Madikwe River Lodge, 2 nights from R8 285 pps - self drive

If you're heading between Johannesburg and Gaborone, Madikwe River Lodge is just the place to hang up the car keys. Situated in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve near the Botswanan border, you’d never guess that not so long ago, this region was little more than abandoned farmland.

With the Groot Marico River on your doorstep, Madikwe River Lodge offers a front-row seat to all the animal action. A conservation triumph, the surrounding wilderness is brimming with game, including African wild dogs and cheetahs, which along with the Big Five, form the 'Madikwe Super Seven'. We offer twice-daily game drives, guided bush walks, and more than enough quiet nooks to kick back and soak up the scenery.