A guide to malaria free safari in South Africa – Madikwe.
A South African safari has been my dream since I can remember. But planning a Malaria Free South Africa Safari is not as easy as it seems. There’s a lot to think about and some arrangements cannot always be made online. One of the worries I was facing, though, was malaria. After two years of restricted travel and frequent lockdowns, malaria was the last thing I needed, so I was determined to find a malaria-free safari somewhere. Luckily, South Africa is large and mainly free of it. In fact, I think, Madikwe is an outstanding destination for a malaria-free family safari, so you don’t have to worry about your kids getting sick and mosquitos biting them.
Madikwe-malaria free family safari in South Africa.
Apart from Kruger Park, South Africa is full of many other game reserves, including a few that do not have malaria. After researching all of them, Madikwe seemed to be the best choice for us. It was really important to me that we find a malaria-free safari to enjoy our time without any worries, especially when traveling with family. The peace of mind that comes with not needing to take anti-malarial medication makes the whole experience so much more relaxing.
Madikwe is one of the largest malaria-free reserves in South Africa, yet it remains wonderfully uncrowded compared to some of the more famous parks. This makes it an ideal option if you want a safari that feels both safe and immersive. You still get all the magic of the African bush — the Big Five, rare wild dogs, breathtaking landscapes — without the added concern of health risks. If that’s also what you’d like, keep on reading to find out if Madikwe is the place where you, too, can create unforgettable memories of a truly beautiful African safari.
Other reasons to choose Madikwe- malaria free safari
There’s a limit on the number of cars
We have heard from friends and other travellers how busy safaris can get. Kruger has asphalt roads and everyone is welcome to explore the park. There are many lodges that do daily drives too. Let’s be honest, it gets extremely busy. For me, the sight of so many cars was not very tempting. Besides, I could imagine that the animals are a bit stressed from all the commotion on daily basis (even though it’s immense) and possibly go into hiding.
Madikwe has mainly dirt roads and small bush paths, which gives an opportunity for a truly unique and wild experience.
Madikwe is a very small park, compared to Kruger, nonetheless, during our 5-day stay, we explored a different part every day and saw an abundance of wildlife. In Madikwe only three cars are allowed at a site, meaning that you are most likely to be alone immersing yourself in the beauty of nature without disruption from other cars.
Unlike in Kruger, it is not possible to visit Madikwe on your own. While you can drive to your accommodation, you’ll be required to leave your car there and join game drives organized by your accommodation for your own safety and wildlife protection.
No interference in nature survival
In Madikwe nature is left to itself. While there are research and protection programmes happening in Madikwe, there’s no bait left for some species to reproduce faster. Thomas explained to us an example of leopards and why it was quite hard to spot them. Leopards are shy and likely to be threatened by stronger lions or even hyenas. This means that they reproduce as fast, so the population in Madikwe is quite small. In Kruger bait is left for lions by the park rangers, so they are not as threatening to leopards. In Madikwe they don’t do that, they let nature live by its own rules.
However, they monitor the park for poachers and have protection programs for rhinos. I was really happy to spot quite a few rhinos in Madikwe and was told that the population is growing.
My explanation might not be too accurate, so if you are interested in the topic, I’d recommend you to do some research.
Where to stay
It is not possible to camp in Madikwe, so you’ll have to book a lodge there. What I loved about this reserve is that it has a limited number of accommodations, therefore it keeps a real safari feel, unlike other places you may find across Africa.
We stayed in Etali Safari Lodge. The reason we chose this hotel was the natural and intimate feel with only 8 rooms if I remember right. I absolutely loved Etali, the room, the staff and the food. However, a daily view of animals coming to the water hole just in front of our bedroom was unbeatable. I took nearly two thousand photos during our stay, cannot share all of them with you, but I hope you get an idea of how incredible the stay in Etali was. I usually don’t like coming back to the exact same place, but Etali is one of the very few hotels that I would just love to visit again.
The other lodges that we also liked:
How to get to madikwe
Madikwe is located in the north of the country and the nearest international airport is Johannesburg (you can also fly to Botswana, however, I think Johannesburg is more convenient). There are numerous companies that connect Johannesburg with the rest of the world. You can search for cheap flights here.
You’ve arrived in Johannesburg. How to get to Madikwe from there?
By car
Renting a car in South Africa is quite easy and affordable, so if that’s something you prefer, just go for it. However, taking a charter flight directly to Madikwe is faster and quite adventurous. I loved it! If you are opting for a car, remember that you need to notify your hotel beforehand and once you enter, you must directly go to the hotel. During my stay in Madikwe I met a family, who got lost in the reserve and for several hours were not able to find the hotel. They said that GPS was not very accurate.
By plane
My preferred option was by plane. It’s not possible to book flights online, so if you are interested, you may directly contact Federal Airlines by following the steps on their website.
Our trip to South Africa was cancelled, then rebooked and booked back again to the original plan. With so many changes, this airline assisted us (with the help of Etali Safari Lodge) with everything without any additional charges.
Once we arrived in Johannesburg, we were picked up in a van by Federal Airlines to their airport. It was one of the cutest, tiniest and most comfortable airports I’ve been to. While waiting for our plane to Madikwe, we had food and drinks available.
