Combining luxury with adventure at Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge

When baby boomer travelers approach Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge, they have to look twice. Where is it? Perched on a hillside among boulders and Tamoti trees, the South African luxury lodge seems to melt into its surroundings. Wooden walkways connect ten suites to the main lodge where dinner is served on a dining table set with china and crystal. Nature combined with luxury, my kind of adventure.

On our stay at Madikwe Hills, Alan and I enjoyed a suite that literally rambled through the rocks. No. 6 had a living area with fireplace and a large bedroom that looked out onto a private plunge pool. A flight of steps led from the dressing area to a bath with a shower carved into a boulder. Beyond the glass door, another patio contained an outdoor shower and tub for bathing with a view.

Madikwe Hills is located in Madikwe Game Reserve, part of South Africa’s North West Province near the Botswana border. Created in 1991 to stimulate the area’s economy plus conserve the land, 8200 animals were relocated to the malaria-free zone consisting of plains bordered by rocking outcroppings and mountains.

During our stay, we watched a female lion stalk a wildebeest, followed an elephant herd, listened to the roar of a lion claiming his territory and learned the importance of dung beetles from our ranger, Jaco. The area is known for wild dog sightings but unfortunately, they remained illusive during our South African safaris.

Although game drives dominated the day, food was a close second with meals rivaling any fine restaurant. And the final touch? On the last night, we returned from the game drive to find flickering candles lining the staircase to the claw-foot tub where a hot bubble bath waited. I like ending my day’s adventure with soothing luxury. How about you?

Have you stayed at Madikwe Hills Private Game Reserve? Share your baby boomer travels by posting a comment. Of course I’ll have to return to see those wild dogs.

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Tagged as: baby boomer, Baby boomer travel, baby boomers, boomer, game lodge, luxury lodging, luxury safari, Madikwe, madikwe game reserve, Madikwe Hills, safari, South Africa, south african animals, travel