Tau Game Lodge is a family-friendly, five-star safari lodge in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, one of South Africa’s top private game reserves and one of the closest Big 5 game reserves near Johannesburg. The lodge is enclosed, resulting in guests being subtly fenced in, while wildlife including the Big 5, wild dogs, and cheetahs roam free in the reserve.
The eco-friendly lodge opened its doors in 1995 and offers 30 rooms, ranging from standard and luxury rooms to family suites, as well as a conference and events centre, and a spa. I spent two nights there in 2015 and 2 nights there in 2022 and have very special memories of my stay. Celebrities that have been hosted at the lodge include Mark Shuttleworth, Kate Hudson and Adam Sandler.
A normal safari day at Tau Game Lodge starts with an early morning wakeup call. Dress in comfortable clothes and layers as the mornings are cool. Then meet your ranger at the hospitality area of the lodge for a hot drink of your choice and a freshly-baked muffin.
You then snuggle up with a woollen blanket on the safari vehicle, complete with canopies for comfort. A maximum of 6 guests are accommodated on the vehicle in order to adhere to social distancing rules. You even have the option of a private safari vehicle at an additional fee. Then set off to see exciting wildlife of all sizes and descriptions, in their natural habitat.
The early morning safaris are mesmerising, offering magical light for photography, with a pitstop for coffee and delicious buttermilk rusks overlooking the verdant bush, whilst game rangers keep a vigilant watch for predators. After a spectacular game drive, you are invited to indulge in a breakfast fit for royals, served at your private table overlooking the waterhole. Afternoon game drives include dazzling African sunsets with decadent sundowners before returning to the lodge for a convivial dinner.
Game viewing is not limited to safari drives. All 30 rooms, the lodge hospitality decks as well as the two pools, offer views of the large waterhole, where a game extravaganza of the wildest and most entertaining order plays out naturally 24/7 - crocodiles lazing on the embankment hoping to trap a meal, elephants trumpeting their arrival, and perhaps a hyena and a lion giving each other the evil eye. The highly addictive Tau live webcam will keep you mesmerized too.
Dinner is hosted in the boma, at the restaurant, or on the dining deck, depending on the weather, and usually with a pleasant surprise element for guests. The culinary team’s delicious and healthy meals are served a-la carte and tables are spaced apart at appropriate distances.
The Tau Spa Oasis is another luxe experience, offering a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding bush and spectacular birdlife.
The Tau team has adopted additional health and hygiene measures to provide guests with complete peace of mind during their visit, from arrival to settling into their rooms. Each room undergoes meticulous deep cleaning before guests arrive. They look forward to welcoming you.
For more information and current specials, visit Tau Game Lodge.
Enter the giveaway for your chance to win a stay at this amazing lodge.
Be sure to click on the link in the confirmation email you receive and take note of the terms and conditions below.
Terms and conditions
Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 50 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.
Impressive.
I can't wait to celebrate my 40th birthday together with my love... This vacation will help to ease all the tension of this year.. Hope I got a chance for a new world
This would be a perfect gift of travel, I'd definitely gift it to my partner and best friend. He needs the peace that comes with being in the wild
Wish I could win, just this once in my life
This could be an experience of a life time
would be so awesome after this lockdown
I really need this awesome holiday for my wife and daughters to reunite my family
What a stunning place showcasing South Africa at its natural best...
Would love to win this amazing prize <3 and gift it to my parents
Hoping to win this looks amazing
The lodge looks WOW
Can you guys just pick me. Its been a tough year for me, lost two grandparents. I could do with a weekend away
Seems very peaceful and relaxing
A perfect retreat
Pick Me Please 🙏 I’ve never been on a safari before. My Birthday is coming up - 16 November
Then My 10th Anniversary- 4 December
Lots of celebrations, and what better way than to Win this beautiful Safari competition. #loveanimals #safari 🥳🎉🎊
Pick Me Please 🙏
My Birthday is coming up - 16 November and then 4 December celebrating - 10th Anniversary #specialmoments what better way than to celebrate with a beautiful Safari.
