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5.0
#7 of 22 lodges in Madikwe Game Reserve
Location
Cleanliness
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Value
On a rugged dolomite ridge overlooking a vast African wilderness, you will find a hidden treasure called Impodimo. Taken from the Tswana words Mpho Dimo, Impodimo means a gift from God, and is truly a slice of heaven on earth. Rise in the morning to an African dawn and enjoy an early morning game drive with your dedicated professional ranger. Relax as your ranger guides you through the bush on a custom made open Land Rover, searching out the Big 5 or the smaller secrets of nature. Set out on a foot safari with your armed ranger and learn the secrets of tracking African game or just enjoy the trees, birds and stunning scenery. Return from the excitement of the bush to a sumptuous breakfast or brunch and then relax at the pool or the sala overlooking the waterhole where game may come to quench their thirst. In the afternoon, when the heat of the African sun has diminished and the shadows are longer, head out again on a sundowner safari, where you will stop to watch the sun set on this bushveld paradise and enjoy your favourite sundowner drink. Once the sun has set and darkness descends, set off again for a night safari where the more nocturnal creatures now rule the bush. Return to the lodge where you will be treated to the finest Pan-African cuisine with your hosts in the open air boma, and share your days adventures, while you enjoy a night cap around the fire. Impodimo Game Lodge is set along a rocky ridge commanding stunning vistas of the reserve. It is also located at the source of a natural spring, which provides the lodge with elevated views as well as riverine serenity. The lodge offers dawn and dusk safaris. The safaris are carefully timed to ensure optimal seasonal comfort. Whilst Impodimo has 10 suites, its capacity is 16 guests. Each of the suites have been carefully positioned to ensure absolute privacy. Spacious in design, each includes a closed system fireplace, climate control air conditioner, mini bar fridge, tea & coffee making facilities and full en-suite bathroom and outside shower. Your private deck allows uninterrupted views of the Madikwe Game Reserve.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TGCSA - Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Great View
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans
Location
Wonderboom Gate, Madikwe Game Reserve 2874 South Africa
My friends invited me to join them for a four day trip to Impodimo Game Lodge and I will never forget it. Everything was perfectly arranged with attention to detail. The chalets are immaculate with a view over the watering hole frequented by a wide variety of wildlife. Step outside your chalet and you will most probably meet the resident klipspringers. The brunches and dinners were delicious and the coffee, sundowners and snacks during the game drives rounded the experience off on a high note. The game drives were led by professional trackers and rangers that gave us the opportunity to view lions with cubs, cheetah and wild dog amongst many other exciting sightings. I was very pleased to see so many white and black rhino and I think this could be credited to an effective anti-poaching unit based in the game reserve.
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Date of stay: March 2021Trip 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.
We spent four wonderful, unforgettable and relaxing nights here as a family of 10. The location is simply stunning. The main lodge and rooms are beautifully designed, very comfortable with everything we needed and more and all with beautiful views.
Staff were warm, welcoming and helpful at all times, especially our field guide Kyle and spotter Sam who worked hard to give us so many amazing animal sightings, day after day, and taught us so much about the animals on every drive.
The meals were delicious and, I must mention to fellow dairy free or allergy-free travellers, the particular effort put in to serving me a variety of puddings, cakes and treats that I can eat, worry-free, every day is something I have never experienced before, anywhere. If the chef ever brings out a dairy-free cake and pudding recipe book, please let me know. :P
Our stay seemed to fly by and I was heart broken to have to leave. We all made some very happy and amazing memories here.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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 husband my 9 month old and I just got home after a 4 night 5 day stay at Impodimo. If you look at the “negative” reviews they mostly mention kids so given that I went with a child let me provide some details. First of all we haven’t been anywhere since I was 30 weeks pregnant which is about a year. Between the pandemic and a baby we didn’t do anything but roost. But we were beginning to go crazy and Madikwe is less than an hour from our house so we decided to book a trip to relax because parents deserve that too. They have people there to babysit and they have a kids room. Small kids aren’t allowed on the game drives but they do offer one to two hour short drives for kids at no additional cost. My husband and I just took turns going on the drives. They catered for our little one and they treated her like the queen baby she is. They have a cot that fit comfortably in our chalet and even had special safari baby bedding. I never felt uncomfortable and truly we felt at home. Because of Covid each family has its own table and there’s was Social distancing on the game drives. I believe this helped as well so we didn’t “bother” anyone. The Covid precautions (which were very important to us even if they weren’t to all guests) were top notch. The food is fantastic (and we are pescatarian and one of us has a dairy allergy and they accommodated no problem with amazing filling foods). The staff is second to none. Sam Lots Lindah Simoné etc all top notch. They do housekeeping twice a day. We didn’t pay for water or sparkling water or juice only cocktails which is fine. There’s a nice mini bar which is great. They have a masseus on premises which was amazing. They have lovely warm well maintained pool. There aren’t any “real” fences so sometimes a zebra (or the resident buffalo) May cross your literal path which makes the place even more magical. We have done madikwe about 6 times and really go for the relaxation and to just be one with nature and for us The game drives are just a bonus. And even still we REALLY enjoyed them we saw all of the big 5 and a ton off BEAUTIFUL birds and baby everything. Room one we could see the waterhole at our balcony and a family of elephants were there on our last day! I’ve been to several lodges in madikwe and all have been good (some with really fantastic luxury like Royal Madikwe)
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip 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.
