Guest Post - Moya Wa Tenga - Pilanesberg vs Madikwe Game Reserves

This is a guest post by Moya Wa Tenga Guided Safaris

First time travellers to South Africa often find themselves having to make the tough choice of choosing a wildlife conservation area to visit during their stay.  The choices are endless really, Kruger Park, the private reserves adjacent to Kruger Park, Pilanesberg, Madikwe, Kgalagadi National Park and and and... The questions of "which is better, Kruger Park or Pilanesberg?" or "How does Madikwe Differ from the Kgalagadi?" are often posed to me by guests when out on some of my guided tours and in email during the planning phase of the trips.

It is also a common question raised on a number of travel forums on the web and, having guided in a number of these conservation areas over a number of years, one would think that it would be easy for me to provide an outright answer in favour of one area... but that is not the case.

You see, its just not that simple, each area has its own unique attractions, vegetation, climate, wildlife, lodges, operational procedures. These are just a few of the factors that contribute to the overall appeal of an area. What I can do though, is highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each of the reserves, which would make it a lot easier for you to decide which of these magnificent conservation areas would best suite your needs, expectations, and budget. I will hopefully make this a monthly post in the Destinations category over the next couple of months as I look comparing the following:

•     Madikwe vs. Pilanesberg

•     Pilanesberg vs Kruger National Park vs. Kgalagadi National Park

•     The Private Reserves adjacent to Kruger National Park (APNR) vs. Madikwe

I have kept the areas to those which I have personal experience with.

Madikwe vs. Pilanesberg

Location & Getting There

Pilanesberg is situated a short 2.5 hours drive North West of Johannesburg. The Madikwe Game Reserve, situated against the Botswana border, around four hours drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria. Madikwe has two airstrips (one in the East which is currently being upgraded and tarred, and a gravel strip in the West). Both reserves are Malaria free.

Based on location alone, Pilanesberg is clearly the better option if you have limited time (say 1 night) where as Madikwe would probably be a better option for longer stays of 2 nights or longer. Private road transfers are available for both of these reserves, whilst regular chartered flights into Madikwe Game Reserve can also be arranged.

A Brief History

Pilanesberg

Thanks to Operation Genesis in 1979, which involved the game-fencing of the reserve and the re-introduction of many long-vanished species, the park now has in excess of 7 000 animals including 24 of the larger species. The area is fringed by three concentric ridges or rings of hills - the formation rises from the surrounding plains like a bubble. The structure of the park is termed the "Pilanesberg Game Reserve Alkaline Ring Complex". Pilanesberg has survived ages of erosion and stands high above the surrounding bushveld plains. The early presence of man can be seen in the numerous Stone and Iron Age sites that are scattered throughout the park. The park exists within the transition zone between the dry Kalahari and wetter Lowveld vegetation, commonly referred to as "Bushveld". Unlike any other large park, unique overlaps of mammals, birds and vegetation occur because of this transition zone.

Madikwe

Madikwe Game Reserve was officiallys announced to the public in August 1991 and is now one of South Africa's largest game reserves. Madikwe has the distinction of being one of the few game reserves in the world to be proclaimed purely on the grounds of being the most appropriate and sustainable land use for an area. The reserve consists of vast plains of open woodlands and grasslands, dissected by the rugged Rant van Tweedepoort, and bordered in the south by the Dwarsberg Mountains. The area is dotted with huge rocky hills, known as inselbergs. The entire reserve has been enclosed in a 150 km perimeter fence which has been electrified to prevent the escape of elephants and the larger predators.

Both reserves are owned and managed by the provincial government's North West Parks and Tourism Board.

 Accommodation Options

 Pilanesberg offers a wide variety of accommodation options to suite everyone’s budget:

•     Campsites from around R 210.00 a night for up to 6 people

•     Safari Tents with communal ablution facilities from around R 750 for 2 pax/night to R 1 200.00pps/night 

•     Chalets with kitchen and ablution facilities form around R 1 800.00 for 4 pax/night

•     5 Star luxury Lodges form around R 2 150.00 pp/night sharing (Ivory Tree Game Lodge)

All of these accommodation options except for the 5 Star Lodges allow for you to drive through the park in your private vehicle. The 5 Star lodges include guided game drives on an open aired vehicle. These lodges still only have access to the same roads that the general public can drive, with the only real benefits being the services of a guide and the fact that sightings of the Big5 will be relayed between guides via radio.

