I was showering in the outdoor shower of our room, overlooking the thick bush from our terrace. No fences. Just me and the African wild.
Still day dreaming about our sights from the morning game drive: lions, black rhinos, wild dogs.
When I suddenly saw something grey out of the corner of my eye.
An elephant.
20 meters behind me. Blazing his way through the bush.
After may heart made a little jump I was confident enough to keep on showering, watching this silent giant wandering.
In the heart of the Madikwe Game Reserve in the untouched wilderness lies the unfenced Impodimo Game Lodge, overlooking the expanse of the park with panoramic views from a little hill. The perfect destination for those who enjoy to be really close to nature.
BYOND TRAVELING rating – ★★★★☆
For whom?
For adventurous couples, honeymooners and families that are looking for an adrenaline kick. Your longings for big sightings will definitely be satisfied.
When to go?
Madikwe is malaria-free, so it is a perfect safari destination all year around.
Location ★★★★★
Impodimo is one of the few truly luxurious lodges in Madikwe. Madikwe overall is perfectly located: Starting from Johannesburg, it is only a 4 hours drive. From Gabarone, the capital of Botswana, it’s even just a 2 hours drive. Read more on Madikwe in our previous post.
Amenities ★★★★★
The lodge consists of 10 luxurious rooms, build directly into the thick bush. The only thing that separates you from the wilderness are huge glass doors facing your own private terrace. The fact that Impodimo is unfenced makes it especially adventurous. All the rooms are equipped with your own fire pitch that keeps you warm at night, a super comfy king size bed an indoor and outdoor shower as well as a bathtub, wifi and all the other precious amenities you can think of. Besides the wildlife that you can almost touch from your room, the lodge has a beautiful terrace overseeing the reserve as well as a brand new hideout which is the perfect base from which to explore the wildlife drinking from the waterhole.
Service ★★★★☆
Service is outstanding at Impodimo. The rangers are highly educated, knowing anything and everything about the South African bush. The managers and staff are available for any request and provide you with a high standard customized service.
Kitchen ★★★★☆
Whether brunch, dinner or snacks in between – the staff of the lodge indulge guests with delicious creations and refreshing drinks. The buffet offers a great variety of dishes to choose from for each meal, including a vegetarian option. Instead of the usual breakfast directly after the morning game drive and the lunch only a few hours later, Impodimo pampers its guest with a delicious brunch and a substantial high tea before the afternoon game drive. Finally a lodge that does not feed us! Unfortunately the dining area is inside. Yet, the dinner around the boma on our last evening made up for it.
Sustainability ★★★★☆
Impodimo stands for children empowerment & wildlife protection. Guests can support a nearby school with a small donation, may it be money or anything else the children can make use of. Another project the lodge is supporting is the Last Hope Organization, a non profit project that caters for abused, abandoned, neglected and underprivileged children. Besides the human side, Limpodimo fights for the saving of the rhino by contributing to the rhino conservatory‘s efforts to raise baby rhinos who lost their mom to poachers.
Value for money ★★★★★
For 450€ bugs per person, you can stay for one night at Impodimo. It is not a cheap shot, however, Madikwe overall is a little bit pricy. Is it worth it ? Definitely. The amount of Game you’ll spot in the reserve is magnificent and the fact that it’s Malaria free is also priceless. Concerning the lodge, for 350€ you’ll receive outstanding service in an adventurous & really luxurious lodge. PS: Sometimes the lodge offers special rates, check their webpage to find out more.
What we loved the most
Unfenced – Not a single fence. Not even the one that protects the lodge from incoming elephants. The fact that the lodge and especially the rooms are build in the middle of the bush, thus accessible for every kind of animal. So it might happen that while sitting on the sundeck, a cheetah may pay a visit. Happened during out stay at Impodimo. A truly adventurous experience.
Hide – If you can’t get enough of animals, you can spend your time in their newly build elephant hide next to a water hole. When we say next, we mean 3 meters in front of it, unseen for animals. Spot the elephants rolling in the mud and eventually even the cats refreshing themselves.
What we didn’t like so much
Indoor eating – If there is that we missed at Impodimo its only that we used to have all our meals indoors. Even though the lodge has beautiful outdoor spaces, the meals mainly happen inside the lodge. This is probably because of organizational issues and also as a protection from pick pockets from the trees (mainly the cheeky monkeys) due to the fact that the lodge is unfenced.
Byond Traveling 