Dream Safari Season Commences at Botswana’s Mashatu
Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana, May 7, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / Botswana is largely known for its famous Okavango Delta. But the Northern Tuli in its far eastern corner AKA the “Land of Giants” offers a completely unique experience that truly has to be experienced … and right now is the perfect time to visit!
In the words of owner, Stephen Lansdown CBE, “You haven’t been to Botswana unless you’ve been to Mashatu”.
From May through to October, Mashatu Game Reserve enters its shoulder and peak season. Tucked into a wedge of pristine wilderness where Botswana‘s borders meet South Africa to the south and Zimbabwe to the east, Mashatu is a place that will truly touch your soul.
At this time of year, the bush vegetation thins, water becomes scarce, and wildlife reveals itself with remarkable ease. Sightings are more apparent and intimate as elephants gather in vast numbers at waterholes, predators move with intent, and the landscape opens up in a way that draws you deeper into it.
Mornings begin crisp, with a cup of coffee in hand (perhaps a ‘bush coffee’ with a warming touch of Amarula) as the first light breaks across the reserve. By afternoon, game drives unfold against golden, dust-soft horizons. And as evening settles, the experience slows—fires are lit, stories shared, and the glow of the boma becomes the centre of it all.
Slow Safaris – Stay Longer, Experience More
Spanning 42,000 hectares (104,000 acres), Mashatu’s varied landscapes—from towering baobabs and expansive riverbeds to rugged sandstone outcrops—offer a distinctly different experience depending on where you stay. This flexibility allows for a seamless, multi-layered safari without the need to move beyond the reserve.
To fully appreciate the scale and diversity of Mashatu, a slower, more considered stay is encouraged – and rewarded.
- Stay 5 nights and save 10%
- Stay 7 nights and save 15%
Available across all lodges and exclusive-use safari homes, guests are invited to combine stays within the reserve: Euphorbia Mashatu, Kolokolo Safari Home, Mashatu Lodge, Tuli Safari Lodge Mashatu, Mashatu Tent Camp, Shalimpo Safari Camp.
It is a way of travelling that prioritises depth over distance—where the experience unfolds naturally, and unrushed.
The Matebole Hide: An Unrivalled Perspective
A defining highlight during the shoulder and peak season is the recently enhanced Matebole Hide, now featuring a newly designed entrance.
Set at ground level and overlooking a well-frequented waterhole, the hide offers a rare, eye-level encounter where wildlife comes to you. Elephants pass within metres, birdlife gathers in striking numbers, and the boundary between observer and wild quietly disappears.
Operating exclusively during this time of year, it remains one of Mashatu’s most compelling additional experiences—immersive, unobtrusive, and unforgettable.
Effortless travel Access to the Wild
Despite its remote setting, Mashatu is easily reached.
Guests can fly directly from Lanseria International Airport, Johannesburg to Limpopo Valley Airfield — Mashatu’s private international airport, in approx. 1.5 hours.
Alternatively, a scenic self-drive or road transfer from Johannesburg (approximately six hours) leads to Pont Drift Border, where a crossing over the Limpopo River delivers you straight into the reserve.
Limpopo Valley Air Access (previously Mashatu Connect) utilises Pambele Aviation as its preferred aviation service provider, offering seamless connectivity to and between locations within the Kaelo Destinations collection, as well as across the wider Southern African region. The fleet consists of a portfolio of three aircraft – the King Air 360, the King Air B200 and the Cessna Caravan – owned by Steve and Maggie Lansdown, reflecting a long-term commitment to safety and excellence in private aviation.
