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aha Thakadu River Camp, Madikwe
Set beneath a beautifully private riverine canopy
Nestled on the banks of the Marico River, aha Thakadu River Camp is a luxury tented safari lodge set within the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve.
aha Thakadu River Camp is the only tented camp in the Madikwe Game Reserve. From the swimming pool and two custom-built lookout points, you can often see elephants, zebra and giraffe congregating at the water’s edge. Owned and managed by the local community, the camp incorporates authentic African style throughout. A roomy open-air lounge, dining and bar area are designed to blend into the environment using thatch roof and furniture made from local wood.
Twice-daily game drives are on offer in the private reserve, the only one in South Africa not permitting day visitors, so guests can enjoy the flourishing wildlife in peace. But when you’re not out on safari, the poolside deck is a relaxing place to lounge as is the bar with an impressive cocktail list using local fruit picked that day.\
Why we love aha Thakadu River Camp, Madikwe
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See herds of elephant without moving an inch from the pool
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Lantern-lit dinners in the open-air boma serve feasts of braai meat and other traditional African delicacies
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All suites feature generous living areas and an expansive private viewing deck overlooking the river
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For those keen to relax, the camp has a lovely infinity pool, and a traditional lapa secluded within a quaint forest opening
Facilities
After a long day of game drives, dinner can be enjoyed in the spacious dining room or on the expansive wooden terrace. In either setting, expect a delicious South African menu amid the glorious backdrop of the river and forest canopy. For those seeking a more authentic African dining experience, the camp also has a charming lantern-lit boma.
What's Included
Lodge Package
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner • Conservation fees • Game reserve fees • 2 shared game drives per day
Led by highly trained rangers, explore the flora and fauna on game drives. The diverse landscapes are perfect for bird watching - look out for the martial eagle, Natal spur fowl or yellow throated sand grouse.
Guest reviews
4.7
Average Rating
Based on 629 reviews
| Excellent | 490 | |
| Very good | 97 | |
| Average | 21 | |
| Poor | 12 | |
| Terrible | 9 |
February 2025
What an incredible experience. A beautiful lodge set within an amazing game reserve where the welfare of the animals is at the forefront. We truly felt that we were experiencing the animals in the wild and on our return to the lodge each day we were treated exceptionally well by the most wonderful team of staff. The tented rooms were beautifully fitted out with fabulous terraces. The pool where we could relax and watch as a range of animals visited the nearby river was fabulous and an extra bonus was the in house massage service, massages were provided on your own terrace which was just wonderful.
Read more
Johannesburg, South AfricaJanuary 2025
Rooms are a little rustic but have their own unique ‘charm’. Plenty of space and the bathroom is good. The facilities throughout are pretty good and the pool area superb. Food is good but not a huge variety. The staff are all friendly & welcoming - special shoutout to the lady who looks after the restaurant!
Lusaka, ZambiaDecember 2024
Very disappointing experience sadly. The room that we were in was falling apart, literally, and the bathroom wasn't clean when we arrived, neither did it get cleaned properly during the entire stay. The game drive on the first day was a huge let-down where the driver (not a guide) was racing around chatting on the radio without communicating with the guests at all. Possibly the worst game drive of my life!! Regardless of the great sightings, the guided experience was a disaster. The manager did correct it the next day though, and from there the experience got much better! The management and restaurant staff are real gems, and if it wasn't for them this holiday would've been a flop. Sadly, the most important aspect of a safari trip - the safari - was such a huge disappointment that the rating remains at a 2 star :(
Read moreThese reviews are the subjective opinions of individual travellers and not of TripAdvisor LLC nor of its partners.
All Hotels in Madikwe Game Reserve
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