Choose your country and language:

Africa

  • Global
  • Angola
  • Botswana
  • DRC
  • Ethiopia
  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nigeria
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
  • shotLeft

Americas

  • USA
  • Argentina
  • Brazil

Asia Pacific

  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia

Europe

  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • United Kingdom
Back

MMadikwe Game Reserve, one of South Africa’s foremost Big Five malaria-free reserves, was envisaged not by conservationists, but by economists. They found conservation would create more income and jobs than the existing land-use, which was cattle-farming. This successful reserve is now a model that has inspired South African conservation.

Madikwe Game Reserve, right up against the Botswana border in the North West province, is a strange anomaly in the world of conservation.

It was transformed from a number of low-yield cattle farms into a high-yield conservation area. This was not land chosen by ecologists for its rare vegetation or animals. It was chosen by economists because they found that a game reserve here would generate more jobs and money than any other land-use option. Madikwe is now a model of the way conservation can benefit communities.

Another remarkable factor is that this was pioneered in 1991, within one of South Africa’s apartheid-era Bantustans – Bophuthatswana – which was reintegrated into the country in 1994.

Did You Know?
AA conservation corridor is envisaged, that will eventually join the Madikwe and Pilanesberg game reserves.

OOn paper it seemed idealistic. Yet in practice it worked. Bop Parks launched Operation Phoenix in 1991. By 1997, it had brought in more than 8000 individual animals, the largest translocation of its kind in the world. Several private companies set up very successful bush lodges within the 75 000-hectare park. And the three villages around Madikwe – Supingstad, Lekgophung and Molatedi – are doing very well.

Madikwe Game Reserve, North West

Food
When to visit
How to get here

WWomen are particularly empowered – a high proportion of them are employed in the park. Social and financial upliftment aside, Madikwe is now better known as one of the best places to see the Big Five, and it also has the advantage of being malaria free. Madikwe is seen as a model of the benefits that conservation can bring.

You may not be in an exclusive private game reserve (it's actually a provincial game reserve), but you’ll feel as if you are – the experience is almost indistinguishable. The only difference is that you might catch a special sense of pride from some of the people you encounter in and around the park.

Who to contact
How to get there
Best time to visit
Around the area
Length of stay
Where to stay
What to eat

Related articles

Wildlife safari

Surgery and safari in South Africa

Wildlife safari
Surgery and safari in South Africa
When it comes to post recovery and recuperation, going on safari is a good choice.
Wildlife safari

A safari adventure for the whole family

Wildlife safari
A safari adventure for the whole family
Taking your children on safari is an amazing adventure for the whole family to enjoy together.
Wildlife safari

Born to be wild at these top private game reserves

Wildlife safari
Born to be wild at these top private game reserves
Explore our fascinating wildlife ecology in the wide open, pristine and natural environments when you visit one of these phenomenal nature and game reserves.
Wildlife safari

Become a part of nature with a walking safari

Wildlife safari
Become a part of nature with a walking safari
Bush walks - what better way to experience the ultimate in safari experiences - picture walking through the untouched wild of South Africa.

South Africa on social media

Copyright © 2023 South African Tourism
|Terms and conditions|Disclaimer|Privacy policy