Buffalo Ridge Safari Lodge

My wife and I stayed at Buffalo Ridge for 6 nights the first week of August. We're both quite seasoned safari goers, and have stayed at a range of camps from eco-lodges to high-end 5*+ camps, and Buffalo Ridge ticks all the boxes that we like when we are on a safari trip. As mentioned in another review, this lodge would not be great for someone with mobility issues, but this, fortunately, does not affect us. The entire camp is set within the hills, which provides stunning views into the valley below from the lodge, from your patio, or even from the glass enclosed shower. The resident family of klipspringer made an appearance outside our room several times over the stay, and judging by the amount of dung around, they weren't the only animals to see the lodge as a great place to wander. As such, at night and early morning, you do need a guide/staff member to escort you to and from your room. Each day saw a fixed menu, something I appreciate. It seems many places since lock-down have been steering away from buffet meals. Mind you, most lodges I've stayed at have had a fixed menu each day. The food was also first class. Cooked perfectly, great portion size, and enough diversity during the week to not get bored. Bring an appetite as you'll have two courses for lunch and three for dinner. The staff were wonderful, and all from a local community, which was one of the main reasons we booked to stay at this lodge. From the maintenance staff, to the waitresses/waiters, front of house staff, and the chefs, we were made to feel like family and it was tough to leave. Our guide for the game drives was Israel, and he is one of the best guides I've had. Always calm, always communicating about what he had planned for us, always asking if we had seen enough at any sighting. I was really impressed with his dedication to not upset or stress the animals out, and his ability to read situations. When we were there the male elephants were all rather grumpy for a number of reasons, and Israel's knowledge and skills saw us out of what could have been potentially difficult situations. Overall, Buffalo Ridge is an excellent place for a short stay or longer stay. My wife Sarah and I are already planning our return visit next year. We know we'll get the same warm welcome and leave happy. Definitely a lodge everyone should look at.

The 3 days stay at the Buffaloridgesafari Lodge in the Madwike reserve was amazing . The place is unique, the staff extremely kind and attentive. The lodge architecture beautiful. I was there with my son of 5 years and we had peaceful and unique stay.

We have just returned from our first stay at Buffalo Ridge, knowing that it will be the first of many (for as long as the finances allow). We have loved Madikwe ever since our first visit 11 years ago. With our regular lodge not yet open we decided on Buffalo Ridge, in part because we wanted to experience an as yet unvisited part of the Reserve. We are very pleased that we did. Great location with extensive view, spacious lodges, extremely experienced guides, and a group of people determined that your stay will be both memorable and enjoyable. The lodge is owned by a local community, with everyone working there coming from the same village. This means they have known each other for all of their lives, and they work as part of a large family, always with smiles on their faces, and doing whatever they can to ensure that you have a great time. They succeeded! Around the lodge we saw elephants feeding just by the main deck, while klipspringers rested on the steps leading up to the vehicles for the game drives. On the game drives we had great close-up sightings of cheetah, elephants, lions, and so many other creatures. This was very much down to Godfrey who looked after us so well. With his great knowledge, many years of experience, and great people skills, you couldn’t ask for more in your guide. We thoroughly recommend Buffalo Ridge to anyone wanting a top-end experience without having to pay top-end prices.

Lodge is on the ridge and surrounded by bush. This lodge is not suitable with visitors with mobility issues as its all stairs from the carpark to reception to the dining room to the bedrooms. Steep stairs. Having said that the rooms are clean and the outside shower lovely. Mosquito nets over the beds but Madikwe is a malaria free area. Meals were average - not fine ding but substantial. A few animals seen from the deck but mostly on game drives.

Great weekend spent at Buffalo Ridge. The staff were all very accommodating and the game drives were exceptional even the longer ones with fewer animals sighted but the excitement of tracking down specific species. The food was great and plentiful with an adequate wine selection. Rooms are large and the view from the shower is a wonderful touch. Only reason that I don't give this a 5 star rating was the booking process which required numerous follow ups and lack of response to emails and voicemails.

Our family spent 3 fantastic days at Buffalo Ridge. We are from Canada and our kids are in their early teens. We picked Buffalo Ridge for two important reasons. 1. Unlike the vast majority of Lodges, it is community owned. This means that the profits are recycled into productive community projects, Further, the genuine pride and ownership of the staff is evident in every interaction. 2. Madikwe (the reserve area) is malaria free and so we didn’t require pills (which come with side effects) The game drives (2 /day for 3 hrs each), the accommodation (private huts) food and overall service were truly exceptional. We have some picky eaters and they went above an beyond to accommodate. We cannot say enough, or recommend Buffalo Ridge enough to family and friends who are starting to plan a trip.

My stay at Buffalo Ridge Lodge in Madikwe was nothing short of amazing. The wildlife experience was exceptional, with a great variety of animals often visiting the camp, allowing for unforgettable moments. The authenticity of the rooms added a unique touch to the safari experience. I can't praise Josephine, the chef, enough for the incredible food that graced our plates during the stay. The service provided by the staff, including Amanda, Grace, Penelope, and Gabriel, was exceptional and made me feel truly cared for. And let's not forget the expert drivers, Godfried, Ronny, and Israel, who enhanced our game drives with their knowledge and enthusiasm. A truly unforgettable safari adventure.

Amazing community run lodge in Madikwe. Staff were top notch. The food was amazing. Kind of spoiled us for the rest of our trip. Rooms were spacious and comfortable. Guides for the game drives were outstanding. Saw lots of animals including Rhino, Lion, Cheetah and Wild Dog. Highly recommended.