Cover Feature
Y
ou enter Jaci’s Safari Lodge
in Madikwe Game Reserve in
North West Province via an
old-fashioned wooden swing
bridge. It hangs over the
brush and swings tentatively
with every step – an exhilarating start to
your African bush adventure. The bridge
leads to the main lodge, where oldfashioned style ends abruptly. The lodge
is beautiful. It is divided into separate
areas and the furniture and upholstery
are bold and proudly African, with bright,
colourful printed fabrics covering the
sofas and armchairs in the lounge area
and blocks of colour used for the dining
room chairs in the restaurant area.
The main lodge is made up of an
upstairs bar, curio shop, and open-plan
kitchen and dining area, which extends
out onto the wrap-around deck and
cosy lounge area. A large fireplace takes
centre stage and the comfortable pillows
that surround i t ensure that it’s a popular
chill out spot between meals.
Jaci’s Safari Lodge prides itself on
putting guests first and the staff try
to accommodate your every whim.
From providing special noodles for the
kids’ dinners on request, to supplying
babysitters free every evening, it’s the
special care and attention to details that
make the lodge and its staff stand out.
We love the accommodation at
Jaci’s. Only eight suites (or should we
say luxury tents?) are available, so the
experience is an intimate one. But don’t
expect the average camping tent. These
large canvas villas are more of the Out of
Africa variety and sit on concrete slabs
with under-floor heating.
The bathtub is also made from concrete
and can fit the whole family, while the
outside showers allow you to engage
with nature at will. The front flaps of the
tent remain open throughout the day so
that you’re looking out onto nature at
all times until night time falls and, after
returning from the evening game drive,
you find your room has been
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