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.
Serolo Safari Camp is a small and intimate tented camp, located along the shady floodplain of the Limpopo River in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. It is just 600m from the river itself, under the many massive riverine trees, including the magnificent Mash …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.