Madikwe offers a far more exclusive experience. Accommodation options in Madikwe are dominated by luxurious private lodges ranging in size from 10 to 60 beds, including a very comfortable bush camp (with no electricity or running water). Prices range from around R 1 500.00 pp/night sharing for the bush camp, right up to in excess of R 8 000.00 pp/night sharing for some of the more exclusive camps. These rates usually include two guided game activities (walks or drives) per day, accommodation, all meals, and depending on the lodge, all local beverages and house wines. Some of the lodges in Madikwe include:

• Top End - Madikwe Hills, Royal Madikwe, Jaci's Safari & Tree Lodges 
• Upper Range - Impodimo, Tuningi, Tau, Buffalo Ridge, Thakadu, Rhulani, Motswiri

Game and Bird Viewing

The open savannah of Pilanesberg makes spotting and viewing game fairly easy even for first time self-drivers. Sightings of Impala, Zebra, Wildebeest, Giraffe, Warthog, Hippo and White Rhino can almost be guaranteed even during a day trip to the park. Elephants, Brown Hyena and Lions are seen fairly regularly with sightings of leopard and buffalo being relatively scarce. Bare in might that its all about luck – the more time you spend out in the park the luckier you get! Pilanesberg is unique in that the series of concentric hills that dominate the landscape are the result it is an extinct volcanic system. It is these hills that provide a dramatic background to most of the sightings and add an interesting element to photography in the park.

Madikwe’s game viewing is of a very high standard, aided by the fact that all guides are in radio contact with one another, and provides regular sightings of zebra, Impala, wildebeest, giraffe, warthog, white rhino, lion, elephant, white rhino, brown hyena, and spotted hyena. Wild Dog, Buffalo, Black Rhino and leopard are seen fairly regularly in the reserve as well. Sightings in Madikwe are always limited to a maximum of 3 vehicles in order to maintain the feeling of exclusivity and to ensure the animals’ well being. Sightings in Pilanesberg on the other hand are not controlled and you could find yourself as 1 out of 20 vehicles jostling for a view of a lion 200m away.

Another notable difference between these areas, apart form the frequency with which certain species are seen, is that your guide is allowed to go off-road for up to 500m in Madikwe.

No off-roading is permitted in Pilanesberg! This means that if you find lions walking down the road before heading off into the bush – you can follow up on them by driving off-road. This allows you to get far closer to the animals than you would normally be able to in Pilanesberg – a huge plus for photography! Where Pilanesberg wins hands down is on the birdlife, more specifically, water birds. There are a number of hides/blinds that have been built on the edges of waterholes, which provide excellent game and bird viewing opportunities. Photographers often congregate at these hides to capture images of Malachite Kingfishers and a variety of other water bird species.

 

Which should I choose?

Essentially, the two biggest factors in deciding which of these conservation areas is best suited for you will boil down to your budget. The luxurious lodges of Madikwe are great if they fall within your budget – I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed with the overall experience and would be only to pleased to assist you in finding a lodge which fits your budget. Pilanesberg is ideal for those with limited time, a tighter budget or who simply prefer to do a self drive vacation. (You can however have the guided experience by making use of our tailor made services, which include transport, the services of a private guide, all meals and limited local beverages. For more information on these packages, click here).

I hope you have found this post informative and helpful.

If you have any additional words of wisdom to add, please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the post. Also, if you require additional information or would like assistance with putting together a tailor-made itinerary to either of these parks, please contact me directly.

Lodge of the Week - Thakadu River Camp - Madikwe Game Reserve

Community Owned Splendour

Thakadu River Camp was opened in 2006 and is run by the local Molatedi community under the guidance of a trust and lies along the Marico River in the eastern section of the Madikwe game reserve. The tented camp is set upon a river bank, surrounded by tall trees and is frequently visited by wildlife (safely separated by an electrified perimeter). The main lodge offers a selection of seating areas for guests to choose from and a central dining area. The swimming pool and bush boma form part of the main lodge area and are easily accessed. The Thakadu team are very enthusiastic and understandably proud to be running their own lodge however it would be nice to see some of the community influence in the décor and food. Game drives are always a highlight when traversing the Madikwe Game Reserve. Little Thakadu is a smaller version of the River lodge and offers a more exclusive safari experience - a great option for a group or a large family. By booking Little Thakadu, you have access to your own private pool, a private dining area with personal chef and an exclusive-use game viewer. The 12 tented rooms are comfortably furnished and each has their own private balcony.

As the fourth largest game reserve in South Africa, covering 75 000 hectares, Madikwe has a reputation for its’ successful reintroduction of the endangered African Wild Dog. The big 5 are all on offer here and the reserve has a bird life to delight any bird enthusiast. Madikwe Game Reserve is one of the few reserves in southern Africa that 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, which adds to the grandeur of the rolling hills on the horizon.

Thakadu River Lodge is ideal for couples or small groups. Unless booking Little Thakadu, the main lodge is not recommended for families with young children.

