Ilanga Family trip to Welgevonden and Madikwe

Ive & family go on Safari

 

Visiting both game reserves during a trip is an excellent combination and one often booked by our clients. Since the route between Welgevonden and Madikwe has become a bit difficult due to the poor road conditions along the Botswana border, I wanted to drive the alternative roads via Sun City and through the rather unknown Molatedi Gate myself, to make sure that our route descriptions are correct and the roads are safe to travel for our clients.

Of course I also wanted to fulfill my dream of experiencing Welgevonden and Madikwe! We did this as a family and visited two family friendly lodges.

We flew to Johannesburg and then drove to Welgevonden. All went smoothly and we arrived on time at the gate for our transfer.

 

Welgevonden Game Reserve – Ekuthuleni Lodge

After that we were off on the first game drive!

Our ranger Jonathan was really awesome! We learned so many new things from him on every game drive. His knowledge and humour really got us into the safari fever.

Our daughter especially loved it at Ekuthuleni. Even though she was the only child there, she enjoyed every minute and was always well entertained by all the lodge members.

 

Despite the cold, (it was winter after all) we felt very comfortable. The rooms were heated and the safari vehicle was equipped with blankets and hot water bottles.

Ekuthuleni has the best location in the reserve – situated in the plains and next to a waterhole. Most of the animal sightings were fairly close to the lodge area and on the last morning we were woken by the loud roaring of lions.

You couldn't wish for more of an authentic bush feeling!

The lodge consists of 5 detached cottages, a lounge, a dining room with bar and terrace, a boma and a pool.

Children of all ages are welcome, but the lodge is not fenced and after sunset you have to be escorted to your room by your ranger.

After 2 wonderful days in Welgevonden, we continued on to Madikwe, with a stopover in Sun City.

The Palace Hotel, Sun City

Since the Sun City resort is on the way to Molatedi Gate, we decided to spend a night there, and it was actually a welcome contrast after the bush experience.

You immerse yourself into a completely different world and suddenly find yourself in the middle of an entertainment park with lots of luxury and activities. Sun City is well worth a visit, especially if you are travelling with children.

The Palace Hotel is simply stunning! It exudes a mix of African Disneyland and colonial luxury. The overnight stay includes access to the entire resort and a 24-hour shuttle service. The staff at the hotel were extremely friendly and helpful.

Of course we also visited the Valley Of The Waves. An artificial beach with lots of water activities and zip-lining provides lots of fun.

While we enjoyed cocktails on the beach, our daugther had the best time exploring the beach area.

In the evening we went for dinner in one of the many restaurants.

Even though it is a very commercial product we had a great time and would definitely go again – especially because it’s just super family-friendly and relaxing!

The next morning we made our way to Madikwe. I was very curious what the route away from the usual main roads would be like, and I have to say – I was pleasantly surprised!

The journey led us through small, idyllic African villages – far from the the crime, noise and dirt we know from many other areas. The road conditions were also great. The only gripe was that the road from the village of Molatedi to the gate is currently under construction, but it should be finished soon.

What a lovely scenic drive to the game reserve!

Madikwe Game Reserve – Last Word Madike formerly The Bush House

We entered the reserve through the Molatedi Gate and since Last Word Madikwe is on the other side of Madikwe, we had the chance to self-drive through the reserve! After just 10 minutes we could hardly believe what we were witnessing – elephants, giraffes, rhinos, wildebeest, zebras etc. – all together at a waterhole!

This was one of the best safari sightings I've ever had!

The lodge and the 6 rooms are very cosy and immediately make you feel at home. The large children's room with TV, bean bags and lots of games offers great entertainment for the little guests while parents can relax & unwind.

Madikwe has truly captured our hearts!

We had incredible experiences on our game drives. We were able to see elephants up close as they bathed and splashed around. We saw lion cubs that even the rangers hadn't discovered yet, and during the night we were able to watch a mother rhino and her little baby drinking while we were in the underground hideout.

And now we’ve had enough of winter – we are ready for Spring & warmer weather!