We visited Impodimo with friends for a long weekend, and were absolutely delighted that we chose this lodge in the Madikwe game reserve. We cannot fault a single thing- from the staff (attentive, professional, thoughtful, friendly), to the rooms (very well appointed and maintained), to the game drives (incredible sightings). I must specially mention the amazing food- every single meal was a gourmet feast, and this includes breakfast, afternoon tea, and even the snacks on the game drives. The staff remembered our preferences, and nothing was too much trouble. We stayed in room 2 and I can recommend it highly as it is not too close to the main lodge and has a beautiful view over a watering hole, where we had wonderful animal sightings. Our compliments and thanks to Line and Corne and Simone and the staff and our ranger Ruhan and tracker Joe. We will be back!
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Date of stay: April 2021
Rooms
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.
We've been on safari several times in South Africa but Impodimo and Madikwe topped them all. This review will never do it justice - it was heaven from start to (very sad) finish. I did A LOT research of pretty much every 'luxury' and 'ultra lux' lodge in Madikwe. Impodimo represented great value for incredible luxury. Also one of only a couple of lodges that's unfenced and provides trackers as well as guides in the park which is a bonus. The staff were so warm and couldn't have done more for us, from the wonderful Lyne during booking to the best guide we've ever had, (Sneaky) Ruben, so knowledgeable and friendly. The room and lodge were spectacular, we saw so much game over 4 days/nights and all of the many meals/snack times (including the wonderful surprise bush braii) were absolutely delicious. I'm allergic to gluten and for everything my husband could eat they'd made a gf free version (mini doughnuts, waffles, lemon tart, all the cakes). Best place I've stayed for gluten free. Madikwe (and it'll always be Impodimo) over Kruger/Sabi Sands from now on, and I never thought I'd say that. We cannot wait to return!
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip 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.
Lovely stay! What a surprise at Impodima... Our arrival was seamless with Duncan who gave us a brief run down of the lodge and introduced us to the Hide which is a spontaneous animal viewing sanctuary. We were blessed to see rhino, antelope, elephants and warthogs there. Housekeeping at Impodima is impeccable and I will go as far as to say that their hygiene levels are excellent. This is one of the cleanest and well maintained lodges we have stayed at. Rooms are spacious and simply decorated with a functional bathroom and private deck. There is an evening turn down service and towels are replenished often. Double vanity and two showers as well as a comfy bath makes for complete practicality. I do feel the toilet should be separate for obvious privacy. A simple tea and coffee station with rusks and sweet biscuits is also available although there is a dire need for quality coffee and a Nespresso machine is recommended. The bed is comfortable with quality linen. Breakfasts are good and the dinners, although presented well, lack flavour or at times, seriously over-seasoned. The pastry/dessert department does an incredible job - thank you! Game drive snacks are Hit and Miss with cold, hot snacks and limited biltong/droe wors. The house wine Le Petit is acidic and needs an upgrade. Game drives are generous and formative. We saw the Big 5 and found our ranger, Ben to be knowledgeable, endearing and passionate about the bush and his guests. Sam the tracker is a great team worker and together we were in impeccable hands. Viewing vehicles are kept scrupulously clean with sealed blankets and raincoats. It makes a big difference having a ranger as well as a tracker! Game changer! We also noticed that the vehicles are not loaded to the brim, management have been generous is ensuring guest comfort for optimal viewing - Thank You! Madikwe has diverse terrain with a surprising variety of animals and flora. Scorecard: Lodge:8:10 Food: 6:10 Game Drives: 9:10 Housekeeping: 10:10 Would we return or recommend: 10:10
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Date of stay: April 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.
