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Jaci's Safari Lodge

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Hotel overview

The name Jaci is synonymous with the Madikwe, as Jaci’s Safari Lodge has been a stalwart almost since the inception of the reserve. Alongside the Marico River at the eastern edge of the reserve, Jaci’s is particularly well-known because it is so child friendly. Whereas most safari lodges either refuse to accept children, or don’t allow them on game drives, Jaci’s has a special programme dedicated to kids. Special drives are laid on, either family drives, where parents and children set off to learn about the bush together, or jungle drives, where the very young can be taken off their parents hands for an introduction to the bush – allowing their parents to go on a normal game drive. Child minding is also provided free of charge. The lodge itself is very African in feel – vibrant colours, thatched roofs, mosquito nets and wooden furniture all compete for your attention. There is also a second lodge, Jaci’s Tree Lodge, which is more modern and funky in design.

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Quirky excursions

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Excursion

Bush Dinner in Madikwe

When at a private safari lodge, dinner is usually eaten in a variety of different locations around the lodge, changing from night to night. One of the most exciting options is a bush dinner. It’s normally a surprise, and at the end of your evening game drive, when you think you’re heading back to the lodge, you’ll find the ranger pulling up in a secluded spot where there’ll be tables set up with the usual full silver service, all romantically lit by lamplight. The chefs will be beavering away nearby, preparing food of the usual high standard for you to enjoy beneath the open night sky.

Excursion

Madikwe Game Drives

When staying at a private safari lodge, the bulk of your game viewing will be done on safari drives. These take place in the early morning and late afternoon, as many of the animals everyone wants to see (notably the predators) are most active around dawn and dusk. In the morning you'll be wakened by a call from your ranger, who will then be waiting for you with coffee or tea before you get into the safari drive vehicle. You may stop during the morning drive for more coffee! After a drive of around three hours, you'll be returned to the lodge for a massive breakfast. Your time is then yours to do as you please until mid/late afternoon. Usually lunch will be served (although sometimes not during their winter) and you may have the chance to go on a safari walk. Then you meet your ranger again for afternoon tea before heading off on your evening drive. You'll stop for sundowner drinks, and the last hour or so of your drive will be in the dark, using a spotlight to try and spot some of the nocturnal creatures. Upon your return its time for a gorgeous dinner before retiring to bed in order to be as fresh as possible when that morning call comes! Drive times are determined by dawn and dusk. So in their summer, morning drive starts very early and the evening drive starts quite late, allowing for a big chunk of free time in the middle of the day. In their winter, these times get compressed as the day is shorter – hence some lodges skipping lunch during the winter months. When out on drive your ranger (and his tracker in those reserves where they are used) will use his skills and experience of the bush, plus information from other rangers out on game drives, to pinpoint the best game viewing. He (or she!) will also provide a running commentary on the animals you are seeing – it is truly amazing how much information they are able to pass on. If you particularly want to see certain animals, do let your ranger know and they'll try to oblige wherever possible, although much is dependent on the animals cooperating, and of course the wishes of the other guests in your safari drive vehicle (unless you have paid for a private vehicle).

Excursion

Madikwe Bush Walks

Most lodges in the Madikwe, in the period around lunchtime between the two usual daily game drives, offer guests the chance to go on a short safari walk. The focus on these is not the game you’d see on drive. Instead you’ll concentrate on learning about the trees and plants, including their various uses in bush medicine and bush craft. You’ll also have the chance to look at the much, much smaller animals like spiders and millipedes, no less worthy of your attention than the bigger animals in the reserve! Some of the private reserves offer a more intensive walking safari experience, where you’ll walk for large parts of a day through the bush, or even for a couple of days, camping out. Sometimes these will be to walk with cheetahs, which seem particularly comfortable being accompanied or tailed by humans; other times it will just be about the thrill of spending protracted amounts of time on foot in what has become an alien and fascinating environment for modern man, never knowing what is around the next corner, and really getting the chance to understand and appreciate nature. If you have a particular interest in walking safaris please let us know and we can guide you to the best lodges for this. &;

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