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Jaci’s Safari Lodge offers a refreshing, authentic safari space in which to unwind. Here, guests can experience some of Africa’s most impressive wildlife from our eclectic, down-to-earth bushveld haven. There are 3 accommodation options: 6 Tented Suites, 2 exclusive-use Villas and the romantic Starbed Suites.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
I stayed at Jacis Safari lodge with a couple of friends and we were all blown away, from the time we arrived until we left they rolled out the red carpet for us.The staff was nothing short of professional with an impeccable attention to detail. The food literally melted in your mouth. A friend had a birthday and they surprised her withthe most delicious and moist chocolate cake. The guide was very knowledgeable and the game viewing was fantastic. We all can't wait to go back again.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from The Jaci's Lodges Team, Guest Services / Front Office at Jaci's Safari Lodge
Responded 18 Oct 2024
Dear thelmamQ8081EN, Wow, thank you for such a fantastic review! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that you and your friends had a “red carpet” experience with us at Jaci’s Safari Lodge. It’s always our aim to make every guest feel special, and we’re glad that shone through during your stay. We’re delighted you enjoyed the food (we’ll pass your compliments to the chefs!), and we’re so pleased that your friend’s birthday surprise was a hit—there’s nothing like a bit of chocolate cake to make a celebration extra sweet. It’s great to know that your game drives were just as memorable, and we’re happy to hear that your guide helped make the experience even more enjoyable. We can’t wait to welcome you all back for another mind-blowing adventure! Warm regards, The Jaci's Lodges Team
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The room was pretty good with a shower and bath and air conditioning. Also a drinks cabinet supplied with whatever we wanted for no extra cost.
Our room overlooked a small stream a few feet below us. During the day we could sit and watch elephants, kudu, waterbuck, warthogs and lots of resident bushbucks coming and going.
The camp was really nice with a lovely dining area overlooking the stream and riverside woodland as well. Lots of birds to keep the interest up while eating, but some cheeky monkeys too.
The food was unbelievably good. Probably the best I've ever eaten in my ten trips to Africa. Full marks to the chefs. All the staff were really helpful.
Game drives were well organised although they seem to suffer from the usual Southern Africa problem of ramming the vehicles full, which doesn't always help for photography.
But the big downer for me was the way our driver seemed to be a failed racing driver and we got a 'ferrari safari' a lot of the time which made it a bit cold in the back. And he was definitely lion obssessed. That may suit some but after a while it gets tedious chasing lions hour after hour. One morning we found a pride and yep, ok, stopped, took photos, followed them a little way into the bush and took more photos before they disappeared into thick stuff. But then spent at least one and a half hours trying to find them again in thick cover which was very bumpy, boring and frankly not needed as we had already just seen this pride.
On other days we just whizzed past a lot of photo opportunities and I gave up asking for him to stop. We did stop for a lot of lions though.
I would like to see a bit more focus on other stuff, especially smaller birds. There is a good selection of game however, including the rare brown hyaenas, which our driver found for us, to his credit.
Madikwe itself has many features, hills and so forth. I did notice that in lot of places all the trees were trashed, at least in part by elephants, and there were big areas of small scrubby bush. This was apparent when driving near the fence line, where the bush outside was bigger and in much better shape in comparison to inside. I wonder if the reserve has a growing elephant problem.
I dont think I'd return as I'm used to more leisurely game drives in less crowded vehicles in East Africa.
