Madikwe Safari Lodge — Hotel in Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality

|Review of Madikwe Game Reserve – A Hakuna Matata Fairytale in the Bush||If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping straight into The Lion King — not just as a spectator, but as part of the story — Madikwe Game Reserve is where those dreams come alive. From the moment we arrived, we were swept up in a world of wild beauty, soulful hospitality, and unforgettable moments that left us singing our own chorus of “Hakuna Matata.”||This wasn’t just a holiday for us. It was our elopement, the most important day of our lives, and thanks to the incredible Kelsey and Byrom — and the entire team at Madikwe — it became a chapter in our love story that even Simba and Nala would envy.||🦁 “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” – Our Elopement||The highlight of our time here was without doubt our elopement, which can only be described as magical from start to finish.||Kelsey, who organised every detail, was nothing short of phenomenal. She has the rare gift of blending professionalism with heartfelt care, and she made us feel not like clients, but like friends. Every single element of our day felt personal, thoughtful, and filled with love.||The setting for our vows was breathtaking — romantic, wild, and yet so intimate it felt like it had been created just for us. And just when we thought it couldn’t be more perfect, life imitated The Circle of Life itself: a herd of elephants appeared, arriving just before we exchanged our vows. It was as if the bush itself had come to bless our marriage. That moment will live with us forever.||Later that evening, when we returned to our room, we found it transformed into something out of a dream. The soft glow of a wood-burning fire, a bubble bath waiting, champagne and chocolates laid out, and a beautifully decorated room made us feel like royalty. Add to that a romantic private dinner under the stars, and it was the kind of love story Disney could only aspire to create.||But what moved us most of all was the hotel choir, who sang for us on our wedding night. Their voices rose into the sky, full of joy and soul, and brought tears to our eyes. It was more than music; it was a blessing, and one of the most powerful, emotional gifts we have ever received.||And just to prove how genuine and caring she is, Kelsey even made a point the very next morning to tell my partner how beautiful she looked in the photos — a simple gesture, but one that meant the world, especially knowing how nervous she had been. That level of thoughtfulness is something you can’t put a price on.||🐒 “Rafiki’s Wisdom” – Game Drives with Byrom||While Kelsey was the heart behind our elopement, Byrom was the soul of our safari adventures. If Rafiki had a modern-day counterpart, it would be him.||Patient, wise, and full of knowledge, Byrom guided us through the bush with care and passion. He never rushed us, always took time to explain what we were seeing, and had an uncanny ability to know when to wait, when to move, and when to simply let nature put on its show.||Because of him, we had front-row seats to some of the most unforgettable wildlife encounters:||Lions basking in the golden light, truly kings and queens of the savannah.||Hippos wallowing in the water, snorting and splashing with comic charm.||Hyenas lurking with that mischievous grin that made us both laugh and shiver.||What made our connection with Byrom even more special was how it extended beyond the game drives. On boma night, despite having had such a long day, he kindly joined us for dinner. Sitting under the stars, fire crackling, sharing stories and insights, we got to know him not just as a guide, but as a person. His depth of knowledge, his passion for the reserve, and his genuine warmth shone through even more in those moments, and it made us appreciate him all the more.||Every drive, every conversation, every smile — it was clear this isn’t just a job for him. It’s who he is, and we feel truly lucky to have had him as part of our experience.||🌍 “The Circle of Safari Life” – The Lodge||The lodge itself is spectacular — a true Pride Rock of luxury in the wild.||The pool overlooking the watering hole was one of our favourite spots. From early morning until sunset, it felt like our own private theatre of wildlife: giraffes gracefully bending to drink, zebras arriving in their stripes, and antelope darting in and out. The best part? It never felt crowded. There was always space to relax, always a sense of intimacy, as though nature itself had reserved us the best seats in the house.||Our room was a sanctuary, filled with warmth and thoughtful touches. Each evening, we’d return to find a story left on our bed, a charming tradition that made us smile and gave us something meaningful to reflect on before drifting off to sleep to the sounds of the bush.||And on top of that, the romance of the wood-burning fire in our room made every evening feel cosy and magical.||🍴 “Be Our Guest” – Dining in the Bush||Food at the lodge was consistently excellent. Most meals were table service, beautifully presented and varied enough to keep every palate happy.||Then there were the boma nights, where the atmosphere took things to another level. Yes, it was mostly self-serve, but the quality of the food was top-notch: grilled meats, flavourful sides, and plenty of choice. Sitting under the stars, with the fire crackling and the choir singing, it wasn’t just a meal — it was an experience.||On our wedding night, the choir’s voices reduced me to tears, but even on regular evenings, their performances lifted the spirit and reminded us that this wasn’t just a lodge — it was a place where community and culture are celebrated.||👑 “Hakuna Matata Hospitality” – The Staff||Every single member of staff we encountered went above and beyond. From warm greetings to thoughtful little touches, they created an atmosphere that felt welcoming and genuine.||Even when we had a small issue with our safe, it was fixed quickly, efficiently, and with the kind of grace that turned a minor problem into a testament to how well the team works.||It’s clear that everyone here takes pride (pun very much intended) in what they do. They aren’t just staff; they’re the beating heart of the lodge, and they made us feel like part of the family.||🦓 “The Hardest Goodbye” – Leaving the Pride Lands||As I write this on our last night, sitting by the pool with the bush alive around me, I feel a deep sadness that this chapter is ending. But at the same time, I feel nothing but gratitude.||We came here to elope, but we are leaving with so much more:||Memories of elephants blessing our vows.||Lions, hippos, and hyenas showing us their world.||Sunsets that painted the sky like an artist’s canvas.||The warmth of fires, the taste of champagne and chocolate, the sound of song.||And above all, the kindness of two extraordinary people, Kelsey and Byrom, who gave us not just service, but genuine friendship.||We are already planning our next adventure — hopefully trekking to see gorillas in Uganda next year — but no matter where else we go, Madikwe will always be our Pride Rock, the place where our story was sung into the great Circle of Life.||Final Thoughts||If you’re considering Madikwe, stop thinking and start booking. Whether you’re here for a once-in-a-lifetime occasion like we were, or simply for the joy of safari, this place will exceed every expectation.||The animals will awe you, the lodge will comfort you, the food will delight you — but it’s the people who will steal your heart.||To quote the great Lion King once more: “It’s the Circle of Life, and it moves us all.” Madikwe has moved us, changed us, and given us memories we’ll carry for the rest...