Would be lovely as I’ve never been to a safari
Pick Me Please. I’ve never been on a Safari before. On the 4th December is My Husband and My 10th Anniversary. What better way than to celebrate 😎🎉🎊🥳
it looks awesome and so relaxing in the wild
My husband and I love the outdoors. It will be a nice getaway for us
A fabulous opportunity. Been talking to my kids about valuing the natural world. We can only appreciate it and do something to protect it if we experience the wonders of nature.
Fingers crossed. My daughter and I would love to win this prize
Beautiful lodge and an amazing discription given would love to visit it someday soon x
Fingers crossed good luck to everyone 🥰
And congratulations to whoever the would be !
I luv the outdoors seeing the habitat of the wildlife
Hubby and I are wildlife fanatics! We have never been to a luxery resort of this nature..this will be a real treat!
If you are a wildlife fanatic, you will absolutely love Tau Game Lodge and Madikwe Game Reserve!
Stunning lodge. I would love to go on a safari in Africa. Seeing all the animals in the wild is something spectacular.
My partner and I will be seperated for the first time in three years as I move away for work in January... We havent had the chance to go on an adventure together, this would be an unforgettable experience for us to share before we are parted in distance.
Fingers crossed!
How lovely it would be to win the trip🥺
My birthday is in November it would make the best birthday present EVER!
Hopefully wishing to win would really love to see the big five with my wife
My husband and I love to go on new adventures. This year didn’t go according to plan and our honeymoon had to be cancelled. This would be a great way to celebrate the start of our marriage. Anyone who wins this will have an incredible experience.
Wow I wanna do this too..looks like a great experience ☺️I loved your pics on instagram too 🤩
Entered. Holding thumbs. We love that feeling of being in the bush, this looks lovely to be at.
Entered😁. What a super exciting and amazing prize to win🤗. I love nature and wild life❤️.
Would love a chance to win and get away from all the house chores that leave me tired everyday.
Winning this awesome prize will be a dream come true and change my life for better and forever
Winning this awesome prize will change my life for better just after this stressful pandemic, covid19! Dreams do come true, make my dream come true...
I never win anything in my life this ll be a big win in my life
Would love to win this amazing prize, fingers crossed 🤞
My fingers are x,stunning😍
Yes please,I would love to win this Awesome prize .It would be a wonderful gift for my 13th Wedding Anniversary .
Entered fingers crossed ,I hope I win this Awesome prize for my 13th Wedding Anniversary.
A lovely giveaway. Good luck to everyone.
We are pensioners who are tired and grieving after many losses of dear ones to Covid. We need to get out of the crime and grime and stresses of Johannesburg
Just celebrated my 18th anniversary
But with covid we couldn't go and celebrate
This would be an awesome prize to win
Apologise for mention the wrong place. It will be wonderful to stay at Tau Game Lodge in Madikwe Game Lodge. We've never been there would be an experience of a lifetime.
Wow so beautiful a dream come true to be with Mother Nature at its best ❤️🇿🇦
We've never been to Welgevonden would be perfect for our 49th wedding anniversary in April or Hubby's 70th bday in January.
Tau Game Lodge is in Madikwe Game Reserve 🙂
Also just entered. This lodge has been a dream of mine to visit in the longest time. Thanks for the chance to enter this. 👌🏽
Looks fantastic
Plz god listen to my prayers..wants to go for safari tour wit my hubby
It will be an amazing getaway. Good luck!
Definitely...its my dream to for safari
Such a stunning lodge 😍
Tau Game Lodge is beautiful and the decks overlooking the waterhole are amazing!
Entered. It's been on my bucket list for ages. 🙃
Good luck Clinton. It's certainly a bucket list destination.
This will be an awesome getaway for my daughter & myself as we need to spend sometime together.The catalog look amazing...Please we need this
Good luck. It's an awesome lodge in an amazing game reserve.
Lovely giveaway , awesome lodge
Good luck. It's a wonderful lodge in an amazing part of South Africa.
Lovely giveaway 😍❤️
Wonderful prize! I’ve entered ... fingers crossed 🤞🏽 😃
Good luck. Someone's going to get very lucky!
Great prize! Such a Stunning lodge 🤩
Definitely. It's a stunning lodge in an amazing game reserve. The winner will be very lucky.