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MALARIA
FREE PRIVATE GAME RESERVES
MADIKWE
| PILANESBERG | WELGEVONDEN-WATERBERG
MADIKWE
GAME RESERVE
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This
reserve created in 1991, sits right on the South Africa-Botswana
border in a malaria-free area. In the largest movement
of animals since Noah filled his arc, the 30,352 acre
(75,000 ha) reserve was stocked with 10,000 head of
game from 27 different species. The park's very existence
contributes to the preservation of local fauna and
flora and rare animals such as rhino and wild dog,
and also provides a more sustainable environment for
the local people.
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| ANIMALS
& BIRDS
Not only does this reserve boast the 'Big Five' but
it also has the 'Super 7'! This adds cheetah and wild
dog to the traditional five; leopard, lion, buffalo,
elephant and rhino. Plus brown hyena, sable, eland,
gemsbok, giraffe and large herds of plains game and
plenty of birds.
Wild
dogs are a speciality of the area and due to their
rarity and fascinating behaviour, are a wonderful
sight. They are also known as Cape hunting dogs or
painted dogs because of their tricoloured (black,
white and tan) abstract coat. Wild Dogs are Africa's
most formidable hunters (followed by hyena and lion),
and the essence of their successful social system
is co-operative hunting and food sharing. Not only
do they regurgitate food for the young but the babysitter
gets fed too. They travel great distances while hunting
and as a result often traverse farmland where they
were almost shot to extinction. Luckily they are thriving
in Madikwe. |
| SEASONS
Rainy Season: it rains from October to April with
the highest rainfall expected between November and
February. Daytime temperatures are hot and humid with
an average of 88°F (31°C).
Dry Season: the winter months of May to September
are dry and cold with evening temperatures as low
as 35.5°F (2°C) and only 72°F (22°C)
in the daytime.
MADIKWE
GAME RESERVE SPECIALITIES
· 'Super 7' big game animals
· Rare and endangered wild
dog
· Few other tourist around
· Small number of select lodges
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| FACTS
Madikwe is 3½-4 hour's drive from Johannesburg
or 45 minutes by aircraft.
This is not a malarial area.
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PILANESBERG
NATIONAL PARK
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Next
door to the famous leisure and entertainment resort
of Sun City, is the Pilanesberg National
Park. It may not be very large (212 miles²
(550km²) compared to Kruger or some of the
other great African parks, but it has a real wilderness
feel to it and most of the big animals you could
wish to see.
It lies amongst the only significant hills in the
area which rise skywards out of the flat highveld
plain. This massif is a 1,200 million-year-old volcanic
relic of four concentric mountain rings.
The
Pilanesberg is the highest peak towering 1,950 feet
(600 metres) above Mankwe Lake, which sits in the
heart of the ancient volcano. The volcano's circular
bowl was recognised as being the perfect situation
for a national park with its tall sides creating
natural boundaries.
The area was farmed until 1979 until Operation Genesis
was launched to rehabilitate the land and stock
it with game. This was one of the most imaginative
game-stocking enterprises ever undertaken and the
Pilanesberg became a great success story. There
are currently around 10,000 head of and it is a
very popular game park for locals and overseas visitors
alike - many of whom make the short trip from the
nearby resort of Sun City.
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| ANIMALS
& BIRDS
This
park is home to good populations of a whole range
of Africa's game, including the 'Big Five'; elephants,
black and white rhinoceros, buffaloes, lions and leopards
and you will also see giraffes, zebras, hippos and
a wide variety of antelopes including the very attractive
sable, eland, kudu and gemsbok. There are also cheetahs
and hyenas and jackal.
Birdlife
is good with over 300 species and bird lovers will
be interested in the huge stroll-through aviary at
the Manyane gate. Also in this area is a 'vulture
restaurant' - created to help save the shy and endangered
Cape vulture from regional extinction. |
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| SEASONS
Rainy Season: It rains during the
summer months of November to March, with thunder and
lightening showers predominantly in February and March.
Temperatures hover around 79-86°F (26-30°C).
Dry Season: April to September is
the cool dry winter season with bright clear warm
days and cold nights, particularly in the mid-winter
months of June to August. The winter is the best for
game viewing as the foliage has died back and animals
frequent waterholes.
PILANESBERG
SPECIALITIES
· Proximity to Sun city
· Small park with lots of
animals including the 'Big Five'
· Attractive scenery
· Good choice of safari lodges
in the area
· No malaria
FACTS
The Pilansberg covers an area of 135,908 acres (55,000ha)
The volcanic peaks in the Pilanesberg area average
about 9,750 feet (3,000 metres) high.
The park has 88 miles (140 km) of well-surfaced roads
It is approximately 2½ hour's drive north-west
of Johannesburg.
This is not a malarial area.
WELGEVONDEN
IN THE WATERBERG
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A
couple of new up-market lodges and some
visits by Nelson Mandela, together with
a touch of good marketing has brought
the Welgevonden Game Reserve to people's
notice. It has suddenly become a popular
weekend safari destination out of Johannesburg
because of three main reasons; it is
only 3 hours drive north of the International
airport; it has the famous 'big Five"
animals; it is Malaria free. These important
factors make it an attractive safari
proposition.
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| The
highly attractive terrain is in the rusty-red
foothills of the Waterberg (Water mountain),
whose pleats and folds are thickly layered
with bush willow.
Narrow valleys of golden rocks course
with streams and a variety of fauna including
succulents like Euphorbia candelabra,
whose name gives away its shape.
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| Due
to heavy summer rainfall, the soil is
leached of nutrients and therefore the
vegetation is predominantly sour bush,
as opposed to the sweet bush of the lower-lying
hotter Kruger area. However, the animals
don't seem concerned and game watching
is good.
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| ANIMALS
& BIRDS
All
the big game is here including rhino,
elephants, buffalo, zebras, antelopes,
as well as leopard, lion, hyena, although
not in the same density as around the
Kruger region. Bird watching is good particularly
during the rainy season.
SEASONS
The Waterberg is more elevated than most
other game reserves in South Africa and
has a somewhat cooler climate.
Rainy Season: Welgevonden
is an area of summer rainfall with spectacular
thunder and lightening showers predominantly
in February and March. At this time it
is hot and humid and the bush is thick
so game viewing is more difficult.
Dry Season: April to
September is the cool dry winter season
with bright clear warm days and cold particularly
in the mid-winter months of June to August.
CENTRAL
KALAHARI GAME RESERVE SPECIALITIES
· Big Five animals
· Malaria Free
· Scenic rolling
hills
· Interesting
flora
· Friendly attractive
safari lodges
FACTS
This is not a malarial area
It is only 3-hours drive north of Johannesburg
International Airport
This is a private reserve and only those
with lodge bookings may enter
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