After a short flight with the excellent Angel Gabriel from Marataba we were warmly greeted at the airstrip by Wayne who was to be our guide for the next few days. Wayne is a marvellous man, someone with whom you feel immediately feel comfortable and whose knowledge and expertise quickly become apparent.

A short drive of 10 minutes or so and we arrived at Madikwe Lelapa Lodge, appealing to the eye where the entrance is both warm and inviting. A welcome hot towel and cold raspberry and ice and we were shown quickly to our room. A confection of interior design and practicality with an exterior deck incorporating a delightful plunge pool, there was a palpable sense of thoughtful comfort, combined with immediacy to the surroundings.

The reserve here is truly vast with many different aspects and environments. Wayne demonstrated his expert awareness of both the animals and their likely whereabouts affording us many unique moments to be able to observe and photograph. Instinctively aware of what was going on around him as he drove us from one part of the reserve to another and able to resolve animals against the bush, which otherwise we would surely of missed! Not only an expert in the daytime environment, Wayne showed his keen knowledge of astronomy in the Southern Hemisphere. A warm personality and good company we were always aware of his concern for our safety and enjoyment. On one drive we participated in a walking section which was immensely interesting, and we learned some of the field craft our guides took for granted. Wayne was joined for this element by Niall(another excellent guide and thoroughly nice man), to ensure our safekeeping.

Our enjoyment of the lodge was enhanced by the room service twice daily, ensuring when we returned from both the morning and evening drive our room was immaculate. Personal lux that was appreciated. Thank you Juulor. The dining experience was excellent also with the chef using the best ingredients to create interesting dining choices. Note, you do not go on safari to lose weight! We were consummately served throughout by Isaac and Maureen who coped easily with our party of eight. Nice wine choices and cold beer being the perfect accompaniments.

Cold first and last thing it definitely pays to pack the layers at this time of year, although there is a nice payoff with daytime temperatures being very comfortable.

Wayne returned us to the airstrip when it came to the time for departure, which was a warmly appreciated touch. We were sorry to leave and would come back at the...

We absolutely loved Madikwe Safari Lodge, our huge family of 13 made up of our children and grandchildren aged between 8 and 72 were made to feel incredibly welcome and at home by the beautiful members of staff. ||We were split between Kopano and Elela lodges however both lodges combined for us to do everything together. Including our game drives. ||The people, especially our guides Mike, Joseph and Brenden were sensational. |Incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. So patient with our grandson who loves animals, birds and all creepy crawlies. He sat in the front passenger seat where Mike filled his head with knowledge. He never stopped asking questions and talking constantly. Just beautiful to witness. ||The staff at the camp especially Keba who saw to all our needs, with such grace and care, both she and I cried when we parted. Nothing was too much for her. She took care of everything as if everything was the easiest thing. I miss her and Mike already ||What an amazing group of people. The food was excellent. I cannot think of anything that was not perfect. ||I literally cried for 2 days from when we said goodbye. Not one of us wanted to leave. ||As for Mike with my grandchildren especially my grandson who absolutely loves animals and nature. He was given the front seat next to Mike on the truck and thought he was the bees knees. Learned such a lot from Mike whose patience, knowledge and genuine kindness was beyond anything one could have asked for. ||My grandson was absolutely devastated to leave and begged to stay longer. |We all felt that we should have stayed longer. ||What an incredible, wonderful and amazing experience for all of us. I cannot recommend this lodge enough. We were made so welcome. Whatever we asked for was provided. The choir was fantastic. We sang under the moonlight at the boma. We sang at drinks at sundown. Mike and the children played soccer until dark. We danced until dark before making our way back to the lodge. Such an exceptional holiday experience. ||Cannot recommend This lodge and these people enough. Highly recommended ...