“For their wedding anniversary Travel Concepts owners Richard & Christina recently went on a five night safari trip to Madikwe Game Reserve – a 76,000 hectare, Malaria free reserve right on the Botswana border, some 3 hours drive north-west of Jo’burg.”

For their wedding anniversary Travel Concepts owners Richard & Christina recently went on a five night safari trip to Madikwe Game Reserve – a 76,000 hectare, Malaria free reserve right on the Botswana border, some 3 hours drive north-west of Jo’burg.

Says Richard “We had heard glowing comments about the reserve, the beauty and the abundant wild life so we were really looking forward to seeing it for ourselves and particularly hoping for a sight of the rare wild dogs.

However we weren’t prepared for what must have been one of the most incredibly warm and luxurious hospitality experiences we ever had, at the 5 star Jamala Madikwe, Royal Safari Lodge

The lodge itself is wonderfully stylish and intimate with only 5 luxuriously vast bush villas – a mix of contemporary and new world colonial with world class service, brilliant food and meticulous attention to detail. The owners Shaun & Rodney are very hands on and their focus is well and truly on the guest – in every sense at any time. Nothing is impossible or too much and they create a very special ambience. It really is a case of lay back, chill out, relax and feel pampered.

With a waterhole right opposite the lodge, you can sit on open decking and watch animals come right to your door. The game drives were also fantastic both from scenery and an animal perspective. In fact we had only been in the reserve for two minutes when the ranger who picked us up from the gate spotted three young male Lions sleeping in the bush.

What did we love most? Well having an outdoor shower overlooking the waterhole with an inquisitive giraffe sticking his head into our villa was special, as was the surprise romantic anniversary dinner under the stars that Jamala laid on for us (fine dining at its best) and that special sight of the wild dogs hunting on our last day. All of these were memorable but without doubt the owners and staff at Jamala that made this lodge truly unforgettable. Oh and lest we forget the daily high tea, before our game drives, with homemade tarts and savoury lamb pies served in fancy cappuccino cups. Need we say more? When we are ready for our next safari there is no doubt that we’ll come back!

This is a truly exclusive and reclusive experience, the place to splash out for that special occasion”