The Camp

Location: Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa
Number of Suites: 5

Mateya Safari Lodge is one of South Africa's most intimate retreats with a mere five suites, each in a private location with views of elephant, giraffe and wildebeest ambling across the plains. Each suite has a four-poster bed with mosquito netting, sitting area, separate dressing area, private deck and rim-flow pool, en suite marble bathroom with a bathtub and indoor and outdoor showers, and an inviting fireplace for cool evenings. The artwork of the lodge is mirrored in the suites with grand paintings of leopard and oryx, while carvings and sculptures are placed along the mantle and around the plunge pool. Meals are served at private tables around the decks or in the wine cellar at the main lodge, which also has a fine curio shop, library and small boardroom with Wi-Fi.

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Facilities & Amenities

• En suite bathroom with tub and indoor/outdoor showers
• Shampoo, soap and lotion
• Hair dryer
• Air conditioning
• Fireplace
• Mini bar
• Tea/coffee in room
• 220v charging outlets in room
• In-room safe
• Private plunge pool
• Spa (extra cost)
• Fitness center
• Business center
• Wi-Fi in business center
• Laundry included
• Local drinks included (house alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks)
• Credit cards accepted (Visa and MasterCard)

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Wildlife Viewing & Activities

Madikwe Game Reserve is an incredibly successful wildlife sanctuary for its young age. Established in 1991, Madikwe has become a fantastic base for viewing the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and black rhino—as well as the elusive wild dog, brown hyena, white rhino, cheetah and unique antelope like gemsbok and springbok, typically found in the more arid habitat of the Kalahari Desert. This diversity of wildlife is attributed to Madikwe's position in a transition zone between Kalahari thornveld spilling down from Botswana and lowveld savanna like that found in Kruger National Park. Guests awaken early in the morning for the first wildlife drive as the sun rises, followed by a delicious brunch, mid-day rest and afternoon tea, followed by another drive that lingers into the evening sunset. Guided nature walks are offered in the dry winter months when the bush is thin.

Madikwe's common large mammal and predator sightings are illustrated in the below chart. Other typical sightings may include warthogs, baboons, a variety of birds and a number of other mammals and reptiles. Exact sightings will depend on weather and wildlife movements.

Climate

Conservation

Most of Mateya's staff originate in the villages surrounding the Madikwe Game Reserve, providing sustainable economic benefits and empowerment to the local communities. For the last 15 years the lodge has been training staff in all the various hospitality departments and providing them with job opportunities through tourism. They have also built a new crèche within the nearby Molatedi Village, with 36 children currently enrolled in the school. Mateya has been involved in leopard research within the reserve, determining home-range size and activity patterns of male and female leopards in Madikwe by use of radio-telemetry. Determining the ecology of the leopard and the impact it has on the ecosystem aids in the management of leopard populations within Madikwe and the overall health of the habitat.

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