Jacis Tree Lodge

Jacis Tree Lodge: Location

Entrance to Jaci's Tree Lodge

Jacis Tree Lodge is situated on the eastern border of Madikwe Game Reserve so the quickest and also the recommended route from Johannesburg is to drive via Sun City, entering at the Molatedi Gate, which is about a 3 ½ hours’ drive from JHB.

art work on the wall

About Jacis Tree Lodge

Jaci's Tree Lodge is positioned on the banks of the Groot Marico River, is a fabulously comfortable, authentic bush lodge. The lodge is owner run, thereby providing that extra-special experience.

The lodge is right next to their sister lodge, Jacis Safari Lodge. Safari Lodge is for families and children while Tree Lodge is more for couples.

This unique tree lodge has recently been refurbished to provides a cool retreat from the hot African summer days, and a cosy fireside sanctuary during the chilly winter months.

When you enter Tree Lodge at ground level you are soon transported into the main area and surrounded by a canopy of the lush riverine forest; you feel like you have entered a dwelling from a story book!

surrounded by a canopy of the lush riverine forest

A two large fireplaces in the lounge/bar area provide warmth during the chilly winter months. 

The lounge and bar

I loved the vibrant colors and architecture of Jaci’s Tree lodge.

curio shop

Walkway to the breakaway lounge area

curl up with a good book in the main lounge next to the fireplace or alternatively in the outdoor breakaway lounge.

the cosy seating in the breakaway lounge

Jaci’s differs from most of the other lodges in Madikwe in that it offers its staff members a share in the lodge, in line with a very clear government mandate to provide upliftment in the area. This incentive makes 25.1% of the business available to the staff through Jaci’s Staff Trust.

In addition there is a development programme where staff members develop their skills and grow in the business while reaping the financial rewards of their hard work and excellent customer service.

Jacis Tree Lodge: Food & Drink

The open bar area is next to the lounge where you can enjoy beers, wines, cool drinks or water throughout the day. 

A bar with a view

The spacious dining area is the main attraction and where most of the meals are served - we had our breakfast of fruit with cheese and biscuits, followed by yogurt and muesli, then a hot breakfast can be ordered of eggs, bacon, mushroom and grilled tomato with sausage and toast.

Cosy dining room with fireplace

Each night guests are treated to a pre-dinner snack of Jaci’s chilli and garlic dip, served with freshly baked phaphatha bread. Each guest gets to make their own...

Jenny putting lemon into the chilli dip

Dinners are setup in different areas depending on the weather. There are two bomas where you eat under the African sky while sitting round the fire, or for those rainy days in the large dining area. In addition they also setup dinner at the lodge entrance, which is also under the stars.

Boma dinner

We had most enjoyable meals like our stuffed mushroom starter with Grilled kingklip and veg and for desert we had chocolate mousse.

chocolate mousse in a cup

High tea is served in the dining area before your afternoon game drives, and there is always something interesting to taste.

Tea time snacks

Tlou Deck is arguably the best sundowner and unique safari dining spot at Jaci’s Tree Lodge, epitomising all the “golden hour” beauty and epic bushveld vistas that Madikwe is famous for. The impressively elevated structure is located directly adjacent to our watering hole, affording guests the opportunity to observe the daily comings and goings of a variety of animals that frequent the area. Fully equipped with wifi, Tlou Deck also happens to be the best office in Africa!

Tlou Deck overlooking the waterhole

Jacis Tree Lodge: Accommodation

Wooden walkway to your suite

Connected to the main lodge by elevated wooden walkways, Jaci’s Tree Lodge offers eight luxurious custom built stilted treehouses perched high above the ground, giving you a magnificent tree-top safari experience.

Large wooden decks which are ideal to watch resident mongoose families, the bush buck that graze under the canopy of trees or fantastic bird watching in a relaxing, natural environment.

The rooms each have a king-sized bed.....

colorful treehouse bedroom

stone bath and outdoor shower.....

stone bath

air conditioning, fans and heaters, ensure your comfort throughout the year.  Plus tea and coffee station, desk, hairdryer and safe.

view from the bath

another view of the bedroom and deck

Naledi Treehouse offers Jaci’s Tree Lodge guests the ultimate safari sleep-out under the stars, without even having to leave camp. Naledi – meaning Star in Tswana – is kitted out with a canopied King-size bed, private KolKol wood-fired hot tub, Enviroloo, outdoor shower and boasts exceptional watering hole views.

Naledi Treehouse

This romantic sleep-out experience, enjoyed under starlight and the cover of an impressive Tamboti Tree, is certainly worthy of a top spot on any safari-lover’s bucket list! 

Jacis Tree Lodge: Activities

Relax round the pool......  

swimming pool

Terrapin Hide......

elephant drinking round the hide

try the underground Terrapin Hide – a favourite of amateur and photographic professionals alike. The hide overlooks the large wetland were animals come down to drink all day long. 

The tunnel leading to the hide is low, so if you have back problems, beware!

A view of Terrapin Hide

The above picture is an unbeatable view of the active waterhole, Tlou Deck, Terrapin hide and Naledi Treehouse in the back ground.

waterbuck in front of the old hide

The Hide provides opportunities that you simply won't get while out on drives so it's good to alternate between the drives and the hide or do what we do, where one partner goes on the drive while the other sits at the hide.  I enjoyed all my drives while Mario enjoyed staying in the Terrapin Hide.  We then compare images to see who gets the 'best' shots and here they are......

crocodile sun bathing

Elephant and buffalo herds arriving at just the right moment - sunset...!

Elephant at dusk

large herd of buffalo coming to drink at sunset

buffalo on the ridge to the waterhole

buffalo drinking at sunset

Buffalo silhouette taken from the hide

Elephant herd drinking at sunset

Elephant with the Milky Way, image taken from the hide

There are two game drives per day - an early morning and a late afternoon, both drives will stop for either a coffee or sun-downer break in the bush.  

game drive and off we go....

Our Sightings while at Jaci's Tree Lodge

During our 3 days stay we had some excellent game drives; we saw the Big 5 plus cheetah and wild dogs. The cheetah sighting of the 4 brothers was great and they were very photogenic for a change!

4 cheetahs lying next to a shepherds tree

cheetah on a mission

We also had a fantastic sighting of a family of white rhinos just lazing in the road plus two black rhinos that came really close to our vehicle.

black rhinos a rare sighting

We saw a pride of lions twice, brown hyena, a pack of wild dogs, elephant, spotted hyena and most plains game.

young male lion marking his bush

Thank you to the team at Jaci's Tree Lodge for such a memorable stay.

For more information or to make your booking, please click here

Return from Jacis Tree Lodge to Madikwe Game Reserve

To make a car rental booking in South Africa click here

To make a car rental booking in Botswana or Namibia click here

To make a safari rental booking in South Africa, Botswana or Namibia click here

ShareFacebookXPinterestTumblrRedditWhatsAppMessenger