5 stars is not enough. Lodge staff are all so friendly and nothing is too much trouble for them. The little touches made the difference - the bedtime notes left for us as an example. Thanks to Blythe and the whole team.
Food is 5 star in both its cooking and presentation and plentiful. Even when no food was scheduled you just asked and nibbles would appear. The Bush Dinner was a little unexpected treat and the evening in the lodge Boma. We had Duck, Impala, Lamb Tagine, Beef, Venison and more.
Room 2 with a view of the waterhole meant that we spent much of our free time just watching the animals and then rushing to the Hide to get close up to them. Rooms are as luxurious as they look on the Web.
Game Drives where of course the highlight. 4 out of the big 5 by the end of our first 2 drives. We even had one moment when we could see 4 of them all at once, albeit everything was keeping a distance from the loved up lions.
Besides the expected Game animals we saw Cheetah, Eland, Hyena and a Serval.
Meri (our guide) was the best. She has such knowledge and humour. We will never forget her. She was supported by Culture (the tracker) who would stop us all in our conversations with a wave of his hand because he saw a print.
The Sunsets (with Sundowners) and Sunrises (with coffee and Muffins) where Awesome.
I recommend anyone to go to this place for the peace, quiet, animal sightings ( especially the Ellie that likes the pool rather than the waterhole).
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip 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.
Everything feels, tastes and looks better in the bush. The atmosphere, food and decor are amazing at Impodimo, the people are so nice and make you feel really special and at home, they all go the extra mile, from the rangers to the staff on the floor and even in the kitchen. The food is to die for, every day the menu is different, you cannot go home with an empty stomach! The rooms are superb, very private with a fantastic view into the valley, and don’t forget to pay a visit to their ‘hide’ where you can get very close to the animals visiting the lodge’s pond, ideal for some nice close-up pictures.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Book early!
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.
This place is amazing! Staff, the communal areas, the lodges, the food... Nothing that I can fault.
We stayed for 3 nights in mid-October, which was very dry. We had Ralf as our ranger, and Joseph as our tracker - both of them were great. We saw so many animals while out on drives, but also had an amazing time whilst back at the lodge. We spent most of our time in the hide watching elephants coming for drink/bath time.
The food was just amazing - we had a menu given to each lunchtime for the evening with around 5 choices. Breakfast and high tea were also delicious.
The staff here cannot do enough for you to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable.
We can't wait to go back ASAP!
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Date of stay: October 2019Trip 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.
Spent 4 fabulous nights at Impodimo Lodge. What you can expect - outstanding personal service with every member of the team going the extra mile to make you feel welcome, very good cuisine, attention to dietary requirements with more than one option for Vegetarians, game viewing from a hide a few steps from the lodge so if you choose to miss a game drive you can sit in the hide at any time. We celebrated a special occasion and were very spoilt. South Africans take advantage of Covid rate specials. You will not be disappointed. The lodge welcomes children but manages extremely well with a “couples” experience. And Covid protocols are of a good standard if that is important for your party.
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Request a suite overlooking the waterhole
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.
They prefer neutral colors that blend into the background. Need sunglasses and sunscreen. If you’re sensitive to dust, maybe a mouth cover. We were there during their winter so we had to dress quite warm. I couldn’t say about this time of year. Have fun!
London, United Kingdom34 contributions37 helpful votes
Maria
I can't speak for the other reserve you mention but all I can say is that Impodimo was wonderful! All the rooms are the same, subject of course to the vista. The hotel is not pretentious neither are the staff, and the hotel buildings and the rooms are maintained to a very high standard. The food is great and plentiful and the safari's are magical with an enthusiastic, informative and responsible team of guides and drivers to look after you.
Jeremy
There are more places to choose from in the Madikwe Game Reserve area.
PRICE RANGE
R 13,850 - R 25,727 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
impodimo game 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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