Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
River View
Family
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans
Property amenities
Free parking
Pool
Free breakfast
Mosquito net
Non-smoking hotel
Private check-in / check-out
Laundry service
Ironing service
Secured parking
Pool / beach towels
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Kids' meals
Special diet menus
Sun terrace
Room features
Air conditioning
Safe
Seating area
Telephone
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Complimentary toiletries
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Location
D53, Madikwe Game Reserve D53 Thakadu Gate, Madikwe Game Reserve 2838 South Africa
Amazing place to stay, a total experience. I loved sleeping in the tent which is very comfortable and clean, with good privacy, loved hearing the sounds of nature. The game drives were always interesting, fun in beautiful nature, I loved seeing the animals living in freedom. The guide did everything to make our stay special and he tried to cater to our wishlists of animals (the leopards were not cooperative though😉). Food was delicious and very creative with great combinations of tastes, staff was very kind and hospitable. Everyone did everything to make this stay memorable.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: November 2023
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
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 spent 4 nights at Thakadu, a very memorable experience. The staff are attentive and welcoming, and made us feel at home. The game drives were rewarding, with Percy our guide making sure we were all happy. The highlight for us was the meals. The kitchen staff could teach some of the more expensive lodges a thing or two about bush cuisine! In 4 days we didn't have any repeat lunches or dinners, everything was freshly prepared in the kitchen, and each dish was beautifully presented and delicious. Despite the extreme heat (40deg +), all of the fresh produce was perfectly fresh. The freshly baked muffins with coffee on the game drives went down a treat. We will be back!
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Date of stay: December 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip 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 Patience Matlapeng, General Manager at Thakadu River Camp
Responded 13 Dec 2024
Hi Wander thank you for an awesome review about our property. We are so pleased to se our team is rendering an excellent service as expected and that their dedication is noticeable. We have passed your kind words to the kitchen team and we all cannot wait to welcome you back at the lodge in the near future. Regards
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
So many up market private lodges provide 5 star service and food which can also be contrived and sterile. Thakadu staff were 5 star plus with warmth and friendliness to add. They take the trouble to learn you names and greet you by name whenever they see you.
The rangers are extremely knowledgeable and we could not fault them on their wealth of knowledge, even down to some obscure detail that some of the high paying European guests may not think to ask.
Food was of an extremely high standard and the tents were warm, comfortable and well appointed.
The entire lodge is owned and run by the local community which makes it that much more rewarding to support.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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 Patience Matlapeng, General Manager at Thakadu River Camp
Responded 30 Jun 2024
Hi Bernard Thank you for taking time to give us a 5 star review rating. it makes our day hearing about how much our customers love our experience and the team at the lodge. our staff remain the most valuable asset at the company and it gives as joy receiving such comment. We look forward to welcoming you back in the near future at Thakadu River Camp. Regards
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I made a payment of $5,050 for five tents for 10 guests, including me for two nights. Two days later, I canceled because the next three nights I wanted on the western side of Madikwe were not available. The "fully refundable" payment has never been reimbursed.
The booking was switched to a travel agency that could see openings and book the two lodges accordingly. I thought when I appeared in person, I could get my refund. They told me as we were leaving they were crediting my credit card, but that was a lie. I now get no response to any queries via email. Essentially, they stole over $5K from me!
I will also add that during our stay there was record cold and LOTS of rain. Their generator went out. We suffered with no hot water/electricity/heat. When asked when the generator would be repaired, we were told "the work crew won't repair the generator until there's nicer weather."
There are MUCH better choices at Madikwe. I have brought three trips to Thakadu, but never again!
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled on business
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.
Whilst travelling through South Africa we travelled to Thakadu River Camp which is in Madikwe, from Johannesburg as per of the 2nd leg of our trip (Joburg - Thakadu - Cape Town)
Thakadu is a unique wildlife reserve which offers a magical safari experience, up close and personal with the native animals.
We were greeted warmly on arrival and collected from the air strip by Tulu who also doubled up as our game driver. He took us out for 3 hours each morning and evening to see the animals of the reserve and we had a wonderful time doing so.
