Rockfig Lodge Madikwe
Rockfig Lodge is a small 4-villa privately owned safari lodge in Madikwe, North West in South Africa. Rockfig Lodge has a very high Booking.com guest satisfaction score of 9.5, which is very impressive, especially as places like Rockfig usually receive a lot of discerning guests. I am one of them and I arrived early morning with high expectations.
South Africa is one of my favourite countries in the world but before this trip, I had never visited Madikwe and I had never rented a car in the country before. For the trip to Madikwe, I rented a car in Johannesburg and after a stunning drive, I arrived excited to experience fantastic wildlife and relax at a beautiful lodge. Madikwe is one of South Africa’s largest and most diverse wildlife reserves. Covering over 75,000 hectares, it is home to the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo as well as other species like wild dogs, cheetahs, and over 300 bird species.
Unlike many other reserves, Madikwe is malaria-free, making it a family-friendly destination. Established in 1991, it is known for its successful conservation efforts, particularly the reintroduction of endangered species. Operation Phoenix began in early 1991 and is one the biggest game translocation exercises ever undertaken worldwide. Madikwe offers a range of luxury lodges, providing visitors with an exclusive and intimate safari experience. I selected Rockfig which is one of the highest ranked in Madikwe, but there are cheaper options available like Buffalo Ridge Safari Lodge nearby, which I visited for a day visit. Buffalo Ridge has an older classical design, but all set in beautiful surroundings.
Back to Rockfig, I received a warm welcome upon arrival and was quickly escorted to the villa. I stayed in an impressive villa which had a rain shower, outdoor shower, double sink, separate sitting area, and a large kitchen, but the highlight was the large outdoor area with a private plunge pool and stunning views. Before, during and after my stay Daina Prins did an excellent job in communicating and I am thankful for all her help in making a stay at Rockfig possible.
Although there are a lot of great things to write about the lodge, the main attraction is of course the animals. I went out on a game drive on an afternoon and it was one of the best, if not the best safari experience I’ve had. I saw a lot of animals, took a lot of pictures and was very impressed. The driver did a great job showing me around which made a difference. It is a different experience to experience wildlife without a lot of other cars and people around.
Food is another thing guests can enjoy at Rockfig. The restaurant did a great job in helping me with dietary requirements and I enjoyed some good meals. I went back to Madikwe and Rockfig later in my recent trip to South Africa and was very impressed. The staff were very kind and accommodating, and it is not a surprise that Rockfig has such a high guest satisfaction score, as it really is a very impressive travel experience. Below are some of my photos, but you can visit their official website for more information.