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Date of stay: September 2024
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Hang onto your hat
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from The Jaci's Lodges Team, Guest Services / Front Office at Jaci's Safari Lodge
Responded 18 Oct 2024
Dear B1890TNchrisd, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your detailed feedback with us! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the beautiful surroundings, the delicious food, and the chance to spot such a variety of wildlife from your room. Our chefs and staff will be thrilled to hear your kind words, and we’re glad you found the dining area and setting just as special as we do. We’re truly sorry to hear that some aspects of your safari experience didn’t meet your expectations. We aim to cater to all wildlife interests, from those eager for big cat sightings to guests who enjoy the smaller, often-overlooked creatures and birdlife. Your feedback about the pacing of the game drives and the guide's focus is incredibly valuable, and we’ll make sure to share this with our team so that we can offer a more balanced and tailored experience in the future. We’re glad you got to see the rare brown hyenas, and it sounds like there were many memorable moments—though we agree that sometimes slowing down and taking in the little things makes all the difference. Regarding your observations about the vegetation, you raise an important point. Madikwe’s ecosystem is indeed home to a significant elephant population, and managing their impact on the environment is something the reserve continuously monitors and addresses. We appreciate you sharing your perspective on this—it’s a delicate balance, and ongoing conservation efforts play a crucial role in maintaining the landscape. We hope you take away some lovely memories from your time with us, and we’d love to have the opportunity to host you again, should you decide to explore Madikwe once more. Until then, safe travels on your future adventures across Africa! Warm regards, The Jaci's Lodges Team
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We took our grown children, their spouses and grandchildren to Jaci's Safari Lodge at the end of September. The Safari Lodge with a range of luxury accommodations was an excellent choice with separate and private suites for couples through to superb facilities for large families. The food was first-class and the ambience was outstanding. the household staff and the drivers were very friendly and went out of their way to make our stay so successful.
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Date of stay: September 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from The Jaci's Lodges Team, Guest Services / Front Office at Jaci's Safari Lodge
Responded 27 Nov 2024
Dear Climber, Thank you for choosing Jaci's Safari Lodge for your special family getaway! We’re thrilled to hear that your experience was simply superb. It’s wonderful to know that our variety of accommodations suited everyone in your group, from private suites for couples to family-friendly spaces. We're so pleased that our first-class cuisine and welcoming ambiance added to the magic of your stay. Our team, both on and off the safari vehicles, strives to create unforgettable memories for all our guests. We're delighted they helped make your trip a success and that everyone—from the youngest to the oldest—felt cared for. We hope to welcome your family back for another incredible safari adventure soon! Warm regards, The Jaci’s Lodges Team
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Early January we were allowed to stay 2 nights at Jaci's Safari Lodge. And what an unprecedented luxury that was. We were met on arrival by the staff with the most beautiful smile you can think of. And the surprise was that we got an upgrade to the Treehouse suites. Straight on to the lunch worthy of star chef. Quickly freshen up and on for the first Gamedrive with Ranger David. What an overwhelming natural beauty, we fell from one surprise to another. How many different animals have we seen by then? Dinner in the evening was another party, beautiful dishes and delicious wine. The next morning we got up early because at 5:30 another game drive... and how lucky we were then. Elephants, rhinos, water buffalo, lions in abundance and very special a cheetah. Upon returning breakfast on the outside deck where you can hear the wildlife in the distance..... what an unforgettable experience. Then had 2 more game drives that took place every time on different terrains and where you continued to be amazed by the beauty of this park. Thank you to David our Ranger with his inexhaustive knowledge of nature. Thank you to the staff at Jaci's who so lovingly and with a relentless smile spoiled us every time with wet towels, drinks and food.
Early January we were allowed to stay 2 nights at Jaci's Safari Lodge. And what an unprecedented luxury that was. We were met upon arrival by the staff with the most beautiful smile you can imagine. And the surprise was that we got an upgrade to the Treehouse suites. Straight on to the lunch that was worthy of a star chef. Quickly freshen up and off for the first Game Drive with Ranger David. What an overwhelming natural beauty, we fell from one surprise to the next. How many different animals have we seen then. Dinner in the evening was a party again, beautiful dishes and delicious wine. The next morning we got up early because at 5:30 another game drive... and how lucky we were then. Elephants, rhinos, water buffalos, lions in abundance and very special a cheetah. Upon return, a breakfast on the outside deck where you can hear the wild animals in the distance..... what an unforgettable experience. Then we had 2 more game drives that each time took place on different terrains and where you were always amazed by the beauty of this park. Thanks to David our Ranger with his inexhaustible knowledge of nature. Thanks to the staff of Jaci's who so lovingly and with an unwavering smile spoiled us every time with wet towels, drinks and food.
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Date of stay: January 2025
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Neem een goede verrekijker en een camera met zoomlens (600mm) mee om de mooiste plaatjes te...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed for 6 nights, 3 in the Nara suite and 3 nights in the star bed suites. From the very start, you experience Jaci’s warmth and welcoming environment. This is present throughout by being greeted at the end of each drive, the visibility of Ronna and Andrew as well as the constant hellos by each and every member of staff.
