ÀiÃiÀÛi] ÜhiÀi Ìhi Li} wÛi Ào>m° v ÞoÕ½Ài lucky, you may spot endangered wild dogs and cheetahs. ÕÃh Ü>lkà li` LÞ µÕ>liwi` }Õi`ià ovviÀ }ÕiÃÌà Ìhi Vh>nVi to learn more about the local insects and plants. Activities available at additional cost include African drumming lessons, a Zulu dancing display and star-gazing with an astronomer who counts Sir Richard Branson among his clientele.


WOW: The Royal Madikwe’s top-end suite, Sovereign House, has just opened to guests following a massive refurbishment,


having formerly been the manager’s accommodation. The three-bed lodge comes with all the things you’d expect from a family-sized villa, plus some standout features including a glass wine cellar and wrap-around viewing deck. The jewel in the crown? It comes with its own safari truck and guide.


BOOK IT: Prices start at £580 per person, based on two sharing.


MADIKWEGAMERESERVES.COM Amie Keeley


aspiretravelclub.co.uk


NOVEMBER 2019 ASPIRE 125


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136