Arriving at the lodge we were assigned 2 Tents, my wife and I in one and the boys in another, which was a 2 minute walk away from us. The “tent” was called so due to the the way the roof is covered (tent shaped tarpaulin) but in fact it’s a good sized wooden structured room with a very nice en-suite open plan styled bathroom and a balcony which offered views of the wilderness and a river where you could see animals grazing right underneath you.
Meals came as part of an all inclusive package and we were certainly fed very well!! It was a non stop daily offering of a quick coffee or tea and biscuits at 6am before going on the morning safari drives. Breakfast was served after we came back from the morning safari drives) at roughly 10am. Lunch was then served at 1pm - tea at 3pm just before going out for the afternoon safari drive at 3.30pm. On our return at 7pm dinner was then served. There are a lot of meals & snacks squeezed into a short spade of time and so by day 2 you start skipping some of the breaks to allow time for the food to digest !! Each game drive also included a bush break (20 minute stop) for hot drinks (during the chilly morning drives) or sun downers (during the afternoon drives) .
We were hosted warmly each day by staff on rotation who included Tulu, Joyce (chef extraordinaire) Veronica, Idah and Mods (Centre Manager).
Special mention must go to Tulu - our patient and knowledgeable Safari driver who each day took us out on 2 game drives each day and allowed us to enjoy so many magical moments witnessing the animals in the wild. Favourite moments included watching a Mother cheetah and her 5 cubs as well as seeing 3 of the big 5 at the same watering hole at the same time (rhinos, elephants and lions)
I’ve written a lot but there was a lot to mention and I could say more. I’ll end by saying we had a wonderful experience here and the children absolutely loved it. We chose Madikwe due to its privacy (only people staying there were on the game drives, there are no day guests who drive through like with the Kruger National park. Madikwe is also malaria free so there was no need for malaria vaccinations before travelling (unlike Kruger)
Highly recommended - you won’t be disappointed.
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:If you travel there during July ensure you have extremely warm clothing for the morning game...
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 Patience Matlapeng, General Manager at Thakadu River Camp
Responded 10 Aug 2024
Hi Harris Thank you for taking time to to leave us a 5 star review. We are so glad the you enjoyed your overall experience with us, the tents , the game drive and not to forget our excellent team. Out team is committed to delivering a high quality service and your feedback is a great encouragement to us. We look forward to serving you again at Thakadu River Camp. Photi jaa letlhodi- See you soon. Regards
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The experience at Thakadu was incredible! Words can not truly convey what my family and I felt. The staff were professional, extremely attentive, loving, and warm. To celebrate mum's birthday, which was a few days before we arrived at Madikwe, the staff purchased a cake and sang traditional songs and did traditional dances. It was unexpected, beautiful, heartfelt, touching, thoughtful, and ever so special.
The accommodation was luxury. We received turn down services in the evening, with sweet extras (usually fudge). We had tea, coffee, and hot chocolate making facilities in the room. The room also had heaters (greatly needed in July, South Africa's coldest month), a separate bathtub, and shower.
The food, including the afternoon tea, was 5 star quality and delicious.
The game drives were incredible! We saw 4 of the big 5 almost immediately! From the moment we entered Madikwe and when we arrived at Thakadu, we saw elephants and giraffes. On the game drives at 6.30 am and at 3.30 pm we had opportunities to see other animals. I especially enjoyed seeing the cheetahs.
I would highly recommend Thakadu for the safari, luxury accommodation, and amazing staff team. We immediately felt welcome and at home.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Take a torch with you! Sometimes, there may be power cuts. We experienced several. Some were...
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 spent 3 amazing nights at the Thakadu and would recommend it in the Madwike reserve. It has a great location on the river which was often filled with elephants playing, drinking and cooling down. The tented chalets are good and secluded (the shower cubicles could be replaced-renovated) and the staff amazing. Apart from great food they went out of their way to bake a cake for a birthday and all of the available staff sang at afternoon tea. Madwike is an exceptional reserve and we got to see so many animals in seclusion. The only downside is getting there, better instructions could have been provided and at this stage do not do not believe google maps.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip 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.
