01 January - 31 December 2024 | ||
Rate bookable 5 weeks befor travel |
||
Per Person Per Night Sharing | Children 6-15 yrs | Children<5 years |
R7 500 | R5 250 | R2 250 |
01 January - 31 December 2024 | ||
Rate bookable 5 weeks befor travel |
||
Per Person Per Night Sharing | Children 6-15 yrs | Children<5 years |
R7 500 | R5 250 | R2 250 |
Rates inclusive of 15% VAT • South African Rand • Subject to Availability | |
Details | 01 Jan - 31 Dec 2024 |
8 Suite - Per Person Per Night Sharing | R15 000 |
Per Child 6 - 15 years sharing with parents | R10 500 |
Per Child 0 - 5 years sharing with parents | R 4 500 |
01 January - 31 December 2024 | ||
Rate bookable 5 weeks befor travel | ||
Per Person Per Night Sharing | Children 6-15 yrs | Children<5 years |
R7 500 | R5 250 | R2 250 |
Conditons:
INCLUDED IN OUR RATES:
EXCLUSIVE:
*These fees are not set by us and are subject to change
01 January - 31 December 2024 | ||
Rate bookable 5 weeks befor travel |
||
Per Person Per Night Sharing | Children 6-15 yrs | Children<5 years |
R7 500 | R5 250 | R2 250 |
Game Drives
The Etali Waterhole
Meals & Dietary Requirements
The Etali kitchen team prides itself on the quality and fexibility of our cuisine. Guests are encouraged to list their dietary requirements when making a booking.
Families and Limited Mobility Guests
Young Guests
Red Route
0
km - From O.R. Thambo Airport, take the R21 North towards
Pretoria, making certain to take the turn-off for the N1 North.
58.6 km - From the N1 take the turn-off for the N4 towards Rustenberg. Continue on past Swartruggens and Groot Marico into Zeerust. The distance to Zeerust is approx. 236 km
It is advisable to refuel in
Zeerust. There is no fuel available inside the reserve. Please contact
the lodge upon passing Zeerust.
Lodge Contact Number: 0871514310
295 km - Once in Zeerust pass the Total garage and Wimpy on your left hand side. At the fourth intersection there is a sign towards the Madikwe Game Reserve and Gaberone. Turn right here into President street. Follow the R49 towards Madikwe for approximately 97 km to the Abjaterskop Gate entrance of the park (on the right).
386 km - Abjaterskop Gate. At the gate they will ask you which lodge you are going to. They will contact Etali Safari Lodge,and issue you with a gate permit. You can then proceed to drive to the lodge through the game reserve. Please adhere to the speed limit of 40km and look out for animals (they always have the right of way). Drive for 11.2 km.
397 km – Turn left at the sign indicating direction Derdepoort. Drive for 2km
399 km – Turn right on tar road (the only tar road that turns to the right). Drive for 1km
400 km –
Turn left onto a tar road (the only tar road that turns to the left).
Drive 560m.
400.6 km – Turn right onto a tar road direction Derdepoort. Drive 13.1 km.
412.8 km - Look out for a sign on the right hand side of the road with the direction to Etali Safari Lodge. Turn left towards Etali Safari Lodge (from here you will find signs pointing to Etali Safari Lodge) Drive for 4km.
416.8 km
- Look for sign on the right hand side (grey structure with Etali
signage) and turn right. Drive for 1.2 km and turn left at sign that
indicates RECEPTION. Drive up the hill to the turning circle.
WELCOME TO ETALI SAFARI LODGE
Blue Route0 km - From O.R. Tambo Airport, take the R21 North towards Pretoria, making certain to take the turn-off for the N1 North.
58.6 km - From the N1 take the turn-off for the N4 towards Rustenberg. Drive for 62.4 km.
121 km
- Take the turn-off for the R565 towards Sun City.
It is advisable to refuel at the
Sun Village, found on the right just past Sun City. There is no fuel
available inside the reserve. Please contact the lodge upon
passing Sun City.
Lodge Contact Number: +27 871514310
202 km - After passing Sun City continue straight for 5km until you reach a four-way junction, turn right towards Derdepoort. Drive for 8km
210 km - Follow the road for approximately 8 kms and turn left at the sign saying Bapong. From here, follow signs to MADIKWE GAME RESERVE. Make certain to ignoring the signs saying Madikwe Hospital.