RATINGS BREAKDOWN
Core Ratings:	Sun Rays
Lodge and Camp	6.0
Safari Experience	7.1
Service	6.2
Facilities	4.8
Unique Rating	7.1
Conservation	6.0
Social involvement	9.6
OVERALL RATING:	7.6

Read more about Thakadu and Madikwe on The Game Lodge Index

Enjoy Classical Music in Madikwe and save our Rhinos

Join us for a magical musical event under the African Sky in Madikwe and support the fight against poaching

On the 13th of November the Madikwe Collection will be hosting a 6 piece musical ensemble, including
members of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra,

for a live performance surrounded by the Madikwe bushveld.

. This event will be in aid of anti-poaching and R250 of each ticket sold will be donated to the North
West Parks & Tourism Board Counter Poaching Unit.
. The tickets will be sold for R600 per person and will include a 2 part recital of well known classical
music, a short talk about poaching, a welcome drink and light snacks.
. A cash bar will be open before and after the performance.
. Following the performance guests will return to their lodges for dinner.


The Madikwe Collection has created 2 night packages for the weekend of this event.

. Thakadu, Buffalo Ridge and Bush House: R4600 per person
. Tuningi and Motswiri: R5600 per person

*These packages include 2 nights accommodation, all meals, daily game drives, the musical performance and
R250 donation towards anti-poaching.
Reservations: The Madikwe Collection

Saving Africa's Rhinos - A Photo Journey

Photo courtesy Kev Collett Photography

Photo courtesy Kev Collett Photography

Photo courtesy PMdT Photography

Photo courtesy PMdT Photography

Photo courtesy PMdT Photography

Photo courtesy PMdT Photography

Photo courtesy PMdT Photography

Photo courtesy Idwala Game Lodge

Rhinos: Controversial safari operator held

Rhinos: Controversial safari operator held: "A controversial safari operator, jailed earlier this year in the US and banned from hunting in Zimbabwe, has been arrested for rhino poaching." - News24.com

Johannesburg - The owner of a safari business, his wife and a professional hunter are among the "masterminds" who have been arrested in connection with rhino poaching.

Dawie Groenewald, 42, the wealthy driving force behind Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris in Polokwane, his wife, Sariette, 34, and Tielman Erasmus, a professional hunter, are behind bars.

They were arrested on Monday along with Dr Karel Toet and Dr Manie du Plessis, two veterinarians from Modimolle, and Toet's wife, Marisa.

Groenewald, a former police official, was suspended from the South African Professional Hunters Association four years ago, and Zimbabwean authorities put a stop to his hunting there.

He was arrested in the US in April this year in connection with a leopard trophy which was illegally hunted in South Africa and exported to the US. He pled guilty and was sentenced to pay a fine of $30 000 (R228 000).

He spent eight days in prison there, over two months under house arrest and also had to pay $7 500 (R57 000) in damages to the American hunter.

He denied in an interview with Media24's investigative team that he was involved in rhino poaching and has been forbidden from entering Zimbabwe.

Notorious

According to the South African Aircraft register, Groenewald is linked to a closed corporation which owns a Robinson R44 helicopter with the registration ZS-HBH.

His wife, Sariette, is listed as a director of Valinor Trading 142 - the owner of the helicopter.

It is a known fact that helicopters are often used during rhino poaching operations.

Groenewald's Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris is rather notorious in hunting circles.

They advertise hunting safaris in Botswana, Tanzania, South Africa and even Zimbabwe, despite the fact that the Zimbabwean nature conservation authority (Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority) forbade them from entering the country in September 2004.

A Zimbabwean cabinet minister and well-known figure in conservation circles, David Coltart, had earlier described Out of Africa to Newsweek as a "cruel organisation which has no respect for the environment" and strives for "unreachable hunting quotas".

Hunting experts in Zimbabwe allege that Out of Africa has strong links with politicians close to President Robert Mugabe.

During the height of political instability in Zimbabwe, the organisation apparently organised hunting safaris on farms and land invaded by Zanu-PF's "war veterans".

Shock

About 100 vehicles from the police and the department of nature conservation raided game farms in the Musina area on Tuesday. A police helicopter and aircraft were also used.

Several people, including professional hunters, were questioned.

There have been no further arrests.

National police spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo said on Monday the nine suspects are allegedly involved in killing rhinos, sawing off their horns and removing the carcasses.

These nine suspects will appear in court in Musina on Wednesday, the day declared International Rhino Day by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The South African Veterinary Association (Sava) expressed its shock over the arrest of Toet and Du Plessis.

It distanced itself from any "colleagues" who might be involved in rhino poaching.

Altogether 210 rhinos have been poached for their horns right across the country since January.

Join together for World Rhino Day!

http://www.rhinoconservation.org/

World Rhino Day is September 22^nd – how will you show your support for these precious pachyderms?