The flight to Madikwe lasts an hour. Our plane (one way) was not pressurised as we did not fly very high and the wind was blowing through the windows the whole time. It was surely an experience for me.
Once we landed, we were picked up by our hotel drivers to the lodge…and the safari adventure commenced straight away with the sight of giraffes.
When to go
I don’t think there’s a bad time to go to Madikwe, but you can make your decision based on the following guidelines of the park management:
- May to September– is the dry season and the best time to visit Madikwe. The vegetation is not so lush, hence the animals are easier to spot. However, it can get really cold in the morning and after sunset. In my opinion, April and May and September and October would be preferable due to warmer temperatures.
- March, April, and October– are good times to go.
- November to February– these are the wettest months. From December through February it is very hot with afternoon rains.
- October to April– these are the busiest months due to many school holidays.
We went to Madikwe end of April and the beginning of May. The weather was lovely with warm day hours of around 23C. Early mornings and evenings were quite chilly and we needed to wear puffer jackets, and hats and cover ourselves with blankets during the game drives.
What a typical safari day looks like
In Madikwe, most if not all lodges have game drives included. Typically, they offer two drives a day: one in the morning and another one for the sunset, each lasting around three hours.
Early morning drive
Brace yourself for early mornings. Around 5 am every morning, our drivers- Kia and Thomas- came with a wake-up call. It was still dark outside.
The stillness of the moments before the sunrise seemed to be anticipating some action. After having a quick snack and a warm drink, we were all ready to make ourselves cosy in our 4×4 truck. Every ride, with no exceptions, we were filled with curiosity about what the following three or four hours are going to show us what happens in the bushes when everyone sleeps.
The air was cold, and the wind getting through all my layers.
Thomas was our driver. Kia, a skillful spotter, thanks to whom we saw such abundant wildlife in Madikwe. Hands down, without Kia, would have not seen anything smaller than an impala.
Around an hour before returning to the hotel, we stopped for a hot drink and a snack. I loved those stops. Magically, time felt like slowing down glazing at the endless bush horizon.
Afternoons are for relax
After, usually an eventful, morning ride, the afternoons were calm. A few hours of watching the water hole in case some animals arrive for a drink, jacuzzi dips on our terrace or reading were all the things I was dreaming about.
Evenings
Around 4 pm we gathered again for another drive. Again, we did not know what expects us in the bushes. At sunset, we stopped for a glass of wine and a snack of biltong. Needless to say, these moments were truly incredible, too.
What to pack
When going on safari, you need to consider the time of the year. I went in May when the weather was already cooling down. Days were warm, but layers were needed. Mornings and evenings were chilly, sometimes with wind cooling us even more. Thanks to our guides for providing us with blankets and capes
If you go between April and October, I recommend lots of layers and warm clothes. I put a few options here that I quite liked to bring to safari in Africa and found absolutely necessary.
- Boots
- Puffer jacket
- Lightweight jacket with pockets for warmer days
- A cute safari hat
- Sunglasses
- Flip flops
- Thermal underwear
- Fabric trousers (jeans and tights trousers will be very uncomfortable)
- Trainers
- Light scarf
- Linen or cotton shirts
In the summer months, you may want to pack these:
- A jumpsuit in natural colour
- A dress
- Skirt
- Shorts
- Bikini for the pool in your lodge
Electronics:
- Camera with a big zoom lens. I used Olympus 75-300mm lens for most of my wildlife photos.
- Extra memory cards (you’ll need them, believe me).
- Power adapter for South Africa (type D, M, N power plugs and sockets).
- Extra camera battery.
What to expect
A trip to Madikwe is an intimate experience where you can truly feel close to nature and the animals. While you can reach Madikwe by car, self-drives are not allowed here like in Kruger, for example, which makes the safari feel even more exclusive and guided by expert knowledge. I loved it!
Madikwe is home to the Big Five, so if that’s a deciding factor for you, don’t worry — you’ll have the chance to see them all and much more. The reserve is also famous for its packs of endangered African wild dogs, which are rarely seen elsewhere. With fewer vehicles allowed into the park compared to Kruger, sightings feel personal, unhurried, and often shared only with a handful of other guests. Sunrises and sunsets over the bushveld are magical moments you’ll remember forever, especially with the sounds of nature as your background soundtrack.
How long to stay there
Most people I met do two or three-day-long safaris, at the most. I thought that 2 days would be plenty. In the end, we opted for 5 days and let me tell you, you really wouldn’t want to stay there any shorter. I’m glad we stayed 5 days in Madikwe as every drive was so different and it allowed us to see all the animals we wanted, except leopards (actually we saw a leopard’s kill left up a tree).
Other malaria-free game reserves
- Pilanesburg National Park
- Eastern Cape
- Waterberg
- Nambiti Private Game Reserve
- KwaZulu Natal
Happy travels, Love, Ania
See also:
- Visiting African penguins in Boulders beach. Practical tips. How to spend 4 days in Cape Town, itinerary. A Zanzibar guide for first time travellers
- A Zanzibar guide for first-time travellers
- How to spend 4 days in Cape Town, itinerary.
- Visiting African penguins in Boulders beach. Practical tips.
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