246 km - After passing through Mabeskraal at the 4 way junction turn right towards Derdepoort.
271 km - After 26kms you will pass the Dwarsberg Liquor Store and the road will become gravel. Continue straight through Molatedi Village, over the Marico River and straight to the Molatedi Gate entrance of the park.
302 km - Molatedi Gate. At the gate they will ask you which lodge you are going to. They will contact Etali Safari Lodge,and issue you with a gate permit. You can then proceed to drive to the lodge through the game reserve. Please adhere to the speed limit of 40km/h and look out for animals (they always have the right of way).
314 km - Drive for 11.9km from the gate and turn right sign posted Derdepoort. Before the turn the road becomes a narrow tar road (The first tar road that turns right is where you have to turn right)
314.6 km – After driving for approx. 560 meters turn right (on tar) towards Derdepoort gate. After turning right drive for 13.1 km. Keep on the main road and DO NOT turn of at any other intersection.
327.7 km – Look out for a sign on the right hand side of the road with the direction to Etali Safari Lodge. Turn left towards Etali Safari Lodge (from here you will find signs pointing to Etali Safari Lodge) Drive for 4km.
331.7 km
– Look for sign on the right hand side (grey structure with
Etali signage) and turn right. Drive for 1.2 km and turn left at sign
that indicates RECEPTION. Drive up the hill to the turning circle.
WELCOME TO ETALI SAFARI LODGE
Green Route
0
km - Leave Gaberone Heading southwards on Tlokweng road
towards Abjaterskop border post.
22.3 km - Abjaterskop border post: Cross the South African border Make certain to have your passport and any other relevant documents with you for the border crossing.
32 km - Abjaterskop Gate. At the gate they will ask you which lodge you are going to. They will contact Etali Safari Lodge,and issue you with a gate permit. You can then proceed to drive to the lodge through the game reserve. Please adhere to the speed limit of 40km and look out for animals (they always have the right of way). Drive for 26.8 km.
58.8 km - Look out for a sign on the right hand side of the road with the direction to Etali Safari Lodge. Turn left towards Etali Safari Lodge (from here you will find signs pointing to Etali Safari Lodge) Drive for 4km.
62.2 km
- Look for sign on the right hand side (grey structure with Etali
signage) and turn right. Drive for 1.2 km and turn left at sign that
indicates RECEPTION. Drive up the hill to the turning circle.
WELCOME TO ETALI SAFARI LODGE
Our spacious and luxurious suites offer a refuge from the stresses of everyday life. Here everything is designed to facilitate a connection to the natural surroundings of the Madikwe Game Reserve. Each free-standing suite comes standard with private game viewing deck, splash pool and outdoor shower along with additional amenities such as air-conditioning, fireplace and wifi.
Spa & Gym
The Etali Spa offers the perfect space to relax and be rejuvenated and revitalised! Treatments include massages, body wraps, manicures, pedicures, facials and more. Te adjacent gym and steam room is open for the use of all guests
Luxury Suites & Family Suite
To ensure individual guest attention and privacy Etali offers only 8 luxury suites and one family suite. 3 Luxury suites have direct views of the waterhole at our main lodge. These cannot be pre-booked. Suite 5 is wheelchair accessible, for guests with limited mobility.
Our family suite offers 2 back-to-back rooms with a shared deck and no inter-leading door. The family suite includes all facilities of our luxury suites along with a larger shared deck, swimming pool and private lapa.
Game Experience
We use Toyota Cruisers with bucket seats and canvas roofs, we also make use of trackers enabling our rangers to find their own sightings and use ear pieces to minimize the noise levels on the vehicles. Four vehicles ensure that if a guest would like a private vehicle, we can provide it. All our rangers have been trained to do guided drives or walks. We offer a special star gazing experience and have an astronomer who visits the lodge on a monthly basis to do training with our field guides and if there is a need expressed by guests he comes in at no extra charge.
Wellness Centre
Our wellness centre forms a very important part of our philosophy to allow guests to get connected to their inner self and enjoy the luxury of relaxation. We have three treatment rooms and two permanent therapists allowing guests to relax and feel how good you can feel using different therapies i.e. hot stone massage, aromatherapy or our thlakanya massage.
The Madikwe Game Reserve
Stretching over 75 000 hectares of African bush, the Madikwe Game Reserve contains a diverse environment offering the discerning nature lover a great abundance of life. |
Wildlife Safaris
With a general game count of over 10 000 animals Madikwe includes 60 species of large mammal and over 400 species of bird. The only question is, what will you experience?