On September 22^nd, people all over the world will take a stand against rhino poaching and the illegal trade in rhino horn in recognition of “World Rhino Day”.

Rhinos are under siege, due to the demand for illegal rhino horn in traditional medicines – despite the fact that rhino horn has been scientifically tested and proven to have no medicinal value.

According to WWF, more than 600 rhinos have been gunned down since 2005, and the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC found that rhino horn from southern Africa is destined for consumer markets in China and Vietnam.

Make noise for rhinos!

World Rhino Day, a global campaign initiated by WWF, calls on all concerned citizens of the world to dust off their vuvuzelas, toot their horns, blow their didgeridoos and make as much noise as possible at 1:00 PM Central Africa Time (CAT), as a symbolic act to send a powerful message to leaders that the time to take serious and effective action against rhino poaching is now.

Attend a virtual event presented by Africam

If you wish to attend a virtual event (perhaps due to time zone differences), Africam will present a tribute to the rhino beginning at 12:30 PM CAT, followed by the blowing of the vuvuzela at 1:00 PM CAT.

Use the World Time Clock converter to see what time to tune in.

The event will be shown on the Nkorho Cam on Africam – check out the details here.

Social networking on World Rhino Day

Celebrate World Rhino Day on Facebook® by joining these pages and events:

• Saving Rhinos – lots of profile pics for World Rhino Day!
• Friends of the Rhino
• World Rhino Day
• Watch “Rhino Day” LIVE
• Support World Rhino Day

Spread the word, invite your friends and show your support for rhinos on World Rhino Day!

Rhino poaching - vets arrested

Photo courtesy of Kev Collett Photography

Rhino poaching - vets arrested: "Two well-known veterinarians from Modimolle in Limpopo have been arrested over their alleged involvement in "hundreds of incidents" of rhino poaching." Read more from News24

Johannesburg - Two well-known veterinarians from Modimolle in Limpopo were arrested on Monday, along with seven other people, over their alleged involvement in "hundreds of incidents" of rhino poaching.

National police spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo said the suspects are "the masterminds" of a syndicate believed to be involved in rhino poaching across the country.

"The arrests were a great breakthrough for us. More arrests may follow," Naidoo said.

Dr Karel Toet and his wife, Marisa, were arrested early on Monday morning. Dr Manie du Plessis, one of Toet's partners, was also arrested.

They own the Nylstroom animal clinic, as well as Limpopo Wildlife, which is involved with catching and transporting game on farms.

Naidoo said two businessmen - as well as the one businessman's wife - were also behind bars. The other suspects' occupations are unknown. They were arrested in Polokwane, Musina and Modimolle respectively.

"These people were supposedly involved with killing rhinos, selling the horns and disposing of the carcasses," said Naidoo.
Helicopters

This breakthrough comes after five rhinos were killed for their horns in a nature reserve in the North West at the weekend.

Altogether 210 rhinos have been killed for their horns since the start of the year, compared to 122 poached last year.

Naidoo said the police's specialist unit, the Hawks, conducted the investigation and made the arrests in co-operation with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), SANParks, the department of nature conservation and the national prosecuting authority (NPA).

Farmers in Limpopo's Lephalale and Vaalwater areas, as well as the North West, have recently complained about helicopters with obscured registrations flying over game farms.

The CAA was approached to take part in the investigation.

It was alleged that poachers were dropped on farms by helicopter and then picked up again once they had cut off the animals' horns.
Cold-blooded slaughter

Beeld has heard that the vets from Modimolle have been under investigation for the last few months.

The news of their arrest spread through town like a wildfire on Monday.

Monday's arrests came about a week after Tom Fourie, a well-known figure in wildlife circles in Musina, was arrested. He has already appeared in court and was released on R2 000 bail.

It is not clear whether Fourie is involved with the same syndicate.

Naidoo said the police have their eye on other syndicates that are involved in "the cold-blooded slaughter" of rhinos in nature reserves and game farms.

The investigating team is still searching various properties.

Naidoo said the nine suspects are being held in the police cells in Musina. They will appear in the magistrate's court on Wednesday, at which time the exact charges will be announced.

Faan Coetzee, head of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), was overjoyed about the news on Monday.

"We've been waiting a long time for this," he said.

Video from Djuma Game Reserve: Malachite Kingfisher

Photo of the Week

Malachite Kingfisher by Kev Collett Photography

Only 13-14cm, this is a small kingfisher commonly found in riverine forests and near slow moving water or ponds. The Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedo cristata) is widely distributed throughout Southern Africa and feed off fish, frogs, crabs and aquatic insects. 


You can view more of Kev's photos on his webpage - Kev Collett Photography.