Buffalo Ridge Safari Lodge

We were the only guests at the resort whilst we were there so we were pampered. The staff were very friendly and attentive, the food was excellent(possibly too much!). The Guide Ronnie was first class, he had to track and Guide on his own. If there was one gripe it was paying for sundowners where it was free at other camps, and we were not made aware of this at the beginning.

We recently spent a few wonderful days at this lodge. The food was excellent, from the hot and cold breakfasts to the two-course lunches to the three-course dinners, every course was delicious and well prepared. All the staff were polite, friendly and helpful. We had two water-related issues. In our first chalet the water pressure was very low, so we were moved to another chalet, and as we moved I noticed that measures were already being taken to resolve the problem. The other issue was that an elephant dug/pulled up one of the water pipes, but that too was soon repaired. Also, we were accompanied to our chalet at night and in the very early morning, so we always felt protected. On the twice-daily game drives we saw a lot of game - from lions to rhinos and elephants (incl calves), a leopard in a nearby tree and some cheetahs, buffalo and various buck, and so on. The ranger was an excellent and careful driver and shared a lot of knowledge with us. The scenery, although very dry because of less summer rain than usual, was beautiful. All in all we would highly recommend this lodge!

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.

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.

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 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.