Severe flooding in the Madikwe Game Reserve on South Africa’s border with Botswana has forced the closure of several lodges along the Marico River until the end of April.

Unprecedented rainfall – over 400mm in February – caused the Molatedi Dam in Limpopo to overflow and consequent flooding of the Marico River. This caused extensive damage to several properties including Jaci’s Lodges, the Morukuru Family and aha Thakadu River Camp.

After safely evacuating staff and guests, Jaci’s Lodges decided to close both of its luxury properties – Jaci’s Tree Lodge and Jaci’s Safari Lodge – until the end of April or longer, says Jaci’s Lodges Co-owner Jaci van Heteren. “Until we can fully assess the extent of the flooding, overall damage and necessary cleanup, we cannot confirm how long the closure will be. We are actively coordinating with our insurers to evaluate the situation and determine a clear path forward.”

The Morukuru Family has temporarily closed two of its lodges – the Morukuru Owner’s House and the Morukuru River House – until further notice. “All our staff are safe and no guests were staying at the properties at the time. However, substantial material damage is expected. We will conduct a full assessment once conditions allow,” says Morukuru Family Marketing Manager Rinse Wassenaar. The collection’s Morukuru Farm House remains unaffected and fully operational.

On social media, aha Thakadu River Camp announced that staff and guests were safely evacuated and that the lodge is currently closed. “We are closely monitoring the situation and will share updates as soon as possible.”

This year’s rainy season in the reserve has been extraordinary with annual rainfall exceeding 1 300mm – more than double the typical amount, Wassenaar says. Madikwe Game Reserve, spanning 75 000 hectares along the border of the North West and Limpopo provinces, is South Africa’s fifth-largest reserve and a popular alternative to the Kruger National Park for Big Five safaris.