Madikwe is in a semi-arid region straddling South Africa's Savannah and Dessert Biome Areas. The climate and altitude of the area do not support malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquitos.
Winter : May - September
Dry Season
Winters are dry and cool during nights and mornings and temperate during the days. The Etali Waterhole gets more busy as the dry season continues.
Summer : October - April
Wet Season
Summer months are warm with occasional thunderstorms, usually later in the afternoon. Lambing season takes place during December.
The Etali Waterhole
Situated in on the western side of our main lodge, the Etali Waterhole is a popular spot amongst park wildlife. Breakfast, lunch and boma dinners are all served in areas overlooking the waterhole. Guests are also invited to cool down, relax and enjoy an armchair safari poolside, with a cocktail poolside.
History of Madikwe
The Madikwe Game Reserve represents a bold and successful initiative in sustainable eco-tourism. The reserve was developed in the early 1990s when 68 000 hectares of cattle-grazing land on the South African side of the border with Botswana was earmarked for development as a Game Reserve. The formation of the park was realised through conservation partnership of the private sector, local communities and the North West Province Parks Board.
Operation Phoenix
The process of reintroducing wildlife to the area began in 1992 under the codename Operation Phoenix. Starting with entire breeding herds of elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, various types of antelope and an undisclosed number of black and white rhino. Later additions included lions & spotted hyena along with rarer predators including African Painted Wolf and Cheetah. Several smaller predators, including leopards, brown hyena and black backed jackal had never been extirpated in the area and now flourished in the safety of the reserve. Currently the population of large mammals in the park exceeds 10000!
Our Spacious and luxurious suites offer a refuge from the stresses of everyday life. Here everything is designed to facilitate a connection to the natural surroundings of the Madikwe Game Reserve.
Luxury Suite Amenities
Each luxury suite is free-standing and has these amenities:
Family Suite Amenities
The family suite offers two back-to-back rooms with an expansive shared deck, swimming pool and private lapa area with a table and chairs covered by a thatch roof. Except for an outdoor shower, the family suite has all of the other amenities of the luxury suites. The family suite is perfect for families traveling together, and also for friends staying together as well.
We also offer the option of adding one or two twin beds to our luxury suites.
Organic Design In Madikwe
The lodge has a minimalist design, incorporating boulders, trees and other elements from the surrounding hillside.The main lodge appears before you as you walk into the reception area. Walk down a covered walkway with textures of glass, wood and stone to the main inside dining area, lounge and bar.
From the inside dining area, move to the covered outside deck overlooking the Etali Waterhole. Next to the outside deck is our infinity pool, where you can enjoy watching activity at the waterhole whilst sipping a refreshing beverage.
The Wellness Centre is located between the main lodge area and Suite 5. Suite 5 is wheelchair-accessible, and is preferentially offered to guests who have limited mobility.
Conditons:
INCLUDED IN OUR RATES:
EXCLUSIVE:
*These fees are not set by us and are subject to change
Cancelation Policy
Deposit Policy
For all bookings made within 30 days of travel
Full payment Is required within 48 hours of your booking. This payment can be made via bank transfer or credit card (Master/Visa).
For all bookings made more than 30 days of travel
A 50% deposit Is required within 48 hours of your booking and the balance 30 days prior to arrival. This payment can be made via bank transfer or credit card (Master/Visa).
Our guests regularly see the “Big 5”: lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo. We also have frequent sightings of rare species like cheetah, African wild dog, and brown hyena. All this in a malaria-free wilderness. This is the safari experience that you’ll keep talking about.
Safaris at Etali are something special. Every day in the bush brings a new experience. We offer twice daily safaris in modified open Land Cruiser game vehicles, which include a canvas roof for sun protection. Your safari is led by an experienced guide, who shares a wealth of knowledge whilst driving the vehicle, and a “hawk-eye” tracker, who sits on a seat mounted on the hood of the vehicle to help spot animals and their tracks. Part of the magic of the bush is that you don’t know what nature will show you. The excitement of tracking a lion, rounding the corner and seeing a “crash” of rhino, or finding a pack of African wild dogs will stay with you forever.
