The map below indicates
3
alternative routes to Etali Safari Lodge:
From OR Tambo International Airport, South Africa
Red
Route 5h30m: The Suggested, for vehicles with low ground
clearance.
Blue
Route 4h00m: An alternate route, includes 30km of poor
gravel road just before entering the reserve.
From Gaborone, Botswana
Green
Route 1h50m: The primary route used

Red Route
0
km - From O.R. Thambo Airport, take the R21 North towards
Pretoria, making certain to take the turn-off for the N1 North.
58.6 km
- From the N1 take the turn-off for the N4 towards Rustenberg. Continue
on past Swartruggens and Groot Marico into Zeerust. The distance to
Zeerust is approx. 236 km
It is advisable to refuel in
Zeerust. There is no fuel available inside the reserve. Please contact
the lodge upon passing Zeerust.
Lodge Contact Number: 0871514310
295 km -
Once in Zeerust pass the Total garage and Wimpy on your left hand side.
At the fourth intersection there is a sign towards the Madikwe Game
Reserve and Gaberone. Turn right here into President street. Follow the
R49 towards Madikwe for approximately 97 km to the Abjaterskop Gate
entrance of the park (on the right).
386 km -
Abjaterskop Gate. At the gate they will ask you which lodge you are
going to. They will contact Etali Safari Lodge,and issue you with a
gate permit. You can then proceed to drive to the lodge through the
game reserve. Please adhere to the speed limit of 40km and look out for
animals (they always have the right of way). Drive for 11.2 km.
397 km –
Turn left at the sign indicating direction Derdepoort. Drive for 2km
399 km
– Turn right on tar road (the only tar road that turns to the
right). Drive for 1km
400 km –
Turn left onto a tar road (the only tar road that turns to the left).
Drive 560m.
400.6 km
– Turn right onto a tar road direction Derdepoort. Drive 13.1
km.
412.8 km
- Look out for a sign on the right hand side of the road with the
direction to Etali Safari Lodge. Turn left towards Etali Safari Lodge
(from here you will find signs pointing to Etali Safari Lodge) Drive
for 4km.
416.8 km
- Look for sign on the right hand side (grey structure with Etali
signage) and turn right. Drive for 1.2 km and turn left at sign that
indicates RECEPTION. Drive up the hill to the turning circle.
WELCOME TO ETALI SAFARI LODGE
Blue
Route
0 km
- From O.R. Tambo Airport, take the R21 North towards Pretoria, making
certain to take the turn-off for the N1 North.
58.6 km
- From the N1 take the turn-off for the N4 towards Rustenberg. Drive
for 62.4 km.
121 km
- Take the turn-off for the R565 towards Sun City.
It is advisable to refuel at the
Sun Village, found on the right just past Sun City. There is no fuel
available inside the reserve. Please contact the lodge upon
passing Sun City.
Lodge Contact Number: +27 871514310
202 km
- After passing Sun City continue straight for 5km until you reach a
four-way junction, turn right towards Derdepoort. Drive for 8km
210 km
- Follow the road for approximately 8 kms and turn left at the sign
saying Bapong. From here, follow signs to MADIKWE GAME RESERVE. Make
certain to ignoring the signs saying Madikwe Hospital.
246 km
- After passing through Mabeskraal at the 4 way junction turn right
towards Derdepoort.
271 km -
After 26kms you will pass the Dwarsberg Liquor Store and the road will
become gravel. Continue straight through Molatedi Village, over the
Marico River and straight to the Molatedi Gate entrance of the park.
302 km
- Molatedi Gate. At the gate they will ask you which lodge you are
going to. They will contact Etali Safari Lodge,and issue you with a
gate permit. You can then proceed to drive to the lodge through the
game reserve. Please adhere to the speed limit of 40km/h and look out
for animals (they always have the right of way).
314 km
- Drive for 11.9km from the gate and turn right sign posted Derdepoort.
Before the turn the road becomes a narrow tar road (The first tar road
that turns right is where you have to turn right)
314.6 km
– After driving for approx. 560 meters turn right (on tar)
towards Derdepoort gate. After turning right drive for 13.1 km. Keep on
the main road and DO NOT turn of at any other intersection.
327.7 km
– Look out for a sign on the right hand side of the road with
the direction to Etali Safari Lodge. Turn left towards Etali Safari
Lodge (from here you will find signs pointing to Etali Safari Lodge)
Drive for 4km.
331.7 km
– Look for sign on the right hand side (grey structure with
Etali signage) and turn right. Drive for 1.2 km and turn left at sign
that indicates RECEPTION. Drive up the hill to the turning circle.
WELCOME TO ETALI SAFARI LODGE
Green Route
0
km - Leave Gaberone Heading southwards on Tlokweng road
towards Abjaterskop border post.
22.3 km
- Abjaterskop border post: Cross the South African border Make certain
to have your passport and any other relevant documents with you for the
border crossing.
32
km - Abjaterskop Gate. At the gate they will ask you which
lodge you are going to. They will contact Etali Safari Lodge,and issue
you with a gate permit. You can then proceed to drive to the lodge
through the game reserve. Please adhere to the speed limit of 40km and
look out for animals (they always have the right of way). Drive for
26.8 km.
58.8 km -
Look out for a sign on the right hand side of the road with the
direction to Etali Safari Lodge. Turn left towards Etali Safari Lodge
(from here you will find signs pointing to Etali Safari Lodge) Drive
for 4km.
62.2 km
- Look for sign on the right hand side (grey structure with Etali
signage) and turn right. Drive for 1.2 km and turn left at sign that
indicates RECEPTION. Drive up the hill to the turning circle.
WELCOME TO ETALI SAFARI LODGE

