Last Word Madikwe

Rates are

• Inclusive of 15% VAT
• Invoiced and payable in ZAR
• Quoted per person sharing per night
• Subject to a 50% supplement for single occupancy
• Subject to availability
• Subject to change without prior notice

Child Policy

• Children of all ages are welcome.
• Children under 1 years of age pay R1 250 per night, a cot can be arranged on request
• Should two adults be travelling with 1 child under the age of 12 years (1 to 11 years), a triple room may be requested (Subject to Availability). The child in this instance would pay 50% of the adult rate.
• Should there be two adults and two children travelling, we would need to split them into 1 x adult and 1 x child in each room. The adult sharing rates would apply.
• Should there be 2 adults and 3 children under the age of 12 travelling, the children can share a suite (triple) and pay 50% each of the adult rate. (Triple rates may apply on application).
  • Children 12 years and older pay the adult per person per night rate
  • Children under 6 are not allowed out on game drives. A 1-hour Kiddie’s Bumble can be arranged at the Lodge (dependent
  on availability at the time of enquiring)
  • Children rates do not apply to the Private Villa

Guide Policy  

• Should drivers/guides be required to stay at Last Word they will be required to pay the applicable room rate and this is subject to availability

Travel Insurence

• We insist that travel insurance is taken out on all bookings

Flight and Road Transfers  

• There are daily flights into the Reserve with Federal Air.
• These depart from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and can be arranged on request at an additional charge.
• Road transfers can be arranged on request at an additional charge.
• The gate entrance fee / fly-in fee is payable on departure in camp.
• Wonderboom gates are open from 06h00 to 18h00, 7 days a week

Game Vehicle Policy

• Vehicles can carry 10 guests per vehicle
• Private vehicle with private guide will be quoted on request
• Children under 6 years are not allowed out on game drives

What to take

• Sun hat
• Sunglasses
• Sunblock
• Cameras and binoculars
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Swimsuit
• Warm jackets are essential from May to September
• Light neutral-coloured clothing  

Information Arrival / Departure

• Guest may arrive from 13:00 and rooms are to be vacated by 11:00
• Early arrivals and late departures can be arranged with prior notice.

Cancellation Policy

• Only written cancellations will be accepted. 
• 50% of full amount if cancellation is within 45 days prior to arrival
• 100% of full amount if cancellation is 30 days or less prior to arrival 
• Cancellations for medical reasons must be part of travel insurance taken out by the client
• In the event of early departure the full extent of the stay as originally booked and confirmed will be charged

Indemnity Form 

• Guests will be expected to sign an indemnity form at all Last Word Hotels and Safari Camps on arrival.

Our Chefs, together, create a wonderful culinary selection, whether it is breakfast in the breezeway, afternoon tea (which is a light meal) in the garden or  a fire-lit dinner in the boma under the stars. We accommodate many religious and dietary request when advised at the time booking.

Enjoy a bush style cocktail during the day or discuss the day's sightings sitting around our cosy pub after game drive. A pre-dinner drink could become a daily ritual!

The lodge public areas all look out onto the garden and the large waterhole so you can assured that you will not miss out on any of the animal action.

Game drives are conducted throughout the year at optimum viewing times when game activity is generally at its peak i.e early mornings and late afternoon into evening. The morning safari departs around sunrise and the evening drive leaves late enough in the afternoon for guests to enjoy a sundowner in the bush and return to the lodge as it is getting dark.

Vehicles are equipped with sunblock, and mosquito repellent for the body. In the rooms is a mosquito lotion that can be used on the face and there is additional sunblock at the bar.

Our game viewers have canopies fitted irrespective of the time of the year. The African sun is very harsh even in the cooler months and we prefer our guests not to risk the effects of skin cancer, sun burn and the like. Off roading is permitted in the reserve for big five sightings as well as wild dog and cheetah.