The most amazing experience for our family ages 15-82. We went in winter season. It was very cold however the hot water bottles & fleece poncho’s kept us warm on the morning & afternoon game drives. Vincent was amazing sharing his knowledge & looking for animals we were not disappointed. A fabulous experience a once in a lifetime experience.
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Date of stay: July 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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 Patience Matlapeng, General Manager at Thakadu River Camp
Responded 10 Aug 2024
Hi Caroline Thank you for choosing Thakadu River Camp. We are glad to hear that your happy with our customer service. We have passed your comments to our team so they enjoy the good vibes too. Comments like yours makes our work worthwhile and we cannot wait towelcome you back in the property in the near future. Regards
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Thakadu is a camp tucked away at the far end of the game reserve. The service was completely amazing and all staff knew us all by first name basis and were so friendly and approachable. Our 6 and 8 year olds loved the attention and all the high fives and smiles from the staff. The accommodation was clean and decent. The beds were very comfortable. The cleaning and turn down services were nice. We were there when there was load shedding which made things a little inconvenient but extra blankets etc were always around to help us keep warm. But there was no telephone connected for reception (a problem for only our tent), some of the fixtures and fittings were in need of some repair (the door on the bathroom didn't close and the security latch on the sliding door didn't close properly either). Location was outstanding. Value was outstanding. The game drives, the guides, the little extras were just delightful (warm hand towels coming back from game drives, selection of snacks for sundowners, comfortable seats and blankets on the safari trucks). The guide we had, had more than 20/20 vision and spotted so much of interest for the kids especially. I am gluten intolerant and they went above and beyond to make me gluten free breads, pancakes, crumpets, rusks from scratch. I never ordered anything specific, I just was delighted with some new gluten free bread or treat each day. It was such a pleasure to not have to worry about getting a reaction from something that contained gluten. The kids meals could be a little more varied. The novelty of meat and chips or pasta wore off with our kids quite quick and we often ordered an extra side salad for them or something from the adult menu since they are used to having the same as us. All in all a great experience and a place we would definitely go back to.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Morning game drives can be really cold, bring beanies, extra layers and a warm down jacket.
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.
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.
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Date of stay: January 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip 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.
1. August is probably the coldest month in SA. Although Madikwe has moderate winters, morning and evenings can be fairly chilly. Definitely long pants, beanies and scarfs recommended. On the vehicles ponchos are available, but dress warm. Layering recommended. Even in Africa 3 degrees is cold
2. Days cam be very pleasant. Spending time at pool on the deck; - yes. Swimming for the brave.
3. Small curious shop available. Payment in Rands. Cards accepted. Normal SA restaurant prices.
4. Re plugs; can 't say. SA 2 prong plugs similar to continental Europe.
Johannesburg, South Africa58 contributions7 helpful votes
Hi, it may be a bit of a rush but you will be able to leave by 9:15am. Chat to the lodge so you can check out and settle your bill the night before and arrange a breakfast pack because you will not have time for breakfast. Let your ranger know as well so he can make sure to get you back in time.
What time of the year are you planning to go - in the winter months the game drive leaves a later.
The tents are closed tight and also have doors, as the structure is partly built in bricks. Be careful as the monkeys are super fast at sneaking inside the tent, they are always after the sweets and sugar sachets.
We drove ourselves to Takadu river lodge but l know a trusted shuttle service that l can recommend. They operate in Johannesburg and take customers to Madikwe, Pilanesberg and Kruger. They pick you up from the hotel or the airport. I have used their service several times. Contact Alan Bilbrough - African Journeys
There are more places to choose from in the Madikwe Game Reserve area.
PRICE RANGE
R 5,186 - R 15,410 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
thakadu river camp hotel madikwe game reserve
LOCATION
South AfricaNorth-West ProvinceMadikwe Game Reserve
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
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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