It’s a cloudy, rainy Friday morning when hubby and me set off to picturesque Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape. Our destination – the beautiful Madi-Madi Karoo Safari Lodge. The ride itself is already as scenic as they come, as anyone who is familiar with the Route 62 would know. However, nothing could prepare us for the sheer unspoiled splendour that awaits us.
From the gates of the lodge its an additional 10km drive to the lodge itself. The road is long and winding, bearing in mind it’s a rainy day and rainy days and dirt roads don’t mix. It’s somewhat scary but well worth the drive! As we pull into our parking space our host Natassha greets and escorts us to the lodge’s restaurant. Firstly we enjoy a steaming cup of coffee and some yummy gigantic choc chip cookies. We’re then shown to our cottage.
Adventure and Luxury Awaits at Madi-Madi!
We stayed in the Superior River Front Cottage and let me tell you, every effort was made to ensure we were comfortable and did not lack anything. The cottage boasts air conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities and all four-star amenities. The massive bath and walk-in in shower are simply indulgent. The indoor fireplace ensures we’re kept snug and warm. While the private outside patio overlooks the river.
We relax on the patio for a while, soaking up the wonderful sounds and sights of nature before we head off for supper. The dining area is very cosy with two indoor fireplaces, a library, lounge and bar area. The dining table is placed in the middle of the room where everyone communally enjoys their meals. Chef George serves up a three course meal of the best South African food. Back at the cottage, we drift off to sleep with satisfied tummies with the crackling sounds of the fireplace in the background.
Smooth Sailing and a Bumpy Ride
The following day is quite action packed. This calls for an early start. We start off with a breakfast of champions which includes rooster brood (barbequed sandwiches) and then head to the boat for our river cruise. The Kamanassie Dam runs through Madi-Madi and is used for fishing and river cruises. Halfway down the river, we stop to enjoy some snacks and stretch our legs by taking a walk alongside the bank. This truly is nature in all its glory.
The second half of the day we go on a game drive, which I might add is not for the fainthearted as it involves some serious 4×4’ing! However, spotting the fish eagle, spring buck, giraffes, zebra, eland, gemsbok and historical monuments makes it all worthwhile. Although, it takes a serious game of hide and seek to finally locate the giraffes! We return to the lodge with just under an hour to spare before supper time which was once again a feast of heritage food.
The following morning we depart from Madi-Madi with heavy hearts but all good things must unfortunately come to an end. I would highly recommend this establishment. The staff are knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, go out of their way to fulfill your needs and make you feel like royalty. The lodge is immaculate and situated on 5000 hectares of nature’s magnificence. It is the perfect breakaway from the hustle and bustle of the city and we will definitely return to witness mother nature showing off what she’s got.
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