Madikwe Game Reserve, Game reserve near Kalahari Desert, South Africa.
Madikwe Game Reserve is a conservation area in South Africa's North West province, near the Botswana border, covering 750 square kilometers (290 square miles) of open grassland, scattered acacia woodland, and low rocky ridges. The terrain supports elephants, lions, leopards, black rhinos, and buffalo, alongside giraffes, zebras, and many antelope species that move freely across the plains and dry riverbeds.
Operation Phoenix transformed abandoned farmland into a wildlife reserve between 1991 and 1997 by relocating more than 8,000 animals from across South Africa. The conversion arose from the need to establish a sustainable land use after cattle farming proved economically unviable in the dry region.
The reserve operates through partnerships between North West Parks, regional communities, and private organizations to create employment and support local development.
The reserve is accessible only through private lodges and camps, which range from day trips to multi-day stays and are available in different price categories. Early morning or late afternoon is usually the best time for wildlife viewing, when temperatures are cooler and animals become more active.
The reserve is home to three packs of African wild dogs, one of the continent's most endangered carnivores, which have successfully bred after reintroduction in 1994. Visitors occasionally hear the high-pitched calls of the dogs when packs gather before a group hunt, a behavior rarely witnessed in the wild.
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