What To Expect On Game Drive
Your first safari starts early in the morning, just before dawn (at 06:00 am in winter and 05:30 am in summer), to ensure that you are ready for sightings during the prime time of dawn. There is nothing like being out in the bush, watching the sun rise, looking for wildlife. Mid-way through your safari, your guide and tracker will stop and set up morning coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and snacks. The morning game drive lasts around 3 hours and a fresh breakfast is on offer when you return to the lodge.
The afternoon safari starts after royal tea on the lodge’s main deck at 04:00 pm (in winter) and 04:30 pm (in summer). This drive also lasts around 3 hours. You will drive for an hour or two before stopping for “sundowners”—enjoying drinks of your choice, along with safari snacks, whilst watching the sunset. After sundowners, the “night drive” begins and you experience nocturnal animals by spotlight. Upon your return to the lodge, our staff will welcome you under a bed of stars and escort you to dinner.
Our Guide & Tracker Teams
The quality and experience of our guides and trackers will make your safari. Not all lodges have guide-tracker teams; we believe that two sets of experienced eyes give the best safari for our guests. Vehicles in Madikwe are allowed to drive off-road for most sightings such as lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo or unusual sightings, vehicles from all lodges in the park are connected via a radio system, and the number of vehicles at sightings are limited to ensure intimate and private experiences.
We offer blankets and hot water bottles when the temperature is cool; cold, fresh water for summer; and we have ponchos in case of rain.
Although guests under 6 years of age are not allowed on game drives, we organise “bumble” drives for younger guests, where larger predators are not sought out. Our guides and trackers are excellent with kids. In addition, we offer babysitting services, subject to availability and for an additional fee.
Walking Safaris In Madikwe
Walking safaris are also on offer. Being on foot gives a different and exciting perspective of the bush. These safaris are led by experienced guides, who carry a rifle and who have been trained in how to approach wildlife to allow guests to enjoy safe and thrilling encounters with any of the wildlife in Madikwe. Imagine watching an elephant or rhino with your own two feet on the ground—it is unforgettable.
Walks also unveil everything from the finer details of the bush to the grand swaths of landscape. This type of safari allows you to connect to nature at a whole other level. We focus on aspects of the bush that are easier to enjoy on foot rather than in a vehicle, like birds, trees, grasses, tracks, animal dung, soil, and rocks.
There are no set routes for these walks; our guides set a pace that is comfortable for the group. Walks are usually done after breakfast, for as long or short as the group would like. You do not want to miss this experience.
Walks are limited to those over the age of 16. Guests who are 60 years or older are welcome on walks as long as they have a medical certificate.
Cuisine That Guests Talk About
Experience cuisine that guests talk about. Meals at Etali feature the high-quality meat that South Africa is known for, including local game meat, with lots of fresh seasonal and organically grown vegetables, fruit and herbs. There is no set menu as the chefs select the best produce to work their magic.
Food is a core part of the guest experience at Etali and meals are prepared fresh daily in our on-site kitchen. All guests enjoy breakfast, lunch, royal tea and dinner, along with snacks during game drives. Our menu is varied, giving guests the option of savouring different meals.
Varied Bush Dining Spaces
Meals at Etali are served in a variety of dining areas, each with its own distinct character. Our main dining area is a covered deck giving a panoramic view of the Etali Waterhole and surrounding hills. Fresh breakfasts, delicious lunches, royal tea, and our multi-course fine dining dinners are served here. We also offer the option of dining inside the beautiful main lodge area.
Or perhaps a romantic dinner on your private deck is appealing? Just say the word and we will arrange it.
Etali has an exclusive site a short distance from the lodge, tucked into the koppies, where we serve bush breakfasts as a special treat.
Boma Dinners
We also host “boma” dinners at our second deck at ground level, giving you an amazing perspective of the waterhole at night. Our chefs prepare traditional South African meals on the braai (where food is cooked over coals), accompanied by salads, starters, and fresh-baked bread. Dine in our boma, by a roaring fire, under the stars, and see who comes to the waterhole that evening.
Etali Caters To All Dietary Requirements
We have years of experience catering to health and religious-based dietary requirements including vegan, vegetarian, shellfish or nut or other allergies, kosher, and halal. Etali Safari Lodge is proud to cater to any dietary requirement.
Relax Your Body
The bush relaxes your mind; the Etali Wellness Centre extends that experience to relax your body. Be pampered in the tranquillity of the Wellness Centre or enjoy the sensory pleasure of a massage on your own private suite deck. Our massages, hot-stone therapy, body wraps, and facials are performed by professional, qualified therapists. You may also enjoy steam therapy in our sauna and our mini-gym facilities.
