Tuningi Safari Lodge
Tuningi Safari Lodge Is An Excellent And Luxurious Lodge In Western Madikwe
Tuningi Safari Lodge is a superb property catering for couples and families alike. Recently renovated to offer a slightly more modern style, Tuningi offers a truly luxurious experience, whilst maintaining an authentic bush feel and safari atmosphere, very much enhanced by the daily wildlife visitors to the waterhole in front of camp. The individual suites are perfect for couples, offering a private and tranquil experience, whilst the family suites are excellent for those travelling with children. Hospitality is of a very high standard, and you are looked after by a friendly and professional team.
Rooms
A maximum of 16 guests are accommodated in a total of four luxury and two family suites, all connected to the main areas by wooden walkways, and each enjoying a sense of peace and privacy. Each spacious air-conditioned suite has a comfortable lounge area with a fireplace, private en-suite bathroom with oversized bath, double vanity, and both indoor and outdoor shower. Sliding doors lead from the bedroom area to a wraparound deck with private plunge pool. The family suites are furnished to the same style and comprise two en-suite double bedrooms connected by a central living room with expansive deck with outdoor sitting and dining space and a private plunge pool. Massage treatments can be arranged in the privacy of your suite or on your private deck (extra costs apply).
Central Areas
Main lodge facilities include a lounge, dining aera and bar, TV lounge and a rim flow swimming pool overlooking the active waterhole. There is a beautiful boma area under a large fig tree, overlooking the waterhole where open air dining takes place if the weather allows. At one end of the lodge is a small gym and second smaller pool. There is also an underground hide perfectly positioned by the waterhole for close up, eye level wildlife encounters.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming – Yes
Habitat & Wildlife
Madikwe Game Reserve is a malaria-free wildlife area covering 75.000 hectares of arid land in the north of South Africa, stretching up towards the border with Botswana. Madikwe was established in the early 1990s as a result of an economic analysis that explored two land-use options: Big 5 ecotourism and extensive cattle farming. The outcome was that the area was most suited to wildlife tourism and this would lead to more employment opportunities than the agriculture option. Madikwe’s primary objective therefore differs somewhat to other game reserves – rather than focusing primarily on wildlife and conservation, community upliftment and creating social and economic opportunity is given emphasis. Madikwe was perhaps ahead of its time, but this community-based wildlife conservation approach is increasingly viewed as the only successful sustainable approach to wildlife conservation in safari Africa.
The reserve is renown for ‘Operation Phoenix’, the largest wildlife translocation project in the world. To establish a viable wildlife population, over a period of seven years Operation Phoenix reintroduced more than 8,000 animals of 28 species into the newly established reserve. Conservation ‘firsts’ were achieved including relocating entire herds of elephant alongside the reintroduction of African wild dog into a fenced reserve. The establishment of Madikwe’s wild dog continues to be one of the reserve’s conservation success stories.
Madikwe has a diverse topography, ranging from rocky hills, to large savanna plains and dense bushveld-covered plateaus and is home to the Big 5 as well as wild dog, various antelope species including gemsbok (oryx), bushbuck, greater kudu and impala, alongside cheetah, baboon, giraffe, warthog and zebra. There are also over 340 recorded bird species.
Activities
Activities focus around morning and afternoon game drives, and guided bush walks are also available on request (16 years and over). Spending time in the underground hide is also a rewarding way to encounter wildlife from a close up perspective.
Seasons
Tuningi Safari Lodge is open all year round. Game viewing is superb year round, though you will experience more rainfall from November through to March.
Children six years old and above are accepted at Tuningi Safari Lodge, and the two bedroom Family Suites are ideal for families with kids of all ages. One child up to the age of 12 years can also share with their parents in a Luxury Suite. Being in the non-malarial Madikwe Game Reserve, the lodge is ideal for families and caters extremely well for children with a dedicated children’s programme available. A section of the main lounge is dedicated to children with plenty of games, and things to do on offer. During the day, the staff are on hand to entertain the children with various activities and crafts. Children are also able to join game drives.
Every guest staying in Madikwe Game Reserve pays a Guest Conservation Contribution which serves to support the reserve in its fight against rhino poaching and for the upkeep of the reserve, which includes road maintenance and bush clearing.
Tuningi Safari Lodge supports a local pre-school and the reception class at Supingstad Primary School. Support, with the help of donations from guests, has included the provision of new tables and chairs for the reception classrooms together with purchasing essential educational materials, such as colouring books, learn-to-write books and scissors for basic skills development.
Tuningi is also a member of Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travellers with space in their luggage bring specific supplies for community projects and to make a lasting impact in the community at their travel destination.
