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Safaris & Wildlife

Safaris at Kwa Madwala

After ten years of successful commercial operation at Kwa Madwala we have learnt a great deal and our wish is to share this advice on your big game safari experience with you. We sincerely hope you will find this information and the safari combinations we suggest useful in ensuring the best possible chance of large animal sightings and memories that will last a lifetime.

The information we give below is based on detailed research and many interviews with guests who have visited us over the years. In addition to this we have entered into extensive debates and consultations with many top industry tour operators and agents who have also contributed hugely to what we have to say.

Over 70% of our guests visit us primarily for a safari experience based on game drives and big game sightings. In most cases they travel thousands of miles and spend large sums on airfares and travel arrangements. The very least we can do is then offer them the best possible advice for their safari.

For this reason we recommend a minimum stay of three nights with a combination of the following safari experiences:

• Three Kwa Madwala Private Game Reserve game drives: either two morning drives and one late afternoon drive or two late afternoon and one morning drives. See Kwa Madwala Game drives for more information.

• One Greater Kruger National Park game drive: either a morning or an afternoon safari. See Greater Kruger National Park drives for more information.

• One half day Standard Kruger National Park day tour: either the morning or afternoon half of the day. See Standard Kruger National Park Safari for more information.

• A Kwa Madwala Night Safari after dinner. See Kwa Madwala Night Safari for more information.

• A Kwa Madwala Walking Safari. See Kwa Madwala Walking Safaris for more information.

The Kwa Madwala conservancy in itself offers an excellent game viewing experience with 95% of our guests seeing lion, rhino, elephant, and occasionally leopard as well as a variety of general other game in a three drive period.

The combination of Kwa Madwala, a private concession in Kruger which is adjacent to our northern border, the Standard Kruger Safari either in open or closed vehicles, a true night safari and a walking one has produced many special close encounters and unique sightings which can only be described as the ultimate all round safari South Africa can possibly offer.

It is important to note that although Kruger National Park is a far larger conservancy and is a ‘closer to natural environment’ in comparison to Kwa Madwala Private Game Reserve, both these environments are man managed. Natural migration patterns of elephants and wilder beast have been broken down by fences in both these eco systems.

Wildlife at Kwa Madwala

To compare the two types of conservancy:

• Kwa Madwala Private Game Reserve is a 4000 hectare independent big game and wilderness conservancy, well stocked in terms of the big 4 including lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and a wide variety of other general game.
  

• Kruger National Park is a 2.2 million hectare independent big game conservancy and national park with a variety of most game species including the big 5; lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard.
  

The main differences between the two in terms of eco systems are as follows:

• Kwa Madwala has for example one family herd of wild elephants, a small herd of white rhino and one small pride of lions which are likely to be seen in the conservancy. This is similar to most smaller and independently fenced conservancies and game parks in South Africa where predator prey relationships need to be carefully monitored and managed.

• In comparison, Kruger has several herd of elephant, rhino and prides of lion, however there are large scale management plans in place to ensure specie populations are retained in line with what is scientifically and biologically defined as suitable by the various authorities and environmentalists who are employed by Kruger to carry out this function.

• Kwa Madwala is a smaller managed eco system in comparison. The animals here can only roam within the 4000 hectares fenced conservancy giving reasonable control over sightings. At Kruger the animals can roam in a much larger area in a less restricted environment.

All Kwa Madwala safaris begin with a briefing and safety talk given by your local, highly experienced and professional ranger.

Our safari Manager, Mark and his assistant Con, are always available on site to discuss your safari in more detail. They can be contacted by email at any time whilst you are in the planning stage of your trip to offer advice and answer questions. Please address all your queries in an email to the central reservations email address.

We look forward to welcoming and entertaining you in a simplistic safari environment and ensuring you are cared for with true South African hospitality.