A Big Five family friendly safari
Located on the spectacular Madikwe Game Reserve, which spans 75,000 hectares of malaria-free wilderness, Morukuru Farm House offers exclusive use luxury safari accommodation.
Sipping early morning coffee on the deck, two elegant nyala graze peacefully just beyond the pool. In the middle distance a family of warthog scurry past in single file, their tails up like flags to see each other in the tall grass.
But the large fenced area around Farm House in Madikwe Game Reserve is home to various antelope species and other small mammals too.
Exclusive-use Farm House is as big as Owners’ House and River House combined and has five bedrooms, built around a large central courtyard and linked to the living area by covered walkways.
The house is spacious and beautifully designed for a multi-generational safari getaway. It’s surrounded by lush lawns for the children to play on, and there’s an inviting pool for summer dips. Never far away, antelope live peacefully too.
In its previous incarnation, Farm House was, indeed, a tiny farm house, built in red brick. The old house was raised, and the eponymous Farm House was created to include some of the bricks and timber from the original dwelling. The main living area and bar is where the original farmhouse once stood.
Space to relax, unwind and reconnect
Just a 15-minute drive from River House and Owners’ House, Farm House also has its own resident chef, coordinator, full staff complement, private safari vehicle and personal game ranger just like the other houses.
Even though much bigger, the house has a cosy, home away from home feel to it and the staff are ever-friendly, hospitable and flexible – they will certainly be friends before you leave. Importantly, here you also decide exactly what you’d like to do when, and the staff magically materialise it.
Set on flat terrain and surrounded by bushveld, the area around the house is ideal for bush walks and exploration amongst the resident wildlife. There’s a sense of space and a feeling of freedom in the experience.
Inside Farm House, the bedrooms are also spacious, beautifully neutral and individually decorated to showcase the surrounding scenery.
Bespoke Afro chic accents and clean lines add to the sense of tranquillity that pervades Farm House. And more tranquil a setting and safari you could not wish for – with all the generations you can muster included.
What we love!
- The Morukuru Freedom Concept: When was the last time you were able, even encouraged, to do what you want, when you want? To make sure that you are in charge of your own happiness, all Morukuru’s exclusive-use properties are run according to the ‘Morukuru Freedom Concept’ which translates to mean that you are supported in having your best holiday.
- The big hearted family ethos at Morukuru. “Created by our family, for yours” is a tagline that governs that the Morukuru approach to travel. When it comes to family, Morukuru insists that, the more the merrier. Every age is welcomed, making Morukuru a great place to plan that once in a lifetime family get together of grandparents, grandkids, aunts and uncles, cousins.
- The Morukuru Goodwill Foundation, established in 2007, invests in anti-poaching resources, predator management and rhino protection.
- Additionally, the foundation supports local communities in Madikwe, such Molatedi Village. The foundation supports local dancers, who perform at the Morukuru Family exclusive-use safari houses.
- Originally started in Madikwe Game Reserve, since 2010 the Morukuru Goodwill Foundation has been extended to include the De Hoop Nature Reserve in the Overberg. Guests at De Hoop’s luxury coastal escape Morukuru Beach Lodge have the option to attend the annual beach clean-up.
- The organic and historic soul of the farmhouse. All the original farmhouse’s materials were incorporated in the construction of the current farm.
- All the game that lives happily around the house and the sheer novelty of game viewing from your bed and watching antelope wander before you have begun your day.
- For those on a couple’s safari – and anyone else too – The romantic and luxurious bush sleep-out option overlooking a nearby waterhole, at no additional cost – and it’s available to guests at River House and Owners’ House too.
- Such diverse and memorable dining venues, including right in the bushveld botanical herb garden close by
What you need to know…
- Please note Morukuru Farm House can only be booked for sole-use by you and your loved ones, and not on a room-by-room basis.
- Federal Air operates daily flights from Johannesburg to Madikwe, or you could self-drive or book a road transfer.
- 16 is the minimum age for Big 5 game walks; excellent guided nature walks are available for younger guests’ enjoyment within the 1km² fenced area around Farm House.
- Farm House is one of three exclusive use safari hideaways in the Morukru Family portfolio in Madikwe Game Reserve
- If Morukuru Farm House is unavailable to book for your dates, browse our other perfect safaris in Madikwe Game Reserve, our perfect hideaways in the North West province, or our perfect safaris in South Africa.
Reviewed by Keri Harvey
Edited by Dawn Kennedy