JACI’S PRIVATE LODGE REOPENED IN MADIKWE, BUILT FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS | News
Jaci’s Private Lodge officially reopened in South Africa’s malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve on July 1, 16 months after severe flooding forced the family business to close in late February 2025. Once the underwriting and planning processes were completed, the Van Heteren family embarked on an intensive ten-month construction program, creating a lodge designed for the decades to come.
The official reopening follows a two-week soft launch with family, friends and travel partners, giving the returning team time to find their rhythm and the lodge time to settle into its new skin.
“We were planning to renovate a lodge in 2025 that had grown with us over the past 25 years. The flood was devastating, but the great thing was that we could build for the next 25 years, rather than simply renovate the last 25 years.” Jan van Heteren, co-owner
The result is brighter, bolder and more thoughtful, while remaining unmistakably Jaci’s: colourful, warm, deeply personal and bringing out the wilderness. The renovation has introduced new accommodation and guest areas, but the family says the character of the lodge and the connection between guests, team and place was the one thing that couldn’t change.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see guests arriving again. After the closure, rebuilding and reimagining, welcoming people back feels like the final step in bringing Jaci’s home back home. It’s a celebration not just of the new lodge, but of the people, spirit and colorful hospitality that have always been at its heart.” Dane van Heteren, Sales & Marketing Manager
A FAMILY STORY, CARRIED FURTHER
The reopening also marks a generational change. Jaci and Jan remain actively involved, while their sons Tristan and Dane play a leading role in shaping and running the next chapter of the lodge.
That story is captured in the evolved Jaci’s logo, which now shows two wild dogs instead of one. Jaci jokes that the larger dog represents the parents: still present, still involved, and occasionally ready to nibble at the youngsters’ heels as the next generation moves to the front of the pack.
THE JACI PACKAGE IS RETURNING
Much of the pre-closure team, affectionately known as the Jaci’s Pack, has returned. For the family, seeing familiar faces back at the lodge was one of the most meaningful parts of the reopening, bringing the warmth, personality and accumulated knowledge of the original Jaci’s to the renovated spaces.
Through Jaci’s Staff Trust, team members own 27.2% of the company. Employees who have worked at Jaci’s for more than five years can become shareholders and receive annual dividends through the Trust. With the majority of the team coming from the communities surrounding the reserve, the model creates long-term financial participation and ensures that the lodge’s success is shared with the people whose loyalty, skill and care have shaped the story.
“Coming back to Jaci’s feels like coming home. The lodge may be new, but the heart of Jaci’s is still the same: the people, the smiles and the way we make guests feel like family.” Mocca, Lodge Manager
REBUILT WITH A PURPOSE
Reconstruction was guided by a simple principle: repair where possible and replace only when necessary. Existing decking boards were removed, sanded and reused in the new build, while the furniture was cleaned, repaired and overhauled, in some cases more than once, so that it could continue its story in the renovated lodge. This approach reduced waste and preserved layers of Jaci’s history.
The lodge’s broader environmental practices include solar energy to meet energy needs, water that is treated and reused, and a zero-waste vision that prioritizes the recycling and reuse of glass, paper, tin and organic waste. On-site vegetable gardens complement ingredients sourced from local markets and greengrocers, while recruitment is prioritized from communities around the reserve where possible.
A NEW LODGE WITH A FAMILIAR SOUL
Accommodation at the redesigned Jaci’s Private Lodge includes six Safari Suites for 2 guests, four Safari Suite Expeditions for 2 adults and 2 children, the three-bedroom Kubu and Nare Villas for up to 6 guests each, and the five-bedroom Jaci’s Madikwe House for up to 10 guests.
Familiar rituals remain woven throughout the experience, from Jaci’s tableside Cheeky Chilli to Jan’s personally curated wine cellar and dining on the lodge’s main deck, on the elevated Thutlwa Deck and in the boma overlooking the Marico River. The soft launch also coincided with the return of the five Ashia cheetah brothers to the open plains near the lodge, a fitting reminder that the new chapter remains rooted in Madikwe’s nature and landscape.
To celebrate the reopening, Jaci’s Private Lodge is offering a limited Pay 3, Stay 4 launch special, with the fourth night free for stays from July 1 to August 31, 2026. Updated fact sheets, images and travel information are available via the links in the Editorial Notes below.
