Background
The reserve was announced to the public in August 1991 and officially
became part of the Board's estate on 31 October the same year.
The reserve was proclaimed after a detailed feasibility study
of the area was conducted by independent consultants. The study
showed that wildlife-based tourism was the most beneficial option
for this remote and economically depressed area.
One of South Africa's largest game reserves, Madikwe has the distinction
of being one of the few game reserves in the world to be proclaimed
purely on the grounds of being the most appropriate and sustainable
land use for an area.
The reserve consists of vast plains of open woodlands and grasslands,
dissected by the rugged Rant van Tweedepoort, and bordered in
the south by the Dwarsberg Mountains. The area is dotted with
huge rocky hills or inselbergs (ecological description). The entire
reserve has been enclosed in a 150 km perimeter fence which has
been electrified to prevent the escape of elephants and the larger
predators.
Madikwe represents an extension to this philosophy in that it
is run as a joint venture between the State, the private sector
and local communities. The success of this approach has made Madikwe
the role model for similar ventures being started up elsewhere
in South Africa.
 Area
The reserve is divided into two main areas. The area north of
the Molatedi Dam is fenced and stocked with all the historically
indigenous wild animals including elephant, rhinoceros,
lion, leopard and buffalo. As part of future developments for
the park, the dam area will be fenced separately and stocked
with smaller, non-dangerous animals - thus allowing free movement
of tourists and maximum utilisation of the dam.
Even before Madikwe had been officially proclaimed, work had
begun to clear the many derelict farm buildings and structures,
the hundreds of kilometres of old fencing and the many alien
plants. Some of the buildings were spared and now serve as Park
offices and workshops, while various outposts have been built
to house game scouts and other reserve staff. Approximately
60 000 hectares of the reserve were enclosed in a perimeter
fence, measuring 150 kilometres. This was later electrified
to prevent the escape of elephants and the larger predators.
Where possible, local business and labour have been used to
demolish and clear unwanted structures, erect fences, construct
roads and build dams and lodges. Several game lodges have already
been built. Other lodges will be developed in the near future.
Wildlife
The reintroduction of game began early in 1991, shortly before
the perimeter fence had been completed. Operation Phoenix, as
the reintroduction programme is called, is the largest game
translocation exercise in the world. More than 8 000 animals
of 28 species have so far been released into the reserve, including
elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, cheetah, Cape hunting dog, spotted
hyaena, giraffe, zebra and many species of antelope and herbivores.
Leopard already occurred in the reserve. Operation Phoenix was
completed in 1997.
Functioning
Madikwe functions through a system designed to benefit the three
main stakeholders involved in the reserve. These are the North
West Parks Board, the private sector and the local communities.
All three work together in a mutually beneficial "partnership
in conservation." The Parks Board is responsible for setting
up the necessary infrastructure and the management to run Madikwe
as a major protected conservation area in the North West Province.
It also identifies suitable sites within the reserve which are
leased to the private sector for tourism-based developments
and activities.
The private sector provides the necessary capital to build
game lodges and to market and manage the lodges and the tourism
and trophy hunting activities in the reserve. In this way, private
sector money, rather than State funds, is used to develop the
tourism potential of the reserve.
Accommodation
No day visitors are allowed in the reserve. Only residents at
the various lodges may enter the reserve.
Fully catered accommodation at several lodges and camps within
the reserve.
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