The oldest exposed rocks on the reserve are estimated at around 2630 million years old, calculated using radiometric dating.
Inselberg hills (rock formations that rise abruptly from the surrounding plains, and are often dome shaped) are scattered throughout the reserve. The formation of these hills, referred to as the Gabbro, coincided with a remarkable process in the history of South Africa, which was coming to its end about 200km away from the present site of the reserve. The great pile of sediments that today make up the gold bearing Witwatersrand Basin appears not to have spread as far as the present day Madikwe, the lava certainly did. It is fitting then to note that the heritage of South Africa’s wealth and prosperity was formed very near to Mateya, which is one of South Africa’s most exclusive private game lodges.