Whether you are in need of pure self-indulgence, to detoxify the whole body, or simply relax and unwind from modern urban living, this is where you can feel calm and relief. We offer treatments for both men and women and can arrange for couples’ treatments.
Signature Thlakanya Treatment
In Tswana (the language of the local people), the word “tlhakanya” means to mix and come together. Our signature Thlakanya treatment lasts a blissful 2 hours. The experience starts with a visit to the essential oil-infused steam room, followed by a full body scrub, leaving your skin silk-like and hydrated. This is followed by a full body wrap of your choice, and a hydrating facial treatment. Our combination of Swedish and warm stone body massage will leave you revitalised with a sense of well-being. With these elements combined, your body becomes “tlhakanya”, holistically balanced from head to toe.
South Africa Is The Best Country For A Wheelchair-Friendly Safari
Of all the countries on the continent of Africa, the country of South Africa has the most resources to make your journey as smooth and comfortable as possible, from start to finish. South Africa’s airports, hotels, sightseeing spots, and restaurants are the most suitable for wheelchair users compared to other countries.
Etali Safari Lodge can be easily accessed by road, and is about a 4.5 hour drive from Johannesburg. We can organise a wheelchair-accessible vehicle to transfer you to and from the lodge.
A Wheelchair Safari In Madikwe Game Reserve
Our philosophy is that everyone should be able to experience the wilderness. Our reception turning circle has a ramp leading down to the main lodge area. All of the main dining areas—the inside main area (dining, lounge and bar), the outdoor covered main deck, and fireside boma area near the waterhole—are wheelchair-accessible. From the main deck, there is a connecting walkway to room 5, which is our wheelchair-friendly suite.
Suite 5 (and all of our luxury suites) have open indoor and outdoor showers, which are all wheelchair-accessible. Suite 5 has a waterhole view. If you would like any furniture in your suite re-arranged or moved, we are happy to oblige.
We also have a wheelchair on-site should you find that using one is helpful. During game drives, a mobility-impaired guest can sit in the front seat of the game viewer, next to the guide. (Secret: it’s the best seat in the house!)
Let us know your level of mobility and your needs and we will let you know how we can accommodate you. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the Etali Experience.
We also have a wheelchair on-site should you find that using one is helpful. During game drives, a mobility-impaired guest can sit in the front seat of the game viewer, next to the guide. (Secret: it’s the best seat in the house!)
Let us know your level of mobility and your needs and we will let you know how we can accommodate you. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the Etali Experience.
An African Kosher Safari in Madikwe Game Reserve
Etali Safari Lodge is proud to be one of the few luxury safari lodges to offer kosher safaris. We began our kosher offerings 15 years ago, when one of our guests was looking for a lodge that catered to koshers and asked Etali owner Koos Potgieter what could be done. That request was how we came to offer our unique kosher safari experience.
Let us use our 15 years of experience of keeping kosher in the bush to take care of the details, whilst you relax and enjoy your African safari.
The Etali Safari Lodge Kosher Kitchen
We created a kosher kitchen in our main lodge dining area. The kitchen, including a separate stove and refrigerator, is open to view, so our kosher guests can watch their meals being prepared. We also have separate kosher facilities for our “bush breakfasts” and boma dinners.
All of our kosher equipment, including kosher pots, pans, cutlery and crockery, is kept on-site. Etali has long provided its chefs and waitstaff with training on kosher requirements, and we give annual refresher training to keep current with the latest requirements.
Keep Kosher In The Bush
Before you arrive, we ask about your food preferences and any special requirements beyond what is necessary to keep kosher. We’ll source the highest quality kosher ingredients, including kosher wines, beers and liquor, from our suppliers in Johannesburg. The ingredients are fresh and ready for your arrival so that your personal kosher-trained chef can prepare Kosher meals of the highest quality.
When you arrive, one of our kosher-trained chefs will be dedicated to you and will be at your disposal. Your chef will offer suggested meals and will work with you each day to create a kosher menu that exceeds your expectations.
The additional cost for this service is R750 per adult per day, and R375 per child per day. (This does not include the costs of a Mashgiach or supervisor. The related flights, transfer costs and accommodation required for the Mashgiach are for the guests’ account.)
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The best time to visit malaria free Madikwe Game Reserve is during March and November, when temperatures are lower.