Madikwe Hills…a real home away from home…

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Madikwe Hills...a real home away from home...

In the blazing mid-day heat this was indeed a VERY welcome sight…


For me, the best moment is arriving at the reception area of a Lodge I have not visited before…my arrival at Madikwe Hills did not disappoint…


And it also has a resident puppy called Missy…who, after wasting much energy in the stifling heat decided to fall over and ignore all of us…


Lots of wood and stone-work decorate various facades of the building and the suits add a different dimension…


Interesting pottery can be found on the main walkway…


And unlike other camps where Vervet monkeys seem to run rampant and destroy guest and lodge property, there is no such problem here…Why? Because dassies cannot jump through windows…believe it or not there is a dassie in the centre of the picture above.


The entrance to the main lodge building that contains…


A formal dining room…


With it’s own fireplace…great for winter, but certainly not while I was there…


A library…that also has a computer and wi-fi connectivity…


A stunning bar area in which the natural rock has been kept…I like the idea, but not sure if my wife would let me put a boulder in our lounge…


A view from the deck to the water hole…the Elephants seem to enjoy this spot…


Earlier, this Bull had come to enjoy the water by himself…


Glad he did not walk through the reception area…I certainly would not want to clean up after him…


But he did get close enough to almost drink out of the pool.


There is a gym but during my visit the multi station and the treadmill were not working.Not a train smash for me on this trip, but another of the guests did bring it to the attention of the Ranger…and it has been resolved…a new treadmill has been installed and the cable replaced


The entrance to on of the largest Boma areas I have ever seen!


There is also a two room spa on site…but because of the notice I was unable to get in…


I do have one minor complaint…please will you update the signage…I have had communication from the GM who tells me that all the signage is about to be replaced…Well done to Hannes and his team

AND NOW…*DRUMROLL* PLEASE…
I PRESENT…
MY ACCOMMODATION.


I had a lounge that was almost a big as my first apartment in Jhb…with aircon and a ceiling fan…a fully stocked mini-bar and coffee station were hidden in a cupboard…
NO TV…thank goodness…that is what PVR’s are for…


Up a couple of steps into the bedroom…another idea I would like to “steal”…


This was taken at 05h00. The view from my bedroom.


Although the bed was really comfortable, the pillows did not meet my exacting standards.I normally travel with my own, however I left it at home on this trip…my mistake. Does no-one in the world other than me like a really firm pillow? Perhaps I should ask housekeeping.


The bathroom certainly did not disappoint…a bath and indoor shower


As well as an outdoor shower with breathtaking views…


Even the basin was an individual design…


As were the wooden light fittings…notice the energy saving globes!


Madikwe Hills certainly earns it’s place as on of my top lodges for 2011.
Well done to all the staff who made my stay so special in spite of me not quite being over my “flu”…


And by-the-way our tracker produced the hot snack on our evening game drive…

For more information: Madiwke Hills