Uncle Arie goes Safari

Ome Arie gaat op Safarie, that is what we say in Dutch...it means kinda the same as the Brady bunch goes on a safari. You kinda get the picture?? (Click on the picture to see a larger image)

Well, next month the girls have a long weekend off from school so we are planning to go on a safari, to see the Big 5. We found a beautiful game reserve, only 3-4 hour drive from Johannesburg. Madikwe Game Reserve is one of the few reserves in southern Africa, which is malaria free. Located in South Africa along the Botswana border and 20 kilometres from Gaberone, the Reserve lies within a transition region between lowveld bushveld and the Kalahari thornveld. As a result the region is host to an incredible diversity of species from both ecosystems. Geographically the region has enormous volcanic intrusions known as Inselbergs, wide open plains and the riverine environment along the Marico River in the east of the reserve.

Madikwe has about 20 lodges to choose from and we are planning to go to Thakadu River Camp it is a community-based Tented Safari Camp. The tented camp, located on the banks of the Marico River, is an ecotourism partnership between North-West Parks, the Molatedi Community and the operator, The Madikwe Collection. So we are going green as well ;-)

The tents are large and spacious and are wonderfully decorated and appointed. So I am sure we don't feel like camping, but still have the adventure of it. We only have the good side of camping, not the bad uncomfortable one :-) We'll go on 2 safari's a day, one morning and one afternoon in an open Jeep. Since the tents are directly on the river where the big 5 come and drink, we can see all the animals right from our deck...isn't that cool? We're probably going to see black and white rhino, buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dogs, and so much birds and different kind of flora and fauna. Can't wait!

"This Thakadu River Camp, where the spirit of the past whispers softly in the grass when the wind blows, and strange things can still happen on the banks of the Marico River"