Jaci’s Private Lodge

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Pricing

pp/night sharing

normal price: R15 750 (save: 45%)

Within 60 days of travel

1 Jul - 18 Dec '26

R 8663

within 180 days of travel

1 Nov - 15 Dec '26

R 8663

Includes:

Luxury accommodation in a Safari Suite
All meals daily
Select local house drinks incl. SA wines, spirits, beers & non-alcoholic beverages
Local and specialty teas and freshly brewed filter coffee
Eco-friendly in-room amenities
Twice-daily game drives including sunrise/sunset stops and night drives
Access to Thutlwa Deck, Terrapin Hide and Naledi Sleepout
Transfers to and from Eastern Airstrip (FedAir/private charter flights)
Complimentary Wi-Fi access

NOTE: Rates apply only to SA residents

Our Verdict

OPENING 1 JULY. DRINKS INCLUDED! Stunning re-invention after the old Jaci's lodges were destroyed by flooding in 2025 - this newly built 10-room lodge raises Jaci's to a completely different level altogether, with the gorgeously contemporary new Suites and public areas offering style, sophistication and luxury!

Lodge Gallery

Our Ratings

8.9

Overall

9.0

Luxury & Style

8.0

Setting

8.5

Game Viewing

9.0

Romance

Our Ratings

8.9

Overall

9.0

Luxury & Style

8.0

Setting

8.5

Game Viewing

9.0

Romance

What's Hot

The 10 new Safari Suites look absolutely stunning with crisp and open modern architecture and contemporary luxury details - we particularly like the sunken lounge area which leads seamlessly out onto your spacious viewing deck!
For a very different and hugely romantic experience, why not try the Naledi Sleepout deck experience – the chance to sleep under the stars in a 4 poster bed placed on a platform overlooking the busy waterhole!
Talking of the waterhole, the iconic Terrapin Hide provides unforgettable water-level photographic and game viewing opportunities of game coming in to slake their thirst
Caters both for couples and families - the 4 Safari Suite Expeditions sleep 2 kids whilst the lodge also provides activities to keep the youngsters happy
We love family-owned and managed lodges for their authentic sense of warm hospitality - and Jaci's truly carries the imprint of the Van Heteren family, with the 2 sons of founders Jaci and Jan having now assumed leading roles in the family business
There's excellent game viewing here in the Madikwe – and if you're keen to see wild dogs this is definitely the right reserve to come to

What's Not

The wonderfully stylish new Safari Suites are crying out for the addition of private plunge pools to complete the modern luxury safari lodge experience
If you're a fan of more traditional game lodge styling cues (thatch roofs etc) then the very contemporary lodge architecture of the new Jaci's Private Lodge isn't going to scratch that particular itch

Jaci’s Private Lodge what immediately stands out are the extensive floor to ceiling windows, the lovely sunken lounge area leading out 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!

Lodge Profile

Quick Overview

Location

Madikwe

Drive Time

4 hours drive from Johannesburg

Malaria

Setting

Overlooking the Groot Marico river

Rooms

10 - 6 Safari Suites and 4 Safari Suite Expeditions (also sleeping 2 children)

Aircon

Yes

Pool

Yes

Spa

Yes

Camp Fenced

Yes

Tracker

No - only ranger

Off Road

Yes

Child Policy

All ages welcome

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!

Pricing

pp/night sharing

More Information

Booking Notes

Cannot combine with any other promotion or special offer
Rates quoted are only applicable to South African residents (a copy of a valid South African or SADC drivers licence required at time of reservation)
2 Night minimum stay, 3 night minimum stay on long weekends
A 50% supplement is applicable for guests occupying a single room
Subject to change

Child Policy

Children of all ages welcome

Useful Links

Lodge Website

Visit the official lodge site.

Trip Advisor

Read guest reviews for this lodge.

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