Kiwi our guide/ ranger played a big part in creating our memorable safari experience. She was fantastic at getting us in at the great sightings but also was full of knowledge which allowed us to learn so much. We didn’t expect to learn so much about tracking animals, the resident birds in the park and the flora around. She went above and beyond for us and we felt privileged to have been able to share the animal sightings with her and loved being able to invite her for dinner. We wish we had known sooner as we would have invited her for more meals.
We were continually impressed by the food we ate, Keryn leads an incredible team that ensures each dish is tasty and aesthetic. They were also excellent at catering for food intolerances and special requests. The braai was a particular highlight with food so good we went up for seconds and thirds. We were also fortunate to have had Koki, the chef, all to ourselves when we stayed in the Nara suite. He is exceptional, and we looked forward to every meal. His special sauce that he cooked the chicken in for our bush braai lunch will forever stay in our memory.
A final few mentions to highlight are the memorable lunch we had in the bush, the NICE walking safari with Damien (we would really recommend a walking safari) and the staff singing at the evening braai. Lastly, a big thank you to Mocca who runs Safari lodge and was always a joy to see, ensuring our stay was seamless.
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Date of stay: July 2023
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My girlfriend and I had a fantastic time. I took her for our anniversary. The food was scrumptious and the presentation was out of this world. They catered for my girlfriend who is a vegan and had so many options.The game viewing was really great and we were paired with an extremely knowledgeable guide who also helped us with photography. Side note..they also have camera rental and a viewing deck with breathtaking views. All in all it was an amazing experience and totally worth every penny.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from The Jaci's Lodges Team, Guest Services / Front Office at Jaci's Safari Lodge
Responded 18 Oct 2024
Dear emmanuelmD3686TF, Thank you so much for choosing Jaci's Lodges to celebrate your anniversary! We're thrilled to hear that you and your girlfriend had such a fantastic time and that our team could make the occasion special. It’s great to know that the vegan options hit the spot—we love catering to all tastes and dietary preferences, so we’re delighted she had plenty to enjoy! It sounds like your game drives were a real highlight, and we’re glad you found the photography support helpful. Our guides are always keen to share their knowledge (and photography tips!) to make sure guests capture those special moments. And we couldn’t agree more about the viewing deck—it’s the perfect place to soak in the scenery. We truly appreciate your kind words and are so happy to hear it was worth every penny. We hope to welcome you back for more unforgettable moments in the future! Warm regards, The Jaci's Lodges Team
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We had an amazing week at Jaci’s Lodge with the family and I would highly recommend anyone going there.
Staff The staff at the lodge are extremely friendly, kind and helpful, going the extra mile and making sure our stay was perfect. We celebrated our moms birthday during the trip and they made sure we had a great day, with cake, birthday songs and a private dinner from the lookout deck. Couldn’t have asked for a better staff.
Food Amazing food, with two choices of starters, mains and desert for lunch and dinner. For breakfast you always had the option of English breakfast or a second option.
Safari driver If you have the possibility to request one of their safari drivers, request Aubrey. We had Aubrey for the full week and he was absolutely amazing. He was so well educated on the life in the park, and had great attention to detail to find animals. He made sure we got to see everything we requested. During one of our 10 game drives he had a full informative session with us during which he talked about the ecosystem and how all animals live in symbiosis, from the small termites to the rhino dung, which was very interesting to hear about. You can really tell he loves his job and he was definitely one of the reasons why our stay was such a blast.
Park The park is quite small, but has a high animal population, which makes sure that you see huge amounts of animals on each drive, comparing to the bigger parks where you might not be as lucky. E.g. there are 1600 elefants, 45 lions, 22 leopards and 7 cheetahs. On top of that there are very cars out, and we were often alone when we spotted something. The few times there were other cars you weren’t bothered because as the park only allows three cars at a time per sighting.
