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Madikwe Game Reserve
Not too far from the Gaborone border lies the Madikwe
Game Reserve. This reserve, consisting of reclaimed farm land, is famous for the
ambitious re-stocking program “Operation Phoenix”. The area is now home to the
big five and is famous for its wild dog and spotted
hyena.
The Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa 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 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. |
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Madikwe is a "Big Five" game
reserve situated 90 km north of Zeerust. Covering some 60 000 hectare, it is one of the
largest game reserves in South Africa. The rich diversity of vegetation
ensures a wide range of game and the topography offers ideal game viewing opportunities.
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.
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 hyena, giraffe, zebra and many species of antelope and
herbivores. Leopard already occurred in the reserve.
Related Links:
South African
Wildlife
South
Africa Wildlife Reserves
The
African Wild Dog |
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North West Province Accommodation by
Town Name
• Boshoek • Brits • Hartbeespoort
Dam • Klerksdorp
• Lichtenburg
• Madikwe • Boshoek
• Mafikeng • Magaliesberg
• Marikana • Phokeng
• Pilanesberg
• Potchefstroom
• Rustenburg
• Sun City • Swartruggens
• Taung • Wolmaransstad |
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