Mashatu is the epitome of all that defines wilderness areas in Africa. A hidden gem situated in Botswana, Mashatu Game Reserve consists of 42,000 hectares of privately owned land in the conserved wilderness area known as the Northern Tuli Game Reserve.
The reserve lies in the remote eastern corner of Botswana where the great Limpopo and Shashe Rivers converge, within the Tuli Enclave where the three countries of Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe come together. This exceptionally diverse landscape includes wide open plains, grassland, riverine forests, rocky hills, marshland and majestic sandstone ridges. Due to this vast landscape, Mashatu is uniquely home to an ecological biodiversity uncommon in other game reserves.
Mashatu, “Land of the Giants”, takes its name from the local Mashatu tree. These magnificent dark green trees, which are found along the rivers in the reserve, provide refuge, shade and food to many of the local wildlife.
Mashatu is home to the largest population on elephant herds on private reserve in Southern Africa, and is renowned for incredible cat and predator sightings.
With six properties, each offering a distinctively unique feel, Mashatu have something for everyone. Whether you choose to discover our luxurious 5-star villas at Euphorbia Mashatu, newly renovated 5-star Kolokolo Safari Home, Mashatu Lodge, Tuli Safari Lodge Mashatu (one of the oldest established lodges in Botswana), Mashatu Tent Camp or Shalimpo Safari Home – you will be embraced with luxury, comfort and adventure.
Daily morning and evening game drives bring guests into close contact with the fascinating wildlife that inhabits Mashatu, promising a different nature experience with each drive.
Mashatu has a range of unique activities that can be added to your stay to enhance your overall experience of all that our beautiful reserve has to offer. Ranging from walking safaris, night under the stars camping, cycling safaris, horseback safaris, photographic safaris at an award winning hide, lavish spa treatments with local ingredients and more.
Getting to Mashatu Game Reserve is easy and exciting, whether you prefer travelling by road or taking to the skies. Each offers a distinct perspective, allowing you to witness the breathtaking beauty of Africa’s landscapes either from the earth’s embrace or the sky’s expanse.
Limpopo Valley Airfield is an international airport situated within Mashatu Game Reserve, making it highly efficient and accessible for guests to fly directly into the reserve without having to land elsewhere to clear customs into Botswana. Mashatu Connect is the air and road transport entity, established to coordinate the needs of guests visiting Mashatu Game Reserve, with flights travelling from Lanseria Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa and Limpopo Valley Airfield (LVA). Mashatu Connect also provides private charter flights to and from Mashatu as well as other destinations in Southern Africa.
Travelling to Mashatu via road is a fun adventure, approx. 6.5 hours from Johannesburg and 2 hours from Polokwane Airport. After arriving at the Pont Drift Border Post, you will make your way over the mighty Limpopo River. If the river isn’t in flood, you will cross over via vehicle. If the river is in flood, you will make your way over the waters via the cable car. After checking passports and luggage, you’ll be met by your friendly guide who will drive you through the reserve directly to your accommodation. This is where your first game drive truly begins.
With morning departure times and afternoon arrival times, you’ll be met by your friendly guide who will drive you through the reserve directly to your accommodation. This is where your first game drive truly begins.
Voted “Best Value Safari in Botswana 2019” - The Safari Awards. Authentic and wild African gem for guests who yearn to immerse themselves in an intimate safari experience.
Be connected to the soul of what life on earth is meant to be, visit Mashatu.
Mashatu is famous for its excellent daily sightings of all the African predators; lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, jackal and African wildcat, as well as large herds of elephants, a vast diversity of Africa’s plains game and recognised as an Important Bird Area with over 350 species recorded.
The Northern Tuli Game Reserve (or Notugre) is a Game Reserve spanning some 72 000 Hectares of privately-owned land in the north-eastern sector of Botswana’s Tuli Block.
It is bordered by South Africa to the South and Zimbabwe to the East. Notugre is an integral part of the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (GMTFCA)
Notugre is a landowners association which has been formed through members’ common interest in conservation. The association advises members upon- and assists members in- developing and using the Reserve within an acceptable ecological framework as an integral unit to the best benefit of the land, the people, the owners and the country by optimum wildlife utilization and encouragement of tourism as a major form of land use.
The association is established for the protection and preservation of the fauna, flora, ecology and heritage of the Reserve, by and for the benefit of members.
Our mission & vision is to protect the Northern Tuli wildlife and find sustainable solutions to enable harmonious human-wildlife co-existence.
Tuli Conservation Trust was originally established in Botswana in 1993 by the Northern Tuli Game Reserve (Notugre) Land Owners Association, and relaunched in August 2018.
We recognise the potential of protected areas to support conservation initiatives and human development.
By working together as the major contributor to wildlife conservation and lead partner in community upliftment in and around Notugre, we will make a real and meaningful difference and build a lasting platform to protect the area and boost the local economy going forward.
