Located in the North Eastern Tuli Block of South Eastern Botswana, Mashatu is the largest privately owned game reserve in Southern Africa. Mopane veld and open acacia savannah stretch southwards to the thick riverine vegetation of the mighty Limpopo River. Although technically just over the border in Botswana Mashatu combines perfectly with Mala Mala Main Camp and Pafuri Camp in South Africa.
Mashatu is set in 75,000 acres of true wilderness and offers excellent, affordable Botswana game viewing; the camp also offers an excellent range of adventure activities. This area is home to no less than seven of Africa's giants: the African elephant, the lion, the giraffe, the baobab tree, the eland, the ostrich and the kori bustard.
Mashatu Main Camp is the larger and more luxurious of Mashatu's camps. Completely refurbished during 2003 the camp offers 14 tastefully and authentically decorated suites. Each is furnished with two three-quarter beds, a day bed, expansive en-suite bathroom with shower, bath, his and hers basins, and a second W.C.
A private lounge area overlooks the unfenced surrounding bush and 24 hour temperature control completes the comfort of each suite.
Mashatu Main Camp is elevated around a waterhole and offers excellent game viewing opportunities from within the camp itself. The dining area, stunning day lounge and "Gin Trap" bar provide diverse lookouts from which to enjoy and appreciate the environment. Facilities within the camp include a swimming pool, an air-conditioned lounge and dining room and a lala-palm enclosed African boma, in which sumptuous dinners are savoured under the magnificent African night sky and around a blazing fire. A well appointed curio shop complements the facilities.
The 'piece de resistance' at Main Camp is the Discovery Room base for the scientific research conducted at Mashatu and a magnifying glass though which the animals and history of Mashatu can be examined. A fascinating insight into the world that is Mashatu - the Land of the Giants.
At Mashatu Main Camp, children of all ages, family rooms are available.
Mashatu Tented Camp is tucked away in the remote northern area of the reserve. With never more than sixteen guests, this idyllic getaway provides accommodation in the form of eight twin tents. Although rustic in character every facility is provided. The tents are insect-proofed, have comfortable beds and each has an en-suite shower and W.C. facility. There is an open-sided thatch deck where meals are served and a traditional boma for intimate camp fire dinners. This camp also contains a very welcome plunge pool.
In the interests of personal safety no children under the age of 12 years are allowed at Mashatu Tent Camp. There are no family rooms available at Mashatu Tented Camp.
Mashatu Game Reserve, an area of history and legend, offers some of the most exciting game viewing in Africa - large herds of elephant, prides of lion, leopard and cheetah. Along the river courses, huge mashatu trees provide shade for large herds of eland, impala, wildebeest, giraffe and zebra, whilst at night, the bat-eared fox, African wild cat and the magnificent leopard search for prey.
Some 366 species of birds may be seen. Mashatu Game Reserve proudly provides a refuge for the largest, single population of elephant on privately owned land in Africa. Known as the relic herds of Shashe, these elephants are the last living testament to the great herds that once populated the meandering Limpopo valley. Today, the population on Mashatu Game Reserve alone is estimated to number in excess of 500.
The leopard viewing at Mashatu is particularly fantastic and only on a par with Mala Mala, Mombo and Zambia's Luangwa Valley Region.
In addition to the game drives conducted in four wheel drive safari vehicles Mashatu offers a fantastic selection of adventure activities. Mountain biking safaris, horse safaris and walking safaris are all possible. There are also specialist elephant & predator research scientist guides who will take guests out.
There are daily flights between Johannesburg airport and Polokwane airport which takes about an hour. From Polokwane there is the option of either a seat-in-plane transfer to Mashatu, or a road transfer. Road transfers from Johannesburg are also available. Self drives should allow five hours from Johannesburg to Mashatu and six hours from Gaborone to Mashatu.