The reserve was announced to the public in August 1991 and officially became part of the Board's estate on 31 October the same year. The reserve was proclaimed after a detailed feasibility study of the area was conducted by independent consultants. The study showed that wildlife-based tourism was the most beneficial option for this remote and economically depressed area.
One of South Africa's largest game reserves, Madikwe has the distinction of being one of the few game reserves in the world to be proclaimed purely on the grounds of being the most appropriate and sustainable land use for an area.
The reserve consists of vast plains of open woodlands and grasslands, dissected by the rugged Rant van Tweedepoort, and bordered in the south by the Dwarsberg Mountains. The area is dotted with huge rocky hills, known as inselbergs. The entire reserve has been enclosed in a 150 km perimeter fence which has been electrified to prevent the escape of elephants and the larger predators.

Activities
Conducted Game Drives

How to get there
From Johannesburg head north on the N1 towards the N4 Toll road take the N4 Toll road north west towards Rustenburg, Swartruggens, Groot Marico and Zeerust once in Zeerust turn right at the second stop street into President Street. There is a signpost on the left. that says "Madikwe Game Reserve/Gaborone" and a First National Bank on the corner to the right follow the R49 towards the reserve for approximately 97km the first entrance to the reserve is Abjaterskop Gate the second gate to the reserve is the Wonderboom Gate exactly 7km from the first gate.