Madikwe is heaven on earth – this malaria free National Park in Northern South Africa borders Botswana and the Kalahari which is why the earth is the red and sunsets are huge. Everything here is so African from the vast vistas with rolling and broken hills, to the red earth fluffing under elephants feet. The game here is abundant and the birdlife spectacular, with the brightly coloured lilac breasted roller living here in abundance. Madikwe blew me away on a recent trip but it was Madikwe Hills – Seasons in Africa’s lodge – which really caught my attention.
On arrival I was greeted with the smiling face of Missy the lodge’s Staffordshire bull terrier, never have I met such a soppy dog – all she wanted to do was be on my lap which made me feel very much at home right away. You are lead down immaculate wooden walkways which are elevated above the ground and through to the main sitting area – the view then stretches out beneath you and often your first sight is of elephants having a dust bath down at the water hole below. The mountains stretch out in the distance and the savannah below you is often dotted with game.
The staff at Madikwe Hills are some of the most friendly and welcoming we’d come across on our two week safari and although the lodge itself is most definitely in the top end, the atmosphere is relaxed and calming. You feel as if you can kick off your shoes, lie back on one of the comfy shady sofas and relax, which indeed you can.
Our room was a suite with sitting room, outdoor and indoor shower, elegant white bath tub and huge verandah with an equally stunning view. Our little plunge pool was built next to a large flat rock which provided the wall for our suite and was a welcome relief from the heat of the day. Hours can be enjoyed here where one only has to sit and watch the wildlife go about it’s daily business below you. Teas, coffees and mini bar snacks provide the perfect accompaniment to the cinematic views you have before you and before you know it lunch is ready, or it’s time for the evening game drive.
The food was out of this world – there has recently been a huge move in the safari industry towards healthy eating and really looking after your guests when it comes to nutrition – the food coming out of the Madikwe Hills kitchen was exceptional and always healthy and delicious. Here they really do feed you well but because of the quality of the cooking and the ingredients you are never left bloated or feeling sluggish, but are full of energy.
Similarly to the staff within the lodge the guides were also great characters. Our guide was hilarious but when it came down to it he also had a serious knowledge of the bush, and Madikwe in particular.
We sat amongst a pack of sleeping, then playing wild dog for an hour – just relaxing in the cooling sun as these amazing creatures did the same next to us. We saw elephant, buffalo and rhino before heading back to camp and encountering what remains to this day one of my top wildlife experiences. As the sunset we encountered a lioness and her three young cubs padding slowly along a dusty track. She was calling quietly to her elder daughters who were in the mountains on our left. The sun set in a million colours just beyond her as we followed her mischievous cubs while they played, and sat listening to her low calls – it was simply magical and sends shivers down my spine to this day.
This post was made possible by our hosted partner Luxury Safari Company in South Africa, where you can learn more on luxury safaris in Southern Africa.
Renee Blodgett is the Founder and Managing Editor of We Blog the World, a global travel, culture and lifestyle publication exploring the world through the lens of meaningful experiences, human connection and cultural depth. Having lived in 10 countries and traveled to 95, Renee has spent much of her life immersed in the people, traditions, landscapes and ideas that shape how we experience the world.
Since launching We Blog the World in 2007, she has written and produced extensive editorial coverage spanning boutique and luxury travel, culinary experiences, arts and culture, wellness, adventure, technology, spiritual traditions and transformative travel. Her work is rooted in the belief that travel is about more than where we go—it is also about what a place, culture or encounter awakens within us.
Renee brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, photography, media, brand strategy, technology, wellness and global storytelling. She has worked with companies and organizations around the world on brand positioning, communications, product launches, media strategy, speaker positioning and storytelling. Through Blue Soul Media, she works with authors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and purpose-driven brands to clarify their message and expand their impact, which includes speaker coaching/training for high-profile stages such as TED and bringing authors’ work to market while retaining authors rights.
She is also the co-founder of Blue Soul Earth, an educational platform exploring consciousness, ancient wisdom, spirituality, healing and the intersection between science and the nature of reality. Renee is the producer and host of the award-winning Blue Soul CHATS, a conversational series bringing together leading voices in science, technology, consciousness, wellness and spirituality.
Her growing body of work also includes Blue Soul Living, which extends her interest in consciousness and well-being into the spaces we inhabit, exploring how intentional design, energy and environment can support greater harmony and connection.
Renee is the award-winning co-author of the bestselling Magdalene’s Journey and founder of the Magdalene Collection, inspired by women’s voices, stories and wisdom across cultures and generations.
A longtime photographer and storyteller, Renee has documented people, places and cultures around the world and produced photographic collections focused on destinations including the Galápagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome and Ecuador. She also co-founded Traveling Geeks, an international initiative that brought entrepreneurs, journalists, creators and technology leaders together with their counterparts in other countries to exchange ideas and explore innovation across cultures.
Renee’s work has been recognized by Forbes, the United Nations and others for her influence in media and social storytelling. Across her work in travel, media, consciousness and culture, a common thread remains: curiosity about the world, the stories that connect us and the ways meaningful experiences can change how we see ourselves and one another.
