Madikwe Photo Galleries

Part of the appeal of the Madikwe Game Reserve is spotting and watching Africa's "Big 5" and lions form a very large part that appeal.

Here is our gallery of these amazing cats that we have had the privilege of photographing over the many times that we have visited the Madikwe.

When someones says that spotting a Wild Dog is a rare event, they truly mean it; The Wild Dog is extinct in 23 African countries and there is only 450 individual left in South Africa.

So when the chance opportunity comes around to see these amazing creatures, grab that opportunity with both hands.

Getting to see Cheetah in the Madikwe Game Reserve is not easy, the reserve currently only has 5 (yes that is 5).

We were very very fortunate on our last visit not only to see cheetahs but to also witness them on a hunt.

The African Elephants stands as a proud member of Afric's "Big 5", and in the Madikwe Game Reserve, there is no shortage of these incredible animals.

With a population of over 900 counted in the last census, the Madikwe is the destination for those who are in need to photograph these highly intelligent mammals.

Below, you can see with your own eyes of what sort of wildlife can be seen when on a safari within the Madikwe.

All photos and pictures have been taken from a safari vehicle whilst staying at numerous lodges within the game Reserve itself.

If there is one thing that the Madikwe Game Reserve has plenty of, and that is birds.

As many as 360 species of these little fellows have been spotted to date, and that is a number that is spectacular no matter how you look at it.

Over the course of the last few years, we have had to opportunity to visit this amazing game reserve in the Northwest region of South Africa.

One of the many striking features of the Madikwe Reserve is her vistas (other than of course her birdlife and wildlife), different to anything else that South Africa has to offer.

All these photographs are based on what a safari in Madikwe is like from the back of a game drive vehicle; from the game spotters in the front to the heads of guides and other passengers, all the way through people sitting in other vehicles watching the same wildlife you are.

Now when it comes to spotting Giraffes in the Madikwe bushveld it should come as no surprise that these animals stand out like sore thumbs.

Especially when one takes into consideration that the average male stands at 6 metres in height, one can literally spot them "a mile off".

Only one species of Zebra can be found in the Madikwe Game Reserve, and that is the stock standard every day "Plains zebra," or otherwise known as the "Burchell's zebra".

In general, Zebra are cannon fodder for lions, leopards and wild dogs and form a large part of their diet. Cheetahs can bring down smaller, younger zebras.