I've stayed at Madikwe River Lodge a few times before and visited Madikwe Game Reserve several times, staying at other lodges. I feel that things at Madikwe River Lodge are slipping a bit. It is looking a little tired (the rooms and main building) although nothing drastic. But what struck me was that they seem to be watching their costs closely. You now have to select your meals in advance. Nothing too wrong with that, but when they take this to the extreme and ask you to select the drink you want on your evening game drive at breakfast it's a bit much! Come on guys, do I really want to be thinking about whether I'd like a G&T or a beer later in the day when I'm having breakfast?! Just bring a cold box along with a selection of drinks then your guests can choose what they want at the time. That's what other lodges do, and what you used to do! Seeing my sole G&T lifted out of the cool box and served to me seemed extremely tight. On departure I asked for a bottle of water for my journey. However this was not given to me (remember I'd just spent £500 over two nights!), the bill was re-adjusted to add another £1 to it. This is the hospitality sector!
Would I return? Of course I would. I enjoyed my stay, Madikwe River Lodge is a great place, and the staff were very pleasant. However, this place could be so much better. I suggest the management take a long hard look at what they are doing right now and start to think about hospitality rather than the bottom line all the time.