It may not be the most luxurious lodging option in Madikwe Game Reserve, but when it comes to value for money without sacrificing on quality of safari guides – which ultimately is the most important part of the experience – I think Tau is the park’s best bet. And, while digs here are not first-class, they are far from shabby. I loved my cozy thatched roof chalet, and the thought the house keeping team put into spelling out welcome with flower petals on the giant bed when I checked in. While sleeping quarters are a bit tight compared to some of the luxury lodges I’ve slept in, I loved the size of the bed here and the quality of the mattress and linens. The giant bathtub and massive outdoor bush shower were added bonuses. So was the private deck fronting the waterhole where I witnessed dozens of zebras, wildebeest, and elephants drinking and hanging out within range of a smartphone’s camera lens.
Tau prides itself on its hospitality, and the rangers are very bush savvy, humorous, and well trained, making the safari experience here one of the best I’ve had in South Africa. Twice daily game drives including meals are complimentary with the nightly rate, and I’ve never seen as many lions as I did on my drives at Tau. While it isn’t technically a private game reserve, Madikwe, unlike Kruger or Pilanesberg, does not allow self-drive safaris or day visitors, which means you must stay at one of the lodges to see the animals. Best of all for wildlife photographers, the lack of vehicles on the road has made the animals braver. They’ve gotten so used to the sturdy open-sided jeeps driven by trained rangers who know not to invade their privacy too badly, so don’t see them as a threat. So when your guide pulls up to a herd of buffalo and cuts the engine, you usually have time to snap as many pictures as you like without your subject high-tailing it out of the frame. Rangers also carry radios allowing them to communicate with all the other drivers in the park. The reserve has some restrictions on driving off road, but they are minimal, and the jeeps are tough enough to get across pretty much anything, letting you get close to the animals.
Expert Review
It may not be the most luxurious lodging option in Madikwe Game Reserve, but when it comes to value for...
It may not be the most luxurious lodging option in Madikwe Game Reserve, but when it comes to value for money without sacrificing on quality of safari guides – which ultimately is the most important part of the experience – I think Tau is the park’s best bet. And, while digs here are not first-class, they are far from shabby. I loved my cozy thatched roof chalet, and the thought the house keeping team put into spelling out welcome with flower petals on the giant bed when I checked in. While sleeping quarters are a bit tight compared to some of the luxury lodges I’ve slept in, I loved the size of the bed here and the quality of the mattress and linens. The giant bathtub and massive outdoor bush shower were added bonuses. So was the private deck fronting the waterhole where I witnessed dozens of zebras, wildebeest, and elephants drinking and hanging out within range of a smartphone’s camera lens.
Tau prides itself on its hospitality, and the rangers are very bush savvy, humorous, and well trained, making the safari experience here one of the best I’ve had in South Africa. Twice daily game drives including meals are complimentary with the nightly rate, and I’ve never seen as many lions as I did on my drives at Tau. While it isn’t technically a private game reserve, Madikwe, unlike Kruger or Pilanesberg, does not allow self-drive safaris or day visitors, which means you must stay at one of the lodges to see the animals. Best of all for wildlife photographers, the lack of vehicles on the road has made the animals braver. They’ve gotten so used to the sturdy open-sided jeeps driven by trained rangers who know not to invade their privacy too badly, so don’t see them as a threat. So when your guide pulls up to a herd of buffalo and cuts the engine, you usually have time to snap as many pictures as you like without your subject high-tailing it out of the frame. Rangers also carry radios allowing them to communicate with all the other drivers in the park. The reserve has some restrictions on driving off road, but they are minimal, and the jeeps are tough enough to get across pretty much anything, letting you get close to the animals.