The 2 Jaci’s camps – the original Jaci’s Safari Lodge and Jaci’s Tree Lodge - were real favourites amongst our Bushscapes clients, so it came as a big shock when they were destroyed by heavy flooding of the Groot Marico river back in February of 2025. However, the old wisdom “every cloud has a silver lining” definitely applies, with the brand-new Jaci’s Private Lodge set to open its doors in July.

This isn’t just a rebuild of the old lodges (in fact, their insurance specifically barred them from doing so to avoid incurring similar damage in any future flood) and so the Van Heteren family who own Jaci’s decided on a quite radical re-invention, rather than simply attempt to re-create what had gone before. Obviously we’re waiting with bated breath for the official re-opening, but what we have seen so far in terms of AI renders of the stylishly contemporary new rooms and public areas is massively exciting! In short, Jaci’s will soon be back, but massively upgraded and having been brought bang-up-to date in terms of now boasting cutting-edge modern game lodge design!

We’ll come back to the stylistic changes shortly, but perhaps the single biggest change is that the previous 2 different lodges have been replaced by a single camp which has now been named as Jaci’s Private Lodge. Of most interest to our clients will be the 10 stunningly attractive new Safari Suites – of these 6 cater exclusively for couples whilst there are also 4 Safari Suite Expeditions which allow for 2 children to be accommodated along with their parents. Then there are 3 Villas (which we intend to list separately on the Bushscapes website) – 2 of these feature 3 bedrooms (the gorgeous new Kubu Villa and the older Nare Villa which survived the floods and has been stylishly upgraded) as well as the 5 bedroomed Jaci’s Madikwe House.

As touched upon previously, the somewhat rustic charm of the design of the old lodge rooms has gone – in their place are hugely attractive and spacious new Suites which are light and airy and possess a level of style, sophistication and luxury that would have the old rooms green with envy! You can study the AI renders of the rooms for yourself, but what immediately stands out are the extensive floor to ceiling windows, the lovely sunken lounge area leading out seamlessly onto a spacious viewing deck, as well as a stylish open-plan bathroom area with the star of the show being a stunning stand-alone bath with a feature window view out over the bush! In the case of the family-friendly Safari Suite Expeditions, 2 kids can join their parents, sleeping on their own specially designed Little Expedition Beds which are created by thoughtfully transforming the sunken lounge into a cosy and beautifully styled sleeping space with proper linens (kids 5 and under are accommodated in a cot)

The brand new main lodge public area is similarly modern in style with numerous echoes of elements seen in the stylish new suites – this is primarily evident in the massive glass windows which promise to create a wonderfully light space with great views out over the surrounding bush; then there’s the similar flat roof design, with traditional thatch having been dispensed with in favour of a much more clean and contemporary aesthetic.

Interestingly there are still a couple of elements still remaining from the old Jaci’s lodges (and the good news is that these were amongst the highlights of the old lodges!) Prime amongst these is the iconic Terrapin Hide overlooking the lodge’s waterhole; accessed via a tunnel, it offers stunning water-level opportunities for keen wildlife photographers and game viewers alike! Then there’s the nearby Naledi Sleepout deck set beneath a majestic Tamboti tree with superb views out over the waterhole - it offers guests an unforgettable safari sleep-out experience without leaving the safety of the lodge! Finally there’s the inviting Thutlwa Lookout deck - the perfect spot to relax with a cold drink or enjoy a meal overlooking the bush, it’s also the departure point for the lodge’s twice-daily game drives.

Speaking of game drives, the Madikwe reserve has a well-deserved reputation for delivering excellent game viewing, including superb predator sightings. And of course, on your return to the lodge afterwards you can soak up the famous Jaci’s hospitality – after all, Jaci’s was the original family-owned lodge in Madikwe when it opened back in 2000 and we have no doubt that the unmistakeable Van Heteren family warmth and hospitality has survived anything that the floods could throw at it!