About Madikwe Safari Lodge – Lelapa Lodge

Madikwe Safari Lodge is situated in one of South Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuaries, more commonly known as the Madikwe Game Reserve. This malaria-free game reserve is home to the Big Five, endangered African wild dog and just over 60 other mammal species. Madikwe Safari Lodge consists of 3 camps perfect for families, couples & friends. If one is looking for private accommodation, great game viewing and a spectacular safari experience, Madikwe Safari Lodge is the place to be.

Lelapa Lodge

Lelapa literally means ‘family’ & at Lelapa lodge you can expect warm hospitality, sublime comfort and a compelling charm which will make you want to stay forever. By focusing on families and being able to accommodate children of all ages, Lelapa Lodge is the perfect family destination.

Each of the twelve suites are comfortable, spacious and ever respectful of the natural environment beyond. Each suite boasts an indoor and outdoor shower, private plunge pool and wood-burning fireplace which seek to enhance Mother Natures’ subtle signature.

Some of the features of Lelapa Lodge include

• 12 Suites for 24 people
• Children of all ages welcome
• Children’s activities and babysitting available
• Family Rooms available
• Private plunge pools
• Communal pool
• Suitable for disabled travellers (with assistance)
• Full range of dietary preferences catered for
• Free Wi-Fi (in public areas)

Madikwe Safari Lodge Childrens Eco Centre

Too many hotels and lodges around the world profess to be child friendly but fall way short on delivering an experience which caters for families in the way that parents travelling today expect them to. We wanted to be different, buck the trend and actually deliver an experience as if created by parents as opposed to an operational manual which, is exactly what we have done at Lelapa Lodge. Outside of the incredible array of activities which we offer, we have invested in building an educational center, aptly called the ECO-HOUSE. The ECO-HOUSE is only a part of the Madikwe Cubz activities on offer but is such a highlight during a kids stay that we wanted to provide a little more information about what is offered. The center is managed by our Field Ranging team so there is continuity between the activities done outdoors to what we continue with as experiential learning done inside the ECO-HOUSE. The relationship is also continued so the kids don’t need to meet a new team of the staff and have the ranger taking them on safari and doing the learning. The center is a hive of activity where we are painting, drawing, making location specific models and arts and or getting to touch & smell some of the live specimens in the center. Parents have the choice to either engage in the learning with their kids or steal a few hours for themselves knowing their kids will never even know they are not by their side. This experience is unique to Madikwe Safari Lodge and has been done in consultation with the owner parents, guest parents, managers and North West parks, who have assisted in all the required permits for the live specimens. In kid language… ECO-HOUSE is just AWESOME!

About Madikwe Game 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.

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.

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.

Lodge Features