Buffalo Ridge Safari Lodge

• All prices are quoted in South African Rands (ZAR) and are inclusive of 15 % VAT. Tariff Charges
• All tariffs quoted are subject to change, without prior notice, however rates quoted for confirmed bookings will be honoured

The Rates Include:

• Accommodation, All meals, teas and coffees. Game drives and Safari Activities

The Rates Exclude

• Bar services; Spa Treatments; Items of a personal nature.
• Conservation Levy 
• Park Entrance Fee 

Gates open @ 06h00 & closes @ 18h00. 

Children

• Children of all ages are welcome at most of our lodges (please enquire)
• Babysitters available
• Children under 6 years old are not permitted on game drives

Deposit Policy

• For all bookings made within 45 days of travel
• Full payment is required within 48 hours of your booking. This payment can be made via bank transfer or credit card (Master/Visa).
• For all bookings made more than 45 days of travel
• A 50% deposit is required within 48 hours of your booking and the balance 45 days prior to arrival. This payment can be made via bank transfer or credit card (Master/Visa).

Arrival | Departure

Check in is from 14h00 and rooms are to be vacated by 11h00.

What to Take

Comfortable walking shoes • Sun hat • Sunglasses • Sun block • Cameras and binoculars • Light, neutral coloured clothing • Swimming costume • Warm jackets are essential in winter (May -October)

Climate
Summer - October to March
Rainy season with hot days and warm nights. Temperatures 25°C - 40°C.
Winter - April to September
Dry season with generally warm days and cold nights. Temperatures 0°C - 25°C.

Flight | Air Transfers | Private Charters

• Daily scheduled MADIKWE AIR flights from O.R.Tambo Airport (JIA).
• Private charters are available on request
• Road transfers available on request
• Entrance Fee into the Madikwe Reserve by Air, please settle in camp.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations made 60 to 30 days before arrival will incur a charge of 50% of the total booking value.

Cancellations made 29 to 14 days before arrival will incur a charge of 75% of the total booking value.

Cancellations made within 14 days of arrival, or no-shows, will be charged the full booking value.

Buffalo Ridge Safari Lodge is a 16-bed luxury facility designed by Nick Plewman, an acclaimed small lodge designer. The lodge is situated at a prime site in the west of the Madikwe Game Reserve, straddling the Tweedepoort Ridge with expansive views across the northern plains and Inselbergs. The central lodge sits on the slopes of a hill across a ravine, separating it from the chalets. Each of the chalets is positioned on the ridge with expansive views to the north. Buffalo Ridge Safari Lodge opened in November 2004.

Buffalo Ridge is spectacularly positioned on the Tweedepoort Ridge, overlooking the plains and inselbergs of the Madikwe Game Reserve. Our uniquely designed ‘treehouse’ style lodge offers space, comfort, and views that stretch to the horizon.

The central lodge is accessed via a wooden bridge surrounded by ancient rock figs, with living areas spread across four tiers — from reception through to the lounge, dining areas, and swimming pool. Each space has its own character and mood, offering guests a choice of breathtaking views and tranquil corners to suit every moment of the day.

LUXURY SUITES
The spacious Luxury Suites each accommodate two guests in either king or twin configurations. Every suite features a generously appointed en-suite bathroom with a freestanding bath, indoor and outdoor showers, air conditioning, ceiling fan, and a private viewing deck overlooking the surrounding wilderness.

Each suite also offers an enhanced in-room beverage selection, including a coffee machine and a fully stocked minibar for added comfort and convenience.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY SUITES
Two of the Luxury Suites are family-friendly and can accommodate up to two rollaway beds, making them ideal for families with children under the age of 12.

These suites comfortably sleep up to four guests and feature the same facilities and amenities as the standard Luxury Suites.

Our kitchen and dining experience is a sense of great pride to us at Buffalo Ridge. When the lodge started in 2004, all our chefs were employed, with no previous experience, directly from the community and all have been trained on site at the lodge.

Judy Dyason, founding partner of the Prue Leith Culinary Institute in South Africa, joined us at the start of our journey and trained many of our current and former chefs.
We have found some extraordinarily talented young chefs who are either still with us or have moved to other lodges in Madikwe and across South Africa.

Our dining areas are intimate and cosy, whether inside or on the dining deck, our small personalised boma or our larger starlight boma, mealtimes are always a treat.

Two open-vehicle game drives a day, out at first light and again in the late afternoon, with a qualified guide. Madikwe carries the Big Five — black and white rhino, buffalo, elephant, lion and leopard — plus cheetah and African wild dog.

