Madikwe Game Reserve - Self Drive Experience
BL3T2851-6-12-18-12-18-54-72-24OUR SELF DRIVE ITINERARY
3 or 4 night [Starting Johannesburg or Cape Town]
Day 1
If starting at Johannesburg you will pick up your car and drive north to the Madikwe Game Reserve. If starting Cape Town you will transfer to the airport and take the morning fligt to Johannesburg where you collect your car at the airport.
Its about a 4/4.5 hour journey. Check in is from 2pm.
Once checked in you can enjoy your first game drive.
Day 2
Game drives as per the Lodge schedule.
Day 3
Game drives as per the Lodge schedule.Day 4
If leaving today you will depart at 10am a drive back to Johannesburg. If your package includes a flight to Cape Town then you will drop your car at O R Tambo Airport. If not, you drop the car in central Johannesburg.
Day 5
[as per Day 4]
Tour Prices include all the following:
- Rental of a mid sized hire car with pick up/drop off Johannesburg. Unlimited mileage (i)
- 3 or 4 nights accommodation at Tau Lodge, in a standard chalet (as shown) with ensuite bathroom.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day at Tau Lodge
- 2 game drives per day in open Land Rovers guided by experienced Rangers, including a sundowner drink
- Economy seated domestic flight – see (ii) below
- Conservation Levy
- RSA Government bed levy
- Rhino Conservation Levy
(i) There is an alternate to driving. There are daily scheduled flights to/from Madikwe Game Reserve ex: O R Tambo Airport, Johannesburg. Or, you can fly from O R Tambo to Gaborone and then drive to the Park. Details can be provided on request.
(ii) Tours leaving from Johannesburg on the 26 July include a flight Johannesburg to Cape Town. Those departing Cape Town on 2 August include a flight to Johannesburg. If arriving 2 August from overseas, these do not include a domestic flight. Similarly, those departing Johannesburg 9 August, do not include a flight)

TAU SAFARI LODGE
Tau is a South African luxury safari lodge situated on the far northern border of South Africa, in malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, the 4th largest game reserve in the country. 27 major species of game roam this South African nature reserve, making Tau Game Lodge the ideal place for a safari holiday, offering Big 5 game safaris and bird-watching safaris. Tau Game Lodge, situated in the North West Province, can accommodate up to 60 people and offers an ideal South African conference venue as well as an idyllic wedding venue overlooking a natural waterhole.
Enjoy an authentic South African safari vacation in the midst of natural wildlife, complete with great game viewing and luxury private facilities, at our South Africa luxury safari lodge. The standard chalets with private balcony overlooking the waterhole can accommodate 2 adults sharing or a single adult.

MADIKWE GAME RESERVE
Madikwe, a South African private game reserve created in 1991 from 75,000 ha of farmland, which had been extensively degraded by overgrazing, was chosen as the site of Operation Phoenix. The government-sponsored, biggest-ever game- relocation programme in Africa involved re-stocking and conserving flora and wildlife, which had long since disappeared from the region.
Ten thousand animals of 27 major species, including wild dog, cheetah, lion, white and black rhino, buffalo and elephant, have been re-introduced to the Madikwe Game Reserve over a six year period with animals coming from various reserves and breeding centres and game viewing is now at its prime.
Northwest Parks Board (formerly Bop Parks) has adhered to a strict policy of introducing only those species, which once occurred in the area). Madikwe is run as a three-way partnership between the State, the local communities and the private sector.
Madikwe, therefore, should not be looked at as solely a protected area or tourism destination, the reserve acts as a major social and economic core and engine around which the development of the region can be based. The name of Operation Phoenix is appropriate: like the mythical bird that burnt itself to a crisp on the pyre and then rose from the ashes to live again with new vigor, nature has regained a stronghold on the land and the programme has been hugely successful. Madikwe Game Reserve is currently the country's fourth largest game reserve. It is situated in the North West Province and is bordered by Botswana in the north, the spectacular Dwarsberg Mountains to the south, the Marico river to the east.
The diverse habitat in the reserve, from acacia, savannah to riverine, ensures a unique combination of species such as springbok, gemsbok, sable and impala. The birdlife is also spectacular, and this is one of the few South African private game reserves that are malaria free.
Daily Programme – Times may change by 30 minutes
Check-in and Check-out Policy
Tau Game Lodges guaranteed check-in time is at 14h00 and checkout is 11h00. Should you wish to check-in earlier or request a later checkout this will be handled based on the Lodges availability at the time. Our Reception will make every effort to accommodate your request. Should you arrive earlier we will hold your luggage at reception until your room is ready.
Morning game drives – Your ranger will arrange for a wakeup call in time for early morning tea and coffee, before departing on the morning safari.
Afternoon game drive – Your ranger meets you during afternoon tea and from there you will be shown to your game viewer.
Winter (June – Mid-August)
06h30 Morning wake up call
07h00 Breakfast / Tea and Coffee
08h00 Depart on Game drive
11h00 Return from Game Drive
13h30 Lunch
15h00 Meet for Afternoon game drive and drinks
15h30 Depart for game drive
18h30 Return from game drive
19h00 Dinner
HOW TO BOOK
Its simple. All our prices are per person in the room type, hotel etc, of your choice from the drop down menus.
Select the hotel/room type/ticket category and ADD TO CART
Now you increase the number of guests per room (so if booking a double you need to increase the QUANTITY to 2, a twin the same, but a single is just 1 person). Automatically the value of the cart increases.
If booking more than one room, simply click CONTINUE SHOPPING in the CART, return to your chosen trip and repeat the process. Do this for each room type. This also allows you to buy different styles of room depending on your needs.
Time to pay. You can choose 2 schemes.
A - If buying outside the 12 weeks cut off you click the INSTALLMENTS button in the middle. This takes you to the secure payment pages of Partial.ly.
B - If paying in full (ie: after 23rd April 2021) click the FULL PAYMENT button. This takes you to the PayPal secure server.
We accept all credit and debit cards.
HOW TO PAY
Our payment process is simple and flexible. You have payment options to suit all budgets.
INSTALLMENTS - all tours will be 30% deposit, 20% on by 01 October 2020, 25% on 23 January 2021 and 25% on 23 April 2021. You will receive an invoice for each installment.
INTERIM PAYMENTS - of course you can also pay in stages. Each invoice raised (as above) will allow you to pay off a minimum of £200 a time off the total bill.
BANK TRANSFER - if you wish to pay by bank deposit, let us know and we will provide account details.
None of these payment scheme attract additional fees. valid as of 1st May 2020