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Date of stay: October 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in a tent at the Safari Lodge, which was gorgeous, had an outdoor shower, big bathtub, ridiculously comfortable bed, and nice amenities. The common areas were also amazing, with nice places to lounge and even a deck to view animals (which were actually there hanging out just meters in front of you). The food was really good and there were a couple on-site chefs who made gourmet, multi-course meals for every meal.
The staff was standout as well, so so lovely and really good at making us feel welcomed and taken care of, truly like guests rather than just people passing through. Someone was waiting to greet us after every game drive, and staff seamlessly took care of everything so all we had to do was relax and enjoy ourselves.
We had Dwayne as our safari guide and he was so impressive. He was deeply knowledgable and experienced, knew the answer to every question we had, was able to spot lots of animals and even some rare finds and made each game drive exciting and new (we saw lions every day, wild dogs, and a few rarely-seen mongooses), and helped us feel safe and comfortable. He also was a lovely person, made us laugh and feel at ease, and made a mean gin and tonic for sundowners.
10/10 would recommend this place and hope to return one day!!
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Date of stay: November 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We visited Jaci’s lodge (Tree Lodges) over the past weekend with friends. The game experience outstripped what I have seen in the last ten years, the guides , all clearly very knowledgable, covered diverse aspects , extremely friendly , professional and accommodating ! The food was outstanding , beautifully presented and full of natural local produce, the chef is clearly passionate about every dish. We met the lodge owner who was attentive and welcoming and present throughout our stay . The rooms are definitely 5 star + , this venue totally deserves its 5 star rating and more , as do the staff who were polite , professional and accommodating throughout our stay. Highly recommended !! Will be back !
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from The Jaci's Lodges Team, Guest Services / Front Office at Jaci's Safari Lodge
Responded 18 Oct 2024
Dear Seaside6137103449, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re overjoyed to hear that your recent stay at Jaci’s Tree Lodges was such a memorable one. It sounds like you had an incredible time, and we’re thrilled that the game experience exceeded your expectations—our guides are truly passionate about what they do, and they’ll be so pleased to know their knowledge and friendliness made a lasting impression. It’s fantastic to hear you enjoyed the locally sourced dishes, and we’ll be sure to pass on your kind words to our chef. We’re also glad that you felt so welcomed by the lodge owner and found the rooms to be the epitome of comfort and luxury. Our team is dedicated to making every guest feel special, so knowing that you felt well taken care of means the world to us. We’d be delighted to welcome you back anytime, and thank you again for your glowing recommendation! Warm regards, The Jaci's Lodges Team
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From the moment Andrew and Rhona greet you at the door, to Mocca’s warm welcome and help, everything was amazing. Jannie the head chef did an incredible job of catering to our requirements and provided exquisite meals every time.
We had the best guide/driver, Aubrey, whose passion for the animals showed with his determination to ensure we saw as many unique things as possible.
We can’t speak highly enough of our time here and highly recommend it to people that love nature
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:As there is no Wifi or service apart from at the main area, we recommend asking for rooms 1 or 2...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You can arrange for lunch before hand with the lodge for the day you are arriving. Meals are usually coffee and rusk in the morning before the game drive and brunch around 10h00. There are snacks around 16h00 before the afternoon game drive and dinner after. They do a menu for kids as well.
As for the dress - the mornings might be cool so a light jacket is recommended. It should be fairly hot so sunhats and sunblock is important. The vehicles usually has a rain poncho on them. The weather will be warm enough to swim.
Hi, we flew into Jo'burg, stayed over one night, then had a car pick us up about 9:00 in the morning. We were traveling with children, so this seemed the easiest and least stressful. It is about a 4 hour drive from Jo'burg to Madikwe, but our driver was great, full of interesting facts, and pointed out things along the way. We stopped about halfway, to stretch & grab something to eat. Through the Lodge you can reserve a car service, City Hopper, which was excellent for us. We also had the same driver for the return trip. I don't know about flying into Botswana, but the Lodge could have more info on this. Good Luck!
Hi, Duesseldorf
Yes we do have a children play room at Safari lodge and our lodge is more on the ground children can walk and play including at the swimming pool
There are more places to choose from in the Madikwe Game Reserve area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
jaci`s safari hotel madikwe game reserve
LOCATION
South AfricaNorth-West ProvinceMadikwe Game Reserve
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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