Tau Game Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve of Southern Africa bordering the wilds of Botswana, has had a long and happy liaison with Rovos Rail, regarded as one of the most luxurious trains in the world.
Embarking on a Rovos train journey is the stuff you see in movies and we dream of experiencing such romantic, scenic train adventures of our own.
Remember Murder on the Orient Express – just without the ominous, murderous passengers, perhaps. Imagine sunny days, savouring sophisticated cocktails, sublime fine dining, and a scenic journey of a lifetime.
Before crossing the border into Botswana from South Africa, Rovos stops in the Madikwe Game Reserve and guests are transferred by road to Tau Game Lodge for a two-day luxe safari.
This world-class, eco-friendly, five-star, established safari lodge, renowned for its warm hospitality, welcomes the Rovos guests in elegant chalet accommodation. Tau is now entering its 30th year as a world-renowned safari destination.
All 30 rooms and suites overlook a waterhole where the game of Madikwe quench their thirst 24/7. Imagine sitting on your private room deck, or taking a private outdoor shower, or dining on the tented Tau hospitality deck watching and listening to the trumpeting of elephants, the calls of over 280 species of birdlife, a crafty crocodile or several snapping their majestic jaws, a lion’s roar, or an African wild dog barking… all the time with that waterhole within your sight.
This is before or after you’ve gone on a guided safari drive through the reserve. All safaris are conducted by highly skilled rangers, who will not only provide insight into the Big Five and the prolific smaller game roaming free in this natural, protected habitat, but also inform you about the medicinal value of much of the verdant flora, of which the animals are often more aware than humans…
After bucket-list game sightings, often including herds of elephant with their young, lions and their cubs, cheetahs mating not always discretely, and the pecking order of the wild, and perhaps a pack of wild dogs or hyenas looking for their next kill, you will return to the lodge for a scrumptious lunch or dinner. However, not before you’ve enjoyed a traditional breakfast or sundowner stop in the bush.
Depending on the time of year, you may wish to take a dip in one of the two pools, one of which is an infinity pool, both overlooking that mesmerizing waterhole. Perhaps indulge in your favourite refreshments when reclining on your sunbed, arranging your umbrella just so…
After two nights at the place of the lion, Tau, you will embark on the rest of this magical rail journey in old-world splendour and charm, indulging in delicious modern cuisine, and refined hospitality. Rovos is celebrating 35 years as a world-class train, and it’s no surprise that its passengers, the same as visitors to Tau, tend to return.
The lasting relationship between Rovos and Tau is built on authenticity, attention to detail, and a commitment to offer guests an experience to treasure forever.
Rovos journeys include the epic Cape Town to Dar es Salaam route, which includes historical Kimberley’s diamond legacy, the Madikwe Game Reserve where Tau is the safari stopover, through Botswana to Zambia and the Victoria Falls, on to Chisimba Falls and the Tanzanian border, traversing jungles, Africa’s two Great Rift Valleys, and spectacular mountain terrains along the way.
For more about the exotic journeys available from Rovos Rail, go to: https://rovos.com/journeys/
The 24/7 Tau live webcam is armchair safari heaven at: http://taugamelodge.co.za/main-lodge/live-webcam/