African Diaries: Mateya Safari Lodge

Mateya Lodge is situated within the Madikwe Game Reserve in the north-western corner of South Africa.This enormous wilderness is characterized by wide grassed plains that stretch from horizon to horizon. Mateya is home to the Big Five but its open plains are the perfect habitat for both the sprinting cheetah and the tireless hunting wild dogs. Legend has it that Queen Mateya traveled from her kingdom in Zimbabwe to consult with Queen Modjadji, the Rain Queen when her land was ravaged by drought and stopped over near the place where Mateya Lodge now stands. Ruins in the area resemble those of Great Zimbabwe and bear out the legend.