"Luxury safari" seems a contradiction, since "safari" means going out in wild nature, exposed to what Nature has on offer, watching wild animals in their natural environment, whereas "luxury" implies the best of what modern man has become accustomed to.
In Madikwe Game Reserve in the Northwest-Province of South Africa a combination of "luxury" and "safari" is what is on offer - as a matter of fact, your holiday in this reserve is all about "luxury safari".
On the "luxury" side Madikwe has at least 14 safari lodges throughout the reserve with the highest rating possible: Five Star.
And they live up to their rating - no question about that! Some are small and exclusive, hosting 15 guests or less; others can host op to 25 guests and a few go beyond that, hosting 50 - 200 guests.
Generally speaking, every safari lodge consists of a central lodge with a number of private, totally separate thatched units in the camp.
Each of these units has luxury written all over it.
These units ooze a typical African ambiance, but with all the facilities you can expect from a Five Star facility.
Each unit also boasts a private deck overlooking a river or a water pool where game gather; each deck also has a plunge pool.
The main lodge is where meals are served and where guests can cool off in a big swimming pool.
All of the lodges have a "Boma" - a protected area in the bush where guests can enjoy their meals surrounded by the true African night sounds and clear African skies.
Most of the lodges also offer spa and wellness treatments; some even have wellness centers where guests can be rejuvenated and get relief from the stress associated with modern way of living.
A wide variety of treatments are available, where qualified therapists introduce guests to age-old African therapies nowhere else available.
Some lodges have clusters of units dedicated to groups like families or corporate groups.
These units can be totally separate from the main camp, with a dedicated chef, game ranger and even butler in some cases.
Most lodges have conference venues with all facilities needed for this type of activities.
Many also cater for weddings and some have actually become popular as wedding venues.
In general, most lodges cater for families and have special activities exclusively for children.
As far as the "safari" component of "luxury safari" is concerned, what Madikwe has to offer is as good as it gets.
Madikwe Game Reserve is the 5th biggest game reserve in South Africa and as many as 15,000 animals live there.
Due to different of habitats found in the reserve a wide variety of animals are at home here.
Of the 60 mammals the "Big Five" (lion, leopard, African elephant, black and white rhino and African buffalo) top the viewing menu, and guests can also expect to have regular sightings of the fastest animal on our planet, the cheetah, as well as the highly endangered African wild dog.
A wide variety of grazers (like eland, gemsbok and impala) and browsers (like the stunning kudu and bushbuck) completes the picture.
Fascinating nocturnal animals like the African honey badger ("ratel"), porcupine and aardvark (giant anteater) are also seen regularly.
Encounters between the spiky porcupine and leopard can be one of the most memorable incidences of your holiday.
In addition to this Madikwe hosts as many as 340 different bird species - a real birders' paradise.
The big variety is made possible by the diversity of habitats mentioned above.
Guests are treated on two game drives each day and safari walks.
In all cases they are accompanied by knowledgeable game rangers.
Game rangers are allowed to follow animals into the bush to make special sightings, like a lion kill or a leopard stalking its prey, possible.
A special feature of Madikwe is the fact that no day visitors are allowed inside the park - only guests staying in one of the lodges.
This exclusivity means that guests will not be crowded at special sightings.
In Madikwe Game Reserve in the Northwest-Province of South Africa a combination of "luxury" and "safari" is what is on offer - as a matter of fact, your holiday in this reserve is all about "luxury safari".
On the "luxury" side Madikwe has at least 14 safari lodges throughout the reserve with the highest rating possible: Five Star.
And they live up to their rating - no question about that! Some are small and exclusive, hosting 15 guests or less; others can host op to 25 guests and a few go beyond that, hosting 50 - 200 guests.
Generally speaking, every safari lodge consists of a central lodge with a number of private, totally separate thatched units in the camp.
Each of these units has luxury written all over it.
These units ooze a typical African ambiance, but with all the facilities you can expect from a Five Star facility.
Each unit also boasts a private deck overlooking a river or a water pool where game gather; each deck also has a plunge pool.
The main lodge is where meals are served and where guests can cool off in a big swimming pool.
All of the lodges have a "Boma" - a protected area in the bush where guests can enjoy their meals surrounded by the true African night sounds and clear African skies.
Most of the lodges also offer spa and wellness treatments; some even have wellness centers where guests can be rejuvenated and get relief from the stress associated with modern way of living.
A wide variety of treatments are available, where qualified therapists introduce guests to age-old African therapies nowhere else available.
Some lodges have clusters of units dedicated to groups like families or corporate groups.
These units can be totally separate from the main camp, with a dedicated chef, game ranger and even butler in some cases.
Most lodges have conference venues with all facilities needed for this type of activities.
Many also cater for weddings and some have actually become popular as wedding venues.
In general, most lodges cater for families and have special activities exclusively for children.
As far as the "safari" component of "luxury safari" is concerned, what Madikwe has to offer is as good as it gets.
Madikwe Game Reserve is the 5th biggest game reserve in South Africa and as many as 15,000 animals live there.
Due to different of habitats found in the reserve a wide variety of animals are at home here.
Of the 60 mammals the "Big Five" (lion, leopard, African elephant, black and white rhino and African buffalo) top the viewing menu, and guests can also expect to have regular sightings of the fastest animal on our planet, the cheetah, as well as the highly endangered African wild dog.
A wide variety of grazers (like eland, gemsbok and impala) and browsers (like the stunning kudu and bushbuck) completes the picture.
Fascinating nocturnal animals like the African honey badger ("ratel"), porcupine and aardvark (giant anteater) are also seen regularly.
Encounters between the spiky porcupine and leopard can be one of the most memorable incidences of your holiday.
In addition to this Madikwe hosts as many as 340 different bird species - a real birders' paradise.
The big variety is made possible by the diversity of habitats mentioned above.
Guests are treated on two game drives each day and safari walks.
In all cases they are accompanied by knowledgeable game rangers.
Game rangers are allowed to follow animals into the bush to make special sightings, like a lion kill or a leopard stalking its prey, possible.
A special feature of Madikwe is the fact that no day visitors are allowed inside the park - only guests staying in one of the lodges.
This exclusivity means that guests will not be crowded at special sightings.
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