Overview
Out of the heart of the spectacular Madikwe Game Reserve, embraced by pristine Bushveld nurtured by Mother Africa’s rich red soil, Etali Safari Lodge rises to meet you with lavish hospitality.
Built in harmony with nature under the vibrant African sun, Etali is an exclusive, intimate haven, where body and soul are rejuvenated in surroundings created by people who understand luxury.
Etali, meaning 'a new beginning' respects the privacy of guests while offering impeccable personal attention.
You’ll find the accommodation sheer bliss in any one of our eight luxurious air-conditioned suites, each set apart for total privacy in its own Bushveld domain.
The mix of cool and earthy colours in the decor is a peaceful contrast to the unsurpassed beauty of the sweet-thorn Acacia trees outside.
The furniture, made by a mission station from kiaat, the rich red-brown African teak, blends perfectly with the custom-made ceramic washbasins and doorknobs created by South Africa’s most renowned potters.
Enjoy the sheer pleasure of a massage on your own sundeck – therapeutic in itself – or relax and be pampered in the tranquillity of the Wellness Centre.
Cooling off in the splendid outdoor whirlpool, sipping a cocktail as you watch the breathtaking African sunset, is the ultimate indulgence.
Nothing beats a long, lingering shower taken outside with only a bird or little antelope as audience.
Big comfortable beds with fine crisp linen promise an unforgettable night’s sleep beneath the thatched roof
The Etali Nature Experience
The Madikwe Game Reserve is the home not only of the well known “big five” (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo) but also a number of endangered species. Sightings of wild dog, black rhino and brown hyena are often enjoyed.
Our field guides are highly skilled on all aspects of nature. They are equipped to introduce our guests to the smaller exciting animals and insects. Open plains, riverine forests, dolomites, Inselberg Mountains and tofu caves are all present in Madikwe. This diversity also allows for a wide variety animal and plant species, all to enrich the safari experience for our guests.
For the bird lovers, Madikwe boasts with 340 bird species. Recently a group of birders went on a birding trip and identified 142 bird species before 09h00 when they stopped for a well deserved coffee break!
Game drives takes place in the morning and afternoon. Each drive includes a stop where our guests can enjoy a coffee break in the morning and a Sundowner in the afternoon when amazing sunsets cane be enjoyed. For the more adventurous, we offer walks in the wild under the guidance of our armed rangers.
Etali has a waterhole, in front of the main deck, which is visited by the game Madikwe has to offer. A definite must for those would prefer to enjoy a quite Sundowner on the main deck with elephants coming for a drink and the sun setting behind them in the west.
Our game drive vehicles are equipped with nine individual seats and a seat for a tracker on the front of the vehicle.
To complete the nature experience, we have an electronic telescope for those who want to have a closer look at the brilliant pollution free African skies.
Etali’s delectable cuisine is a contemporary fusion of traditional African with an Asian twist. Meals are light and healthy with lots of fresh seasonal and organically grown vegetables, fruit and herbs. There is no set menu as the chef extraordinaire selects only the best local produce daily to work his magic.
The open-air lounge, bar and dining area with a vast sundeck reaching out to the pool and boma, offer a breathtaking view – al fresco eating has never been this good.
Select your wine from our unusual cellar, built on the termite-mound concept, where the very best vintages from the Cape’s boutique estates are waiting to please your palate.
The stars glitter like jewels in the deep black dome of the night sky as you listen to the night sounds … What better way is there to celebrate life than with a ‘bush braai’ in the open veld or inside a cosy boma around a crackling fire?
Etali’s kitchen will put up a spread fit for a king and guests are welcome to barbecue their choice of game and other meats.
On some evenings ‘potjiekos’ – a delicious casserole cooked in a fat-bellied cast-iron pot over the flames – may be on the menu. Share your experiences of the day while enjoying a glass of whatever takes your fancy, or discover the tall tales of famous local author Herman Charles Bosman.
Madikwe Game Reserve portrays ecotourism at its best. In conjunction with local communities and the private sector, the North West Province Parks and Tourism Board set aside these 75 000 hectares of malaria-free splendour on the border of Botswana as a conservation partnership. Biodegradable products are used where possible and natural recycling encouraged.
Africa’s “Big Five”, the African wild dog, (the world’s most endangered canine), as well as black and white rhino, cheetah, giraffe and many other glorious species can be seen on the famous Madikwe Plains at any given time.
All this is just 3 1/2 hours’ drive from Johannesburg, or if you wish to fly there, a 50-minute flight takes you to a 1 200-metre gravel airstrip where the adventure begins …
Make your own new beginning at Etali, it’s the right place
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube
