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.
Botswana is largely known for its Okavango Delta. Yet, the Northern Tuli in its far eastern corner (aka the “Land of Giants”), offers a completely unique safari that truly has be experienced … and right now is the perfect time to visit!
This Easter, gather the people who matter most and escape to the Land of the Giants.
An Easter at Mashatu means sunrise game drives shared in golden light, laughter around the table under open skies, slow afternoons by the pool, and evenings beneath a canopy of stars.
Mashatu Game Reserve once again welcomed guests and riders from around the world for the 2026 edition of the Land of the Giants Cycling Event — a seven-day wilderness cycling experience combining adventure, conservation and connection in one of Botswana’s largest private game reserves.
Kaelo Destinations is a newly curated portfolio of exceptional places and experiences defined by natural beauty, authenticity and purpose. Initially comprising two destinations, the renowned Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana and the celebrated Pambele Beach House in Mozambique, as well as a growing aircraft fleet and aviation capabilities.
This year, from the 1st - 7th May 2026, riders and guests from around the world will gather in Mashatu Game Reserve for something truly extraordinary — the EPIC Land of the Giants Cycling Event.
We’re excited to share that Mashatu: Land of Leopards, the acclaimed wildlife documentary filmed entirely within Mashatu Game Reserve, will officially be airing soon on Nat Geo Wild!
Kaelo Destinations, officially launching in January 2026, is a new global travel collection created to unite exceptional, conservation-led places under one shared vision.
Filmed entirely at Mashatu Game Reserve – one of Africa’s most celebrated destinations for leopard sightings – Mashatu: Land of Leopards, is a gripping new documentary that follows the fate of a leopard family impacted by climate change.
Botswana: From 6th to 12th June 2025, riders from across the world will be participating in the 2025 Land of the Giants (LOTG) cycling event, hosted by Stephen Lansdown, Mashatu Game Reserve majority owner and passionate conservationist.
Botswana: Mashatu has become the first private game reserve to sponsor a professional rugby team, aligning with English club Bristol Bears for the remainder of the 2024/25 season.
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.
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