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A Luxury Safari Lodge in the Heart of Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa
Powered By TripAdvisorExperience the wonder of South Africa’s iconic wildlife at Last Word Madikwe, a luxurious safari lodge set just steps from a watering hole teeming with an impressive array of wildlife such as elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and white and black rhinoceroses. Other highlights of this stunning destination include:
- Six guest suites featuring ensuite baths and traditional South African décor
- A unique underground wildlife watching and photography blind near the watering hole
- Twice-daily game drives, a fenced nature trail, and relaxing spots with water hole views
- Three daily meals of traditional South African cuisine, plus snacks, sundowners, and more
For wildlife lovers, photographers, adventurers, and anyone seeking an immersive safari experience, Last Word Madikwe offers the thrill and excitement of a spectacular location within a thriving game reserve paired with contemporary amenities, warm hospitality, and thoughtful luxuries of a world-class hotel.
Hotel Amenities
Accommodations
With just six Classic Suites throughout the entirety of Last Word Madikwe, guests are treated to truly personalized service and experience while enjoying spacious accommodations designed to provide the ultimate comfort, privacy, and connection to the surrounding South African landscape.
Private outdoor areas open into spaces filled with elegant, contemporary furniture and accented by African-inspired details and modern luxuries like air conditioning, heating, and multiple charging points. Baths feature separate showers and large tubs.
Book with PointsDining
From breakfast to lunch and magical boma dinners served under the stars, Last Word Madikwe's food and cuisine are a central part of the safari experience and serve as a community gathering point and celebration of the senses.
The Dining Room – Enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner crafted by the lodge’s expert chefs who specialize in showcasing the finest flavors of South Africa. Other opportunities include snacks and drinks during game drives, sundowners, and boma dinners cooked over an open fire outdoors.
Activities at Last Word Madikwe
At Last Word Madikwe, all the activities of a traditional safari lodge experience are available alongside experiences found in a traditional hotel.
Wildlife watching - whether from the comfort of a seating area just meters from the nearby watering hole, within the underground photography and viewing blind or on a game drive with expert guides - is the main attraction at the lodge. Spy the best of South Africa’s big game such as elephants and rhinoceroses, enjoy unparalleled bird watching, and meander along a safe and fenced nature trail for an intimate walk in the wild. Within the lodge, guests are invited to relax in serene and tranquil gardens, take a refreshing dip in the swimming pool, work out at the gym, and more.
Location
Last Word Madikwe is located in the far west of the North West province of South Africa in the heart of Madikwe Game Reserve. Access is available via the Wonderboom gate, an easy three-hour drive on good roads from the South African capital of Johannesburg.
Address
Madikwe Game Reserve, Madikwe, South Africa
Transportation
The lodge is accessible by road in any type of vehicle and by air at the nearby Medikwe Western Airstrip.
- Airport
- Lanseria International Airport is 294 km / 183 mi – approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes by car.
- OR Tambo International Airport is 366 km / 215 mi – approximately 4 hours by car.
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Reviews
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Family feel hotel
Sat Aug 02 2025 08:09:26 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Peter H
A fantastic family feel place to stay. Very well set up and great game drives. From the moment u arrive everyone is lovely and it seems one big happy family you quickly become part of. Sam the guide was extremely knowledgeable and able to plan the drives so u can see everything. We even saw leopard - which is very lucky! Rooms are clean and beds comfy - does need a bit of upgrade but that’s in process. The fact the guide wakes u up with a knock on the door is amazing. Drives very set to time which is good to plan ur day. Fence system allows u to have a walk during the day. The waterhole and hide are amazing and allow really close up experiences and plenty to watch during the day. Overall amazing
Great stay with excellent safari guide.
Thu Jun 26 2025 11:25:57 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by 517lynetter
We were fortunate to stay here recently. We were accommodated in the villa, which is brilliant for 6 people, with three bedrooms each with their own en suite. Beds were super comfortable and linen lovely. Food was good and plentiful. The lodge has a great hide looking out at the waterhole, which is visited by many different animals. The highlight of the trip for us was our guide, Sam. He was very knowledgeable, not only about the fauna and flora, but also about local custom, which we were interested in. Would love to go back and would request Sam as our guide.
Exceptional lodge
Fri Jun 06 2025 11:18:53 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Sheila W
We were lucky to have visited the lodge 2 years ago, it has since been refurbished and it is truly wonderful. The staff are friendly & professional, nothing is too much bother for them. Our room was exceptional, large, comfortable with all essentials and amenities. The food is spectacular, really top class. Our guide Sam was wonderful and we had some amazing animal encounters. Seeing the Milky Way again was also a treat. Cannot recommend this place highly enough.
We would definitely come again
Wed May 21 2025 11:30:53 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by A5555UPinab
Great place with a small number of guests. Very welcoming staff. The room was lovely with a huge bathroom next to it. Beds were comfortable and it was great to have a fridge in the room. The day was very well organised with two drives, which included coffee or any other drink on the late drive and snacks. Breakfast was a buffet with several warm options to order from. Lunch was a buffet too and was nicely arranged. The evening meal after the late drive was amazing. We were lucky to have Sam as a ranger who managed to show us a huge array of animals and was generally very knowledgable. Although there still were quiet a few waterholes around, the one at the lodge was nearly always busy. Just sitting in the chairs overlooking it and especially watching Elephant families come to it was special.
Lovely setting with great wildlife viewing
Wed May 14 2025 03:13:35 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Heather S
We stayed as a couple for three nights as our final destination after safari in Botswana. Our driver/guide Sam, was exceptional in his friendly manner, knowledge and ability to relate to guests. His tracking skills were good too. The lodge staff were friendly and polite, and the meals were excellent! Credit also to Max in the dining room for his friendly and approachable manner. The setting of the lodge is lovely with a beautiful terrace for dining overlooking the garden lawns to the waterhole, which is visited by numerous wildlife frequently. It was very relaxing taking a break in a garden chair waiting to see who would turn up to drink. Our game drives were usually only four in a vehicle but on one occasion we had eight, which is too many. I don't know why an additional vehicle was not used. The drawback about Last Word Madikwe is that the lodge rooms are a bit rustic and dated. Every door in our room squeaked, including the wardrobe, and the bathrooms need a refresh. On the whole, it is a lovely place to stay but I would rate the accommodation as four star, not luxurious. The wildlife is definitely five star!
