Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe Game Reserve | |
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North West Province, South Africa | |
Nearest city | Groot Marico |
Coordinates | 24°49′S 26°13′E / 24.817°S 26.217°E |
Area | 750 square kilometres (290 sq mi) |
Established | 1994 |
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The Madikwe Game Reserve is a
Geography
Madikwe Game Reserve lies 90 km north of Zeerust[2] on what used to be farm land, but owing to the poor soil type, farming was not that successful. After extensive research, the South African government found that this land would best be utilised as a provincial park, to economically uplift this otherwise rather poor area.
It is currently the fifth largest game reserve in South Africa. The park is now 680 km2 by itself, and 750 km2, including the now incorporated privately owned land.[citation needed]
The reserve has recently opened itself up to private farms outside the main reserve. Private users need to abide by parks board rules, animals can roam over any land, but there are restrictions as to where private vehicles can drive.
Wildlife
The process of reintroducing wildlife to the area began in 1992 under the codename Operation Phoenix which relocated entire breeding herds of
Madikwe has been regarded as one of the better conservation areas in Africa, offering all the major species, including lion, leopards, elephants, Cape buffaloes, both white and black rhinos along with almost all the plains antelope species.
A special feature of Madikwe lies in its unique location, a transition zone on the edges of the
Vegetation
The terrain is mainly open grasslands and bushveld plains, interspersed with rocky outcrops and single mountains.
Climate and weather
Madikwe forms part of a
Accommodation
There are 30 lodges on the property, and six lodges in the private farms outside the main reserve. Some of the commercial lodges include Rhulani Safari Lodge, Jaci's Lodges, Tau Game Lodge, Etali Safari Lodge, Impodimo Game Lodge and an eco-lodge, Mosetlha Bush Camp. Madikwe has started community lodges, which the local villages own and run. All profits are then used to uplift the communities.
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Rhulani Lodge interior
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Jaci's Lodge interior
Transportation options
Gallery
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Leopard in a tree
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Pangolin
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White rhino
References
- ^ "DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS: ESTABLISHMENT OF NATURE RESERVE IN TERMS OF THE BOPHUTHATSWANA NATURE CONSERVATION ACT, 1973" (PDF).
- ^ Madikwe Game Reserve Reservations Website
- ^ "About the Madikwe Game Reserve - Etali Safari Lodge". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
- ^ "About the Madikwe Game Reserve - Etali Safari Lodge". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-06.