Africa has long stirred the imagination of writers, artists and explorers. Its landscapes are spellbinding, its wildlife iconic and its stories unforgettable. In Madikwe Game Reserve, inspiration arrived unexpectedly for one of Britain’s most beloved children’s authors.

After visiting Madikwe Hills, Julia Donaldson had a spark of inspiration which came not in a study or a classroom, but on game viewing vehicle with her guide and tracker team, Lucky and Charlie. Her time on safari would later inspire The Ugly Five, a story celebrating a group of African animals rarely described as beautiful – yet utterly essential to the ecosystem they inhabit.

Beyond the Big Five

Most safari travellers arrive in South Africa eager to see the Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. These species, once named by hunters as the most dangerous to track on foot, remain powerful symbols of the African wilderness.

But during her visit to Madikwe Game Reserve, a conversation with her guide introduced Donaldson and her husband to a different collective: the “Ugly Five.” The term, shared light-heartedly after a remark about the noble appearance of a wildebeest, refers to five animals often overlooked in favour of their more photogenic counterparts — the wildebeest, warthog, spotted hyena, lappet-faced vulture and marabou stork.

It was a moment of perspective. And from that moment, a story was born. As she explained in a Telegraph article back in 2017: “Immediately, a whole story came into my mind , complete with the twist at the end. This is something that hardly ever happens: usually I have to wrestle with storylines for weeks before I can sit down to write.”

The Wildlife Behind the Book

What makes the concept so compelling is that these so-called “ugly” animals are among the most fascinating in Africa’s ecosystems.

Wildebeest, with their sloping backs and elongated faces, are ecological powerhouses. In large herds, they shape grassland systems through grazing patterns and provide a crucial prey base for predators. Their appearance may be unconventional, but their resilience and social structure are extraordinary.

Warthogs, often seen kneeling while grazing, are remarkably adaptable. They use abandoned burrows for shelter, reverse into them for protection, and play an important role in soil aeration and vegetation control.

Spotted hyenas, frequently misunderstood as mere scavengers, are in fact highly intelligent and efficient hunters. Living in matriarchal clans, they possess complex social hierarchies and communication systems that rival those of primates.

Lappet-faced vultures are among Africa’s most important clean-up crews. With exceptional eyesight and powerful beaks, they prevent the spread of disease by consuming carcasses that other predators leave behind. Their bald heads and wrinkled features are evolutionary adaptations, not flaws.

Marabou storks, towering and slightly hunched, are specialists in wetland and scavenging environments. Their unusual appearance reflects a life spent navigating both water and land in search of sustenance.

In the pages of The Ugly Five, these animals are reimagined not as unfortunate-looking creatures, but as proud, joyful beings – each adored by its offspring.

It is a celebration of individuality, rooted in real wildlife encounters.

The Madikwe Experience

Madikwe Game Reserve, located near the Botswana border, is one of South Africa’s most diverse and well-managed conservation areas. Home to the Big Five as well as cheetah and endangered African wild dogs, the reserve offers exceptional biodiversity within a malaria-free environment.

For Donaldson, the safari experience itself was transformative. Twice-daily game drives revealed everything from lion prides moving through the grass to elephants splashing at waterholes. Between drives, there was time – time to reflect, to observe and to begin writing.

Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge provides precisely this balance of excitement and tranquillity. Mornings begin before sunrise, with expert rangers and trackers guiding guests through the reserve. Afternoons allow for rest, photography, reading or quiet observation from private terraces overlooking the landscape. Evenings bring golden light, birds returning to roost, and the distant rumble of wildlife settling into the night.

Wildlife That Changes Perspective

The beauty of a safari in Madikwe lies not only in spotting iconic species, but in shifting perception. A hyena seen through the lens of ecological importance becomes admirable. A vulture circling overhead becomes essential rather than ominous. A wildebeest herd moving across the plains becomes a study in resilience and unity.

For travellers, the experience can be quietly profound. For a storyteller, it can be catalytic.

While Madikwe Hills is not positioned as a children’s safari lodge, it is undeniably a place that inspires curiosity, reflection and appreciation for Africa’s wildlife in all its forms. The reserve’s exclusivity – with no day visitors allowed – ensures that encounters remain intimate and unhurried, allowing guests to observe the full spectrum of life here.

From the Bush to the Bookshelf

The collaboration between Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler, best known for The Gruffalo, brought the concept of the Ugly Five vividly to life. Yet the roots of the story remain firmly planted in South African soil.

It is a reminder that the African wilderness does more than provide sightings; it reshapes narratives.

At Madikwe Hills, every drive holds the potential for a moment that lingers — a sighting that reframes beauty, a conversation that sparks imagination, or a quiet hour that allows ideas to take form.

We invite you to experience Madikwe Game Reserve for yourself. You may arrive seeking the Big Five — but you may leave with a deeper appreciation for all that thrives beyond them.