Protecting Wildlife in Madikwe Game Reserve

 Protected lands: 75.000ha

 Endangered species: 3

 Native species: 406

 Collabotions: 2

Jaci’s Private Lodge supports the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats within the Madikwe Game Reserve, a protected area covering approximately 75,000 hectares. Established in the early 1990s, Madikwe is the result of one of South Africa’s most ambitious conservation projects. The initiative has transformed agricultural land severely degraded by intensive grazing into a protected natural ecosystem, through major habitat restoration work and the reintroduction of thousands of wild animals. Today, the reserve represents a significant natural heritage and also contributes to the economic development of the surrounding communities through employment, training and livelihood opportunities. The reserve provides a protected habitat for numerous species of conservation importance, including the black rhinoceros, African wild dog and African savannah elephant, as well as the white rhinoceros, cheetah, lion and brown hyena. Management of the reserve is entrusted to the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWP&TB), which is responsible for overseeing the protected area, ecological monitoring and wildlife conservation activities. Jaci’s contributes to the reserve’s conservation efforts, in particular by supporting initiatives to combat rhino poaching. The lodge neither owns nor directly manages the reserve’s land: conservation activities are coordinated at the protected area level. Madikwe is home to around 66 species of large mammals and over 340 species of birds, as well as numerous species of native plants, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. The wildlife includes leopards, buffalo, spotted hyenas, giraffes and hippos. The wildlife inhabits a mosaic of habitats comprising grasslands, bushveld, rocky areas and riverine environments along the Marico River. Wildlife monitoring and management are carried out by conservation professionals, veterinary teams and anti-poaching units coordinated by the reserve. The management of invasive alien species also forms part of the environmental conservation activities undertaken at reserve level. For security reasons and to help combat poaching, the number and location of rhino individuals are not disclosed publicly. WHAT CAN YOU DO? Every guest contributes to conservation through the Madikwe Guest Conservation Contribution, a compulsory fee designed to support the protection, management and ecological sustainability of the reserve. It is also possible to take part, under the supervision of professionals, in a range of conservation experiences, including wildlife monitoring, tagging and microchipping rhinos, and assisting with animal relocation operations. Our guides take guests on a journey to discover Madikwe’s ecology, the challenges of conservation and the history of the area’s recovery, turning every stay into an opportunity to learn about and support the protection of the reserve and its biodiversity.