Madikwe Game Reserve

Imagine waking up to the sounds of elephants trumpeting from somewhere eerily close to you. So close that it almost seems like they’re babbling, in their language of course, right into your ears. This makes up for one of my fondest memories of Madikwe Game Reserve where I woke up on my first morning and found a herd of elephants right outside my chalet, happily drinking out of a waterhole and playfully spraying water on each other. It was an incredulous experience and it set the tone for all the adventure that was in store for me. One of the biggest game reserves in South Africa, incidentally the fifth largest, Madikwe is also a favourite for those who do not want to compromise on luxury during their tryst with the wild. For the ones who vehemently swear by their environmental consciousness, it is dotted with rather fancy eco-lodges. What once used to be a farmland, Madikwe was converted into a national park because of its unyielding soil and that evidently was a great decision by the South African Government. During the brilliantly guided safaris, you will be greeted by lions, cheetahs, rhinoceroses, leopards, zebras, buffaloes, impalas, giraffes and ostriches among other majestic fauna. In order to satiate the most hardcore of gluttons, an array of delectable South African delicacies will perpetually be available. Missing out on Madikwe is almost sacrilegious.

Best place to stay: Tau Game Lodge