This morning depart from Lanseria airport/Johannesburg* for your lite aircraft flight to the