• Open-vehicle game drives, twice daily (included)
• Guided bush walks 
• Village tour with the Balete Ba Lekgophung community
• Star gazing and bush dining
• Birding and botanical interest
• Swimming pool, and several lounge and dining areas
• Spa treatments — coming soon
• Wildlife Photography

Children of all ages are welcome.

• Children of all ages are welcome.
• Under 3 — stay free.
• Under 6 — not permitted on the standard game drives. A shorter bumble drive runs after breakfast, or a private vehicle can be booked at R5 750 per night.
• Children 3–12 sharing with two adults pay the child rate.
• A private safari vehicle is available at an additional cost.
• Babysitters available on request.
• Two of the eight suites are family suites, taking two adults and two children under 12.

Two separate charges, both payable to the lodge on check-out rather than at the gate.

Conservation levy — per person per night

• International guests — R520; under 12: R260
• South African residents — R260; under 12: R130

Reserve entry — once per stay

• Arriving by road — R180 adults, R80 children
• Arriving by air — R240 adults, R150 children

Check in from 14h00. Check out by 11h00.

It is approximately 4- 5 hour’s drive from Johannesburg International Airport. The adventure starts right away whether you rent a car, make use of a private ground transfer, or decide to fly in. The time it takes to drive to each specific lodge will vary. 

Buffalo Ridge Safari Lodge is situated at a prime site in the west of the Madikwe Game Reserve, straddling the Tweedepoort Ridge with expansive views across the northern plains and Inselbergs. The central lodge sits on the slopes of a hill across a ravine, separating it from the chalets. Each of the chalets is positioned on the ridge with expansive views to the North. Buffalo Ridge Safari Lodge opened in November 2004.

Driving times
Madikwe Game Reserve is centrally located to various other cities –

• Gaborone, Botswana (approximately 2 hours)
• Pretoria (approximately 4.5 hours)
• Sun City (approximately 3 hours)
• Johannesburg OR Tambo airport (approximately 4.5 hours)

Driving inside the reserve
Guests are allowed to drive to the designated lodge only.  There may be speed traps along the route to the reserve, so please adhere to speed limits. Please drive no more than 40km/hour within the reserve.
If guests are staying in two lodges during their holiday they may also drive themselves to the other lodge during day light hours. Guests must let reception know so that they can radio to the other lodge to advise them that the guests are en-route to check- in.
Directions to Buffalo Ridge from Johannesburg International Airport, now O.R. TAMBO AIRPORT

By road — 

Directions to Buffalo Ridge from Johannesburg International Airport, now O.R. TAMBO AIRPORT

• Take R21 to Pretoria.
• Head north on the N1 towards the N4 Toll Road.
• Take the N4 Toll road north west towards Rustenburg, Swartruggens, Groot Marico and Zeerust.
• Once in Zeerust turn right at the fourth stop street into President Street. There is a signpost on the left that says “ Madikwe Game Reserve/Gaborone” and a First National Bank on the corner to the right.
• Follow the R49 towards the reserve for approximately 97km.
• The first entrance to the reserve is Abjaterskop gate.
• Pass that gate and enter at the next gate – Wonderboom Gate exactly 7km from the first gate.

GPS — 24°46'02.5"S 26°12'10.8"E

Buffalo Ridge is an ecotourism partnership between North West Parks, the Balete Ba Lekgophung community and the operator, The Nature Workshop. The community holds a 45-year lease to operate a commercial lodge with traversing rights across the reserve.

The lodge’s chefs were trained locally through a founding partnership with the Prue Leith Institute, and guests can visit the village on a guided tour.

The main lodge is spectacularly located on two tiers of the ridge, accessed via a wooden bridge that crosses a ravine surrounded by rock figs. Each of the living areas has its own character, mood and style providing guests with a choice of breathtaking views and tranquil spaces. The lodge has reception, dining, lounge, upper and lower deck and swimming pool areas.

• SWIMMING POOL
• DINING AREA
• VIEWING DECKS
• COMFORTABLE LOUNGE
• RECEPTION AREA
• BOMA (OUTDOOR DINING)

Our early morning and evening game drives offer a unique and exclusive experience offering our guests the opportunity to traverse the full expanse and diversity of the reserves 75 000 hectares. Our safaris with a focus on game-viewing, birding, stargazing and scenic photography are accompanied by our expert local guides to help interpret your safari encounters and impart their intimate knowledge of area and its history.

Please Note: Children under 6 are not permitted on normal game drives.
We offer bumble drives after breakfast or can arrange a private vehicle for them at an extra cost per night which will allow all to go on drives together.