Mashatu Game Reserve

The largest private reserve in Southern Africa, The Mashatu Game Reserve is situated between the Shashe and Limpopo Rivers, south of the Tuli Circle, and covers a total area of almost 50,000 ha. The habitats at Mahatu vary from savannah plains to riverine forests, open marshland and rugged sandstone formations. The name of the reserve is derived from the massive Mashatu, or Nyala trees which dominate the region, along with the well known Baobab tree.

The Mashatu Game Reserve is home to a number of exclusively African features which include the Limpopo River. The Limpopo river is the second longest river in Africa after the Zambezi, and is almost one thousand eight hundred meters long. The river also serves as a border for about six hundred and forty kilometers between South Africa and Botswana on its south east bank, and Zimbabwe in the north.

The reserve also serves as a sanctuary for a large community of African elephants which totals nearly 900 - the largest elephant population existing on private land in the world. The elephants of Mashatu are known as the relic herds of Shashe, which at one time frequented the Limpopo valley in massive numbers. These gentle giants became extinct in the region for almost 60 years, but started returning to the Tuli Block after 1947. Today, visitors to Mashatu Game Reserve are provided with the excellent opportunity to view these ancient beasts while on a number of interesting and informative game drives which are conducted in the reserve. Game drives are conducted in open four wheeled drive vehicles and are accompanied by both a tracker and a ranger. Walking trails accompanied by armed guides are also offered. Mountain biking within Mashatu Game Reserve has also become a popular adventure sport, and combines game viewing with the excitement of approaching wild animals in their natural habitat. Aside from elephants, game drives through Mashatu also provide visitors with sightings of a variety of other wildlife species which include lion, leopard, elephant, giraffe, eland, spotted hyaena, bat eared foxes, cheetah, kudu, Burchell's zebras, bushbuck and baboons. Night drives through the region may reveal examples of more elusive and nocturnal species such as porcupines, aardvarks, spotted genets and civets.

Much to the delight of keen bird watchers, and as many of Botswana's parks and reserves, Mashatu displays an abundance of bird activity, and boasts an impressive list which totals over 350 species. Species at Mashatu include ostrich, the enchanting lilac-breasted roller, whose plumage features no fewer than seven different shades of blue, and the Kori Bustard, which is said to be Africa's heaviest bird capable of flight, with specimens having being recorded weighing in at around 18 kg. Other species include Grey Backed, Blackthroated, Yellow and Yellow Fronted Canary, nine varieties of Cuckoo, seven types of Duck, 15 species of eagle, flamingo, eight varieties of heron, kestrels, owls, shrikes and many more.