Buffalo Ridge Safari Lodge is a five-star lodge situated in the west of the Big 5, malaria free, Madikwe Game Reserve in the North West Province. The lodge is owned by the rural Balete community, who hold lease rights in Madikwe through an agreement with the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB). Buffalo Ridge is operated by the Madikwe Collection, which provides expertise and skills transfer that the community requires making their business work.

The lodge is staffed by people from the village and the rigorous training programme has been designed to ensure that they develop the skills to manage their own lodge within a 15-year time frame. In the interim, lease payments are covered and fair payments based on business volumes are transferred to the community for future investment in the village and its people.

“Achieving FTTSA certification is a true credit to the great things that Buffalo Ridge has achieved. We are very proud.’
Kate Naughton, PR and Marketing, The Madikwe Collection & De Hoop Collection