Our spacious and luxurious suites offer a refuge from the stresses of everyday life. Here everything is designed to facilitate a connection to the natural surroundings of the Madikwe Game Reserve. Each free-standing suite comes standard with private game viewing deck, splash pool and outdoor shower along with additional amenities such as air-conditioning, fireplace and wifi.
Spa & Gym
The Etali Spa offers the perfect space to relax and be rejuvenated and revitalised! Treatments include massages, body wraps, manicures, pedicures, facials and more. Te adjacent gym and steam room is open for the use of all guests
Luxury Suites & Family Suite
To ensure individual guest attention and privacy Etali offers only 8 luxury suites and one family suite. 3 Luxury suites have direct views of the waterhole at our main lodge. These cannot be pre-booked. Suite 5 is wheelchair accessible, for guests with limited mobility.
Our family suite offers 2 back-to-back rooms with a shared deck and no inter-leading door. The family suite includes all facilities of our luxury suites along with a larger shared deck, swimming pool and private lapa.
Game Experience
We use Toyota Cruisers with bucket seats and canvas roofs, we also make use of trackers enabling our rangers to find their own sightings and use ear pieces to minimize the noise levels on the vehicles. Four vehicles ensure that if a guest would like a private vehicle, we can provide it. All our rangers have been trained to do guided drives or walks. We offer a special star gazing experience and have an astronomer who visits the lodge on a monthly basis to do training with our field guides and if there is a need expressed by guests he comes in at no extra charge.
Wellness Centre
Our wellness centre forms a very important part of our philosophy to allow guests to get connected to their inner self and enjoy the luxury of relaxation. We have three treatment rooms and two permanent therapists allowing guests to relax and feel how good you can feel using different therapies i.e. hot stone massage, aromatherapy or our thlakanya massage.
The Madikwe Game Reserve

|
Stretching over 75 000 hectares of African bush,
the Madikwe Game Reserve contains a diverse
environment offering the discerning nature lover a great
abundance of life. |
Wildlife Safaris

With a general game count of over 10 000 animals Madikwe includes 60
species of large mammal and over 400 species of bird. The only question
is, what will you experience?
Madikwe is in a semi-arid region straddling South Africa's Savannah and
Dessert Biome Areas. The climate and altitude of the area do not
support malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquitos.
Winter : May - September
Dry Season
Winters are dry and cool during nights and mornings and temperate
during the days. The Etali Waterhole gets more busy as the dry season
continues.
Summer : October - April
Wet Season
Summer months are warm with occasional thunderstorms, usually later in
the afternoon. Lambing season takes place during December.

The Etali Waterhole

Situated in on the western side of our main lodge, the Etali Waterhole
is a popular spot amongst park wildlife. Breakfast, lunch and boma
dinners are all served in areas overlooking the waterhole. Guests are
also invited to cool down, relax and enjoy an armchair safari poolside,
with a cocktail poolside.
History of Madikwe
The Madikwe Game Reserve represents a bold and successful initiative in
sustainable eco-tourism. The reserve was developed in the early 1990s
when 68 000 hectares of cattle-grazing land on the South African side
of the border with Botswana was earmarked for development as a Game
Reserve. The formation of the park was realised through conservation
partnership of the private sector, local communities and the North West
Province Parks Board.
Operation Phoenix
The process of reintroducing wildlife to the area began in 1992 under
the codename Operation Phoenix. Starting with entire breeding herds of
elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, various types of antelope and an
undisclosed number of black and white rhino. Later additions included
lions & spotted hyena along with rarer predators including
African Painted Wolf and Cheetah. Several smaller predators, including
leopards, brown hyena and black backed jackal had never been extirpated
in the area and now flourished in the safety of the reserve. Currently
the population of large mammals in the park exceeds 10000!
