Jaci’s Tree Lodge

The suites at Tree Lodge are nestled in the treetops – 4m high on stilts – placing guests in the heart of nature. The suites are bright and spacious with vivid colours and patterns which add character and natural materials such as thatch ceilings which add dimension and authenticity. Along one side of the suite are sliding wooden framed glass doors which can fully open up to bring the outside in and place guests in the centre of their surroundings. A comfortable king-size bed sits in the centre of the room covered in crisp bed linen and offers views across the decking and into nature which can be enjoyed without leaving the warmth of your duvet.

The suites can be configured with a king-size bed, or as a twin room. Each suite comes with its own ensuite bathroom which includes twin hand-basins, a unique outdoor shower and a deep freestanding bathtub where guests can enjoy a relaxing soak. The suite’s spacious decking offers guests the perfect space to unwind after a long day, relaxing in the deck chairs while overlooking the luscious trees of the Madikwe Game Reserve.

Outdoor dining is a traditional safari experience and as such the meals at Jaci’s Tree Lodge are served under the wide-open sky as often as possible. Enjoy freshly prepared meals under the stars and paired with fine South African wines.

Guests can enjoy a unique safari sundowner in the heart of the reserve, sipping on a refreshing G&T from the mobile gin bar while gazing at the sunset tones flooding through the treetops and bathing the reserve in a pool of red and gold.

There is nothing quite like getting out into the bush on foot and immersing yourself in your surroundings. Accompanied by a trained guide, you’ll be able to learn all about the ecosystem. Walks can be out in the bush or along the Marico River, where you can spot elephants swimming in the water, or hippos lounging in the shallows.

The unspoilt surroundings of the Madikwe Game Reserve make for incredible stargazing. Whether from the private deck of your suite, at the main lodge, or in the privacy of the unique star bed, the stargazing is always breathtaking. The lodge’s highly knowledgeable guides can easily make sense of the sparkling galaxy and point out constellations.

There are plenty of opportunities to take care of your wellbeing out in the bush at Jaci’s Tree Lodge. Hired from the local community, the lodge’s trained and caring massage therapists are on hand to help you relax in peace and tranquillity. There is also an outdoor gym available to all guests, or a game of boules can be organised. Lastly, in a wonderful shady spot, you can find the lodge’s swimming pool, perfect for cooling off in the heat.

Jaci’s Lodges have partnered with Stop Rhino Poaching to help protect and preserve the local rhino population. Stop Rhino Poaching is a proactive organisation which specialises in raising anti-poaching awareness, to this extent Jaci’s Lodges have taken the first step of raising awareness by attaching noticeable stickers to all their game-drive vehicles. They also work with the North West Parks and Tourism Board with various anti-poaching activities such as driving awareness campaigns and lending support for increased foot patrols.

Another endangered animal that Jaci’s Lodges seek to protect is the Wild Dog. Populations throughout central and northeast Africa are at an all time low with less than 5000 dogs present in African reserves, however, due to the introduction of 6 wild dogs to Madikwe Game reserve in 1994 the local population is thriving.

Guests staying at Jaci’s Lodges will pay a Conservation Contribution of which all funds go to the Madikwe Concessionaires Forum where it is used to help with the anti-poaching initiatives within the reserve.

Jaci’s Lodges are run by a dedicated group of individuals, most of whom were born and raised in nearby communities. The creation of the Jaci’s Staff Trust has allowed ongoing empowerment to reach local people. Staff who have worked at the lodges for five years are eligible to become shareholders in the business. The trust holds 27% of the business and makes the staff part owners. At the end of each year, those who are eligible can receive a portion of company dividends. It is the hope of owners Jaci and Jan that this has an uplifting and inspiring influence on the local community, and provides more economic safety.

At Jaci’s Lodges, they have their own vegetable garden which produces the majority of their fresh produce, from tomatoes, strawberries, basil, peppers, mint, rosemary, thyme, pomegranate, to runner beans, spinach, and pumpkins. They create their own compost called bokashi, which is used for their wet waste. All wet waste is mixed with bokashi bran in a drum and then sealed and allowed to dry. After 2 to 3 weeks the bokashi compost is ready to be put to work and the planting can begin. The products they cannot grow themselves are brought from the local community which helps reduce their carbon footprint as well as support local businesses.

All wastewater at Jaci’s Lodges is recycled and reused. They have their own wetland where a lot of the wastewater is fed back, creating a permanent source of water for the local wildlife. Single-use plastic is not used in Jaci’s Lodges from plastic cutlery to plastic-packaged soaps and shampoos. No disposable coffee cups are used and they request that their suppliers don’t use plastic bags. While they try to use as little paper and cardboard as possible, all which they do use is recycled.

Jaci’s Lodges have made various pledges to become more eco friendly and planet positive. Some of these include not using their vehicles unnecessarily and monitoring their fuel consumption. They also use LED lights and geysers to help reduce the amount of energy they use. Plastic water bottles are not used at the lodges, instead, all guests are provided with a reusable aluminium water bottle upon arrival. All cleaning products which are used are eco-friendly and do not contain chemicals which damage the environment. These pledges are small ways in which Jaci’s Lodges are creating a big difference in their everyday running.