Words – Tessa Buhrmann
Pics – Tessa Buhrmann / Mashatu Game Reserve
Located in Botswana’s Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Mashatu Game Reserve is often called the ‘Land of the Giants’ due to its significant elephant population and the distinctive Mashatu trees that flourish along the rivers. Spanning 42,000 hectares, the reserve offers a mix of open plains, rocky outcrops, and riverine forests—each habitat bringing new opportunities for wildlife sightings.
The vastness of Mashatu is evident from the window of the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan as we fly in. The Limpopo River is lined with a ribbon of riverine forest, and beyond, rocky outcrops and small trees dot the open plains. After clearing immigration, we meet our guides for the transfer game drive to the luxurious Euphorbia Mashatu, our home for the next few nights.
The afternoon light spills across the landscape, turning the mopane-covered hills amber. The Majale River is dry but holds the promise of coming rains. Several giraffes emerge from the bush, moving with slow, deliberate grace across the riverbed to reach the greenery of leadwood trees—some, we later learn, are centuries old.
Stepping onto my private deck, I take in the views across the ravine. The plunge pool is inviting—a perfect spot to sip a G&T while soaking in the wilderness. The villa’s design, inspired by the shape of mopane tree pods, blends seamlessly into the surroundings, its stone walls and curved lines mirroring the land. Spacious and filled with natural light, it’s a space designed for both comfort and privacy. It’s a pity my husband isn’t with me.
Euphorbia Mashatu embraces sustainable tourism, minimising its environmental footprint through eco-friendly design and operation and the use of solar power. The eight villas, inspired by the shape of the mopane tree pod, are built using natural materials that blend seamlessly into the landscape. I love the ruggedness of locally sourced stone exteriors, the outdoor shower with its viewing window and the second ‘loo with a view,’ which makes for an unforgettable bathroom break. Beyond luxury and exceptional cuisine, Euphorbia’s exclusivity stands out—only four guests per safari vehicle means uninterrupted sightings and a more personal experience.
Mornings and afternoons are spent on game drives with ranger Rodgers and tracker Pontsho, hose knowledge and enthusiasm bring the bush to life. We traverse sandy plains, rocky ridges, and dry riverbeds, spotting everything from white-throated bee-eaters flitting into nest holes to a Verreaux’s eagle-owl watching from an apple-leaf tree. A herd of eland scatters in a cloud of dust.
Rodgers introduces us to Mashatu’s ‘Big Seven Land-Based Giants’—elephant, giraffe, ostrich, kori bustard, lion, eland, and leopard. We’re lucky enough to see them all. But it’s not just the giants that fascinate us. After Rodgers’ familiar “hold on tight” as we exit a riverbed, we find ourselves in a fragrant field of wild sage. He hands us a sprig—its scent more intense than expected. He explains its traditional use in roofing and medicine, including its use in treating gonorrhoea. Pontsho points out a stink shepherd’s tree under which a pair of bat-eared foxes pause before scampering off. Nearby, zebra kick up dust. The ground appears barren, but Rodgers assures us that after the rains, it will transform into a sea of yellow devil thorn flowers—a fleeting photographer’s dream.
Mashatu is renowned for its leopard sightings, and the reserve doesn’t disappoint. On one drive, we have three unforgettable encounters—a young male strolls across the riverbed, another naps under a knobby combretum, and two more lounge in the branches of a Mashatu tree. A pride of lions lazes in the mopane scrub, cubs play-fighting while the adults rest. Later, in the soft light of dawn, we watch a trio of cheetahs scanning the horizon, waiting for the right moment to move.
Beyond game drives, Mashatu offers walking safaris, cycling and horseback safaris, and nights spent sleeping under the stars. The photographic hides are a dream—especially the award-winning Matebole Hide and the new Lala Limpopo Sleepout Hide, which is now high on my wish list.
The Matebole Hide, made from a repurposed shipping container, offers a unique perspective of wildlife coming to drink at the waterhole. Close-up encounters with elephants, impala, kudu, and countless birds—red-billed quelea, Meyer’s parrots, and African green pigeons—make for unforgettable moments. Seeing an elephant approach from ground level is an experience like no other—some come so close I could almost touch them.
As the afternoon fades, we gather for sundowners on a rocky outcrop, the sky turning shades of orange and pink. With a G&T in hand, I listen to the sounds of the bush—hoping to hear the distant roar of a lion or the call of a hyena. Instead, I feel the gentle breeze, hear the chirping of crickets, and let the stillness settle over me—a rhythm that feels timeless.
Essentials:
Getting there – Mashatu Connect handles air and road transport, including flights from Johannesburg’s Lanseria Airport to Limpopo Valley Airfield (LVA) the easiest way of getting there, although it is a relatively easy five-to-six hour drive from Johannesburg. reservations@mashatu.com
For domestic flights within South Africa, contact South African Airways
QR code and arrow to www.flysaa.com
Where to Stay – Euphorbia Mashatu – https://mashatu.com/
Photographic Hides: https://www.photomashatu.com/