This reserve was proclaimed in August 1991 and is currently one of South Africa's largest game reserves and best-kept secrets. Madikwe has the distinction of being one of the few game reserves in the world to be established purely because it was the most appropriate and sustainable land use for the area.

The reserve consists of vast plains of open woodlands and grasslands, dissected and bordered by rugged mountain ranges and rocky hills. The re-stocking of Madikwe with animals indigenous to the area, began in mid-1991. Since then, more than 8,000 animals of 28 species have been introduced in the largest game translocation exercise in the world at that time. Animals introduced to date include the ‘Big Five’ plus cheetah, wild dog, spotted hyena, giraffe, zebra and many species of antelope and other herbivores.