Jaci’s Safari Lodge

Staying at Jaci’s Safari Lodge, you can slumber peacefully in one of six luxurious tents, each filled with colour and light. Designed with natural materials such as stone, wood, and thatch these suites feel authentically African while including bursts of bright colours through the bedding, rugs, and cushions. A large king-size bed sits in the centre of the room romantically swathed in mosquito netting for a bug-free night’s sleep.

All suites come with an ensuite bathroom which features a large mosaic bath, outdoor shower, under-floor heating and air conditioning. If guests wish to cool down with an afternoon dip in the main swimming pool there is easy access from the suites. All suites come complete with a private viewing deck where guests can unwind and take in the stunning vistas.

There are two family suites at Jaci’s Safari Lodge, Nare Suite which accommodates up to 6 people, and Safari Suite which accommodates a maximum of 8 people. These suites are perfect for larger families or groups of friends travelling together. Both are designed with natural materials which recall the nature surrounding the rooms such as stone walls, wooden pillars, and exposed thatch.

Nare Suite features a king-bed ensuite bedroom, a twin-bed ensuite bedroom and a loft with two single beds, and Safari Suite boasts the same with an extra children’s bedroom with two single beds. All ensuites include bathtubs and walk-in showers and the family suites also include unique outdoor showers. Expansive deckings are perfect for unwinding as a family and the two family suites have private plunge pools, and come with their own private guide and game-drive vehicles.

For a taste of exclusivity and romance, guests can choose to stay in the luxury Starbed Suites at Jaci’s Safari Lodge. These are private suites that offer guests a choice of sleeping arrangements – from sleeping on the roof extension to sleeping indoors. The two king-size beds offer the ultimate comfort, and are covered in plush duvets and cosy pillows allowing guests to gaze at the stars, surrounded by the soft glow of lanterns, without leaving the warm bedding. Surrounded by nature, the decor of the suite reflects its surroundings, made with polished wood and exposed thatch.

Split over two levels the starbed suites have two indoor bathroom areas, and two unique outdoor showers. Guests can unwind after a long day on their private viewing deck before bedding down under the wide starry sky. The starbed suites also come with their own private guide and game-drive vehicles.

Under the dappled light of the trees, you can dine on fantastic meals prepared in the chef’s kitchen. Paired with stunning South African wines, you can have a dining experience like no other in the trees of the Madikwe Game Reserve. Meals can also be enjoyed in the spacious dining area where freshly prepared dinners with local ingredients can be enjoyed surrounded by authentic decor.

Day or night, there is always a lot to see within the reserve. Setting out with your guide, you can spot so much impressive wildlife, and even help in the effort to conserve it. Specifically, setting out on a ‘conservation safari’, you can get involved in the safeguarding efforts, like microchipping rhinos, collaring elephants, and gathering information for the rangers. You will always be accompanied by trained rangers and wildlife veterinarians, who can carry out these tasks calmly and quickly, ensuring the animals’ well-being is always paramount.

While game drives are always spectacular, there’s nothing quite like getting out into the bush on foot and seeing it all right at your fingertips. Accompanied by a trained guide, you’ll be able to learn all about the ecosystem. Walks can be out in the bush or along the Marico River, where you can spot elephants swimming in the water.

There are plenty of opportunities to take care of your well-being out in the bush at Jaci’s Safari Lodge. Hired from the local community, the lodge’s trained and caring massage therapists are on hand to help you relax in peace and tranquillity. There is also an outdoor gym available to all guests. Lastly, in a wonderful shady spot, you can find the lodge’s swimming pool, perfect for cooling off in the heat.

The unspoilt surroundings of the Madikwe Game Reserve make for incredible stargazing. Whether on a night game drive, from the private deck of your suite, or at the main lodge the stargazing is always breath-taking. The lodge’s highly knowledgeable guides can easily make sense of the sparkling galaxy and point out constellations.

Jaci’s Lodges are run by a dedicated group of individuals, most of whom were born and raised in nearby communities. The creation of the Jaci’s Staff Trust has allowed ongoing empowerment to reach local people. Staff who have worked at the lodges for five years are eligible to become shareholders in the business. The trust holds 27% of the business and makes the staff part owners. At the end of each year, those who are eligible can receive a portion of company dividends. It is the hope of owners Jaci and Jan that this has an uplifting and inspiring influence on the local community, and provides more economic safety.

Jaci’s Lodges have partnered with Stop Rhino Poaching to help protect and preserve the local rhino population. Stop Rhino Poaching is a proactive organisation which specialises in raising anti-poaching awareness, to this extent Jaci’s Lodges have taken the first step of raising awareness by attaching noticeable stickers to all their game-drive vehicles. They also work with the North West Parks and Tourism Board with various anti-poaching activities such as driving awareness campaigns and lending support for increased foot patrols.

Another endangered animal which Jaci’s Lodges seek to protect is the Wild Dog. Populations throughout central and northeast Africa are at an all time low with less than 5000 dogs present in African reserves, however, due to the introduction of 6 wild dogs to Madikwe Game reserve in 1994 the local population is thriving.

Guests staying at Jaci’s Lodges will pay a Conservation Contribution of which all funds go to the Madikwe Concessionaires Forum where it is used to help with the anti-poaching initiatives within the reserve.

At Jaci’s Lodges, they have their own vegetable garden which produces the majority of their fresh produce, from tomatoes, strawberries, basil, peppers, mint, rosemary, thyme, pomegranate, to runner beans, spinach, and pumpkins. They create their own compost called bokashi, which is used for their wet waste. All wet waste is laid, mixed with bokashi bran, in a drum and then sealed and allowed to dry. After 2 to 3 weeks the bokashi compost is ready to be put to work and the planting can begin. The products they cannot grow themselves are brought from the local community which helps reduce their carbon footprint as well as support local businesses.

All wastewater at Jaci’s Lodges is recycled and reused. They have their own wetland where a lot of the wastewater is fed back to create a permanent source of water for the local wildlife. Single-use plastic is not used in Jaci’s Lodges from plastic cutlery to plastic-packaged soaps and shampoos. No disposable coffee cups are used and they request that their suppliers don’t use plastic bags. While they try to use as little paper and cardboard as possible, all which they do use is recycled.

Jaci’s Lodges have made various pledges to become more eco friendly and planet positive. Some of these include not using their vehicles unnecessarily and monitoring their fuel consumption. They also use LED lights and geysers to help reduce the amount of energy they use. Plastic water bottles are not used at the lodges, instead, all guests are provided with a reusable aluminium water bottle upon arrival. All cleaning products which are used are eco-friendly and do not contain chemicals which damage the environment. These pledges are small ways in which Jaci’s Lodges are creating a big difference in their everyday running.