Morukuru River House

Morukuru River House sits on the bank of the Marico River inside Madikwe Game Reserve, a large malaria-free reserve in the North West province. The house is booked exclusively — one group at a time — and sleeps up to six adults and four children under sixteen across three en-suite bedrooms plus a study that converts to a fourth sleeping room for children. Each bedroom has a king-size bed, indoor and outdoor shower, fireplace, and a private balcony looking toward the river. A living room, dining area, veranda, and swimming pool are all for the sole use of the booking group.

A private game-drive vehicle comes with the booking, staffed by a guide and tracker. You set the timing. Madikwe holds lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo, wild dog, and around three hundred and fifty bird species. The same vehicle takes you on guided bush walks, and the Marico River — which pumps roughly one million litres of water through the reserve each day — supports catch-and-release fishing for guests who want it. A sleep-out hide sits at the water's edge, enclosed by an electric fence, bookable at no additional cost. Massage treatments are available in a dedicated outdoor sala that looks out over the river.

All meals and drinks are included. Federal Air runs daily shuttle flights from Johannesburg to Madikwe East Airstrip; by road from Johannesburg the drive takes around four and a half hours.