On the border of South Africa and Botswana, Madikwe Recreation Reserve is a hidden jewel within the safari sphere that ought to undoubtedly be explored.
It was right here that Morukuru Household house owners Ed and Anka Zeeman’s love for South Africa originated. They immediately fell in love with Madikwe Recreation Reserve after they visited for the very first time in March 2003. Securing a chunk of land and constructing their very own lodge additional cemented their adoration for the African continent. With a portfolio of seven gorgeous properties – three exclusive-use safari villas in Madikwe Recreation Reserve, a lodge and a non-public villa in De Hoop Nature Reserve, in addition to a boutique resort and personal villa in Sandton- they’ve created essentially the most extraordinary lodging for friends who really respect the great thing about up to date model and private-use properties.
Morukuru Household has been round for 20 years. It comes as no shock that the unique use of Morukuru River Home falls within the Extremely-luxury lodge class. Three particular person homesteads sit in a non-public concession in Madikwe Recreation Reserve’s southeastern nook. These lodges guarantee exclusivity and a sense of coming dwelling.
We arrive on the Molatedi gate after a scenic highway switch between Johannesburg and Madikwe. Information Jacques meets us with the Morukuru Household Land Rover for the ultimate 40-minute stretch to Morukuru River Home. Lodge supervisor Lara welcomes us, together with your complete employees who shall be taking care of us throughout our three-night keep.
Following devastating floods in February 2025, the Morukuru Household house owners noticed an opportunity to refresh the interiors. This was carried out for each the River Home and the Proprietor’s Home. “Within the bush, nature teaches resilience,” Ed tells me. “What started as a difficult occasion grew to become a chance to reimagine two soulful properties. Our friends will hopefully be delighted to return someplace acquainted in spirit, newly impressed intimately, and as personal and versatile as ever below our Morukuru Freedom Idea”.
Morukuru River Home contains three bedrooms en-suite, a eating room, a research which doubles as a child’s bed room, a lounge, an outdoor space ultimate for alfresco eating, an outside deck with couches and a lap pool, a sala for lunches or dinners, and a spa with views over the river. The home comes with a non-public chef, butler, housekeeping employees, and a sculler. Sitting down within the lounge, butler Kitso presents us with a refreshing drink. Jacques enquires about what we wish to do throughout our keep. He suggests a number of actions, that are solely pointers. There is no such thing as a set schedule at any of the Morukuru Household properties – what they name the Morukuru Freedom Idea.
Amy Kidger from South African agency Hinterland Studio was tasked with the brand new interiors. She went about integrating the shopper’s temporary and instituting varied adjustments. “Each Homeowners Home and River Home are located inside dense timber, so the shopper requested that we lighten the areas,” Amy explains. “They requested us to include specifically commissioned photographic artwork by Leana Clunies-Ross. These depict lovely girls shrouded in placing clothes, which set the tone for injecting daring colours into the properties. This strategy helped us create what we really feel are very heat, cozy, and welcoming areas.”
Taking her inspiration from the lushness of the reserve after the floods, Amy was struck by the colourful pops of shade seen within the panorama, from the timber to the hues within the soil. With each properties situated within the African bush, she aimed to attract the vitality of the fixed move of life within the river and on land into the areas, which she efficiently did. “That is evident within the colourful materials, hand-painted tiles, and textured finishes, reminiscent of the sunshine fittings,” Amy continues. “There’s additionally loads of motion in some fixtures, as an example, the chandelier above the eating desk strikes and chimes when the wind blows, creating a really particular second.”
When it got here to most well-liked textiles to make use of for the brand new interiors, Amy admits that she loves mixing textures. Utilizing a substantial amount of timber utilized in numerous methods sits very nicely towards the stone-clad partitions. These comprise the majority of the wall finishes. It was necessary for the inside workforce to melt the areas, given the intensive use of stone. The usage of linens of various grain for material had the specified impact. A formidable element is the inclusion of woven and conventional cultural components. This may be seen within the beadwork of some mirrors and lightweight fittings, in addition to the various woven rugs, textured wallpapers, hand-sewn mattress throws, and genuine artifacts.
The bedrooms are dreamy, with billowing mosquito nets, silky white bedding, and vistas over the river and bushveld. It’s not unusual to listen to and see wildlife across the lodge. Sitting at dinner on our second evening, it’s unbelievable to be aware of the sounds of branches breaking. An elephant is feeding on the alternative facet of the river. It definitely provides an air of magic at Morukuru River Home. Inexperienced and reddish earthy tones within the surrounding panorama served as motivation for the colour palette of River Home. The ochre and mustard tones within the bedrooms had been present in nature and within the stone cladding.
Meals at River Home are crafted by chef Thuli, who can whip up essentially the most scrumptious fare possible. Eating takes on a complete new that means as you seldom feast in the identical place twice, except you need to, in fact. We had been handled to lunch below the timber, dinner within the sala, a bush breakfast, dinner subsequent to the pool, breakfast on the eating room desk, and a bush dinner on our final evening, the place hyenas wished to hitch the occasion.
A keep at a safari dwelling could be incomplete with out occurring a number of sport drives. Madikwe Recreation Reserve definitely has its benefits – no day guests are permitted. Solely friends booked at lodges are allowed to go on sport drives. The reserve is malaria-free, and the topography is magnificent, as are the wildlife sightings. Highlights embody zebras that had been very entertaining and two cheetah brothers with full bellies at sundown. We additionally see smelly African wild canine with distinctive patterns, quite a few giraffes with small foals, noticed and brown hyenas seemingly in an enormous hurry, and a stunning blonde male lion on our morning safari.
Heading out after a restful evening and a scrumptious breakfast, Jacques takes us on one final safari. We’ve got sufficient time earlier than our constitution flight with Federal Airways from the Madikwe East airstrip. Encountering two male lions and a feminine lioness resting within the shade of a tree has everybody in awe. One of many males is quick asleep within the solar, and the warmth appears to begin agitating him. He sits up, seemingly ‘posing’ for us. Will he transfer to the shade? We sit. We wait. He yawns, a telltale signal that he may rise up. He flops down once more and continues his slumber.
It’s the proper send-off, bearing witness to a herd of 4 elephants coming to a dam for a drink. The light giants benefit from the water a lot that it turns right into a mud tub and a sand dusting. Taking to the skies within the Cessna Grand Caravan, the crimson earth stretches under me. It’s dotted with timber and a mountainous escarpment. I’m abruptly jolted again to the fantastic expertise at Morukuru River Home, the place catchy and playful areas intertwine, creating reminiscences that can final a lifetime.