All 6 of our suites have

• En-suite bathrooms, with separate shower and bath
• Toiletries, fluffy gowns and a hair dryer
• Air-conditioning, ceiling fans and safes.
• Coffee and tea facilities
  

Therse is also a Private Villa

• Three bedrooms, two sleeping two adults and a third sleeping up to four kids
• Uninterrupted views of the waterhole from the entire villa day and night
• Private lounge and dining area, plunge pool, fire pit and kitchen
• Access to private game vehicle

Amenities you can look forward to 

• Lunge with a fireplace for those chilly winter evenings
• Dining room
• Bar
• Relaxation area
• Boma with an uninterrupted view of the waterhole
• Wi-Fi and cell phone signal.
• Rock swimming pool with sun loungers
• Large shady garden overlooking the very active waterhole
• An exciting underground hide at the waterhole can be accessed 24/7 from the lodge.

What about the Kids  

• We welcome kids of all ages
• Babysitting facilities on offer
• Children under six years of age not permitted to join mom and dad on game drives, unless the lodge is booked out exclusively

Travelling by road to Madikwe

• Travelling time approximately 3.5hrs
• Take the N4 Toll road north west towards Rustenburg, Swartruggens, Groot Marico and Zeerust.
• Tolls would be roughly R150 depending on where you’re travelling from
• Once in Zeerust turn right where you have the ABSA bank on the corner to the left
• Follow the R47/R49 towards the reserve for approximately 95km NB.
• Please watch the speed limit when travelling through the small villages as there are a lot of speed traps along the R47/R49.
• 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. Gates are open between 06h00 – 18h00 7 days a week.
• Once you have gone through the boom there is a Bush House sign board about 300m along. Turn left in here and travel through our gate and follow the road to reception.
• Please fill up with fuel in Zeerust as the small garages along the road to the Lodge do not always have stocks of fuel

Travelling Tips

• Keep to the speed limit, especially when it drops down from 120kms to 80kms. The traffic officials are often at these spots including the small villages where the speed limit is 60kms as there is a lot of trapping along the R47/R49.
• Best bathroom facilities enroute are at the Wimpy in Koster or the Wimpy in Zeerust.
• If you drive an unleaded vehicle, fill up in Zeerust as you will have another 200kms before you return that way and the petrol stations between Zeerust and Madikwe are often out of unleaded fuel.

 
Charter Flights and Scheduled Flights

• There is a scheduled Federal Air flight that flies in and out of the Reserve daily. Should you wish to charter a plane to suit your own time frame this can be arranged through Madikwe Charters.
   

The hide at The Bush House is the first and original underground hide built in Madikwe. Spending time in the hide is an incredibly exciting way to view all species of animals and birds as they come to drink at the edge of the floodlit waterhole.

Photographic opportunities are endless, irrespective of whether you are using your phone’s camera, state of the art equipment or something in-between.

You may have the awe-inspiring opportunity to watch as elephants pass by close enough to touch, to watch them drink at an arm’s length away or to be splashed by a mischievous youngster.

The roof of the hide is just above ground level and is reinforced to carry the weight of any elephant that may wander across the top.

The Underground Hide is accessed from a path within the lodge garden, or from the swimming pool, so guests can safely walk along the walkway and into the tunnel without being seen by the animals, and in complete safety.

The front of the hide has an expanded metal grid which stays completely open and out of sight but can be quickly dropped if anyone is feeling nervous.

The pathways, tunnel and hide are all lit at night so are available for guest use 24 hours a day. There is a ramp to assist with ease of access and there is no charge for use of the hide.

Small and large bean bags are available for guest use in camp.

Another of our offerings is or fully fenced camp of approximately five hectares which give everyone, irrespective of age, the opportunity to explore our marked nature walk.

There is a little story about each marked point along the way and a map to show you the layout. What a wonderful way to discover bugs, beetles an butterflies within the safety of camp. Plants and trees can all be discovered in the bushveld around the lodge.

If you have urge to exercise, we have a small, well-equipped gym as well as the option of jogging and walking the length  of the man road within the lodge grounds.