Romantic getaways in Madikwe

Madikwe is our favourite malaria-free safari for couples. Tucked against the Botswana border, it has the Big Five, small and personal lodges, and no day visitors, so game drives feel calm and uncrowded.

The reserve was created in the early 1990s on old farmland and is now home to lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard, as well as wild dog, which is one of the best reasons to visit. Its mix of open plains and rocky hills makes for beautiful drives, especially in the golden light of late afternoon.

The lodges here are mostly small, with a handful of suites each, and many have private plunge pools, outdoor showers or baths, and decks looking out over the bush. Some offer exclusive-use houses, which are ideal for a honeymoon.

Madikwe is around four hours' drive from Johannesburg, or a short charter flight to the reserve's airstrip. Two nights is enough for a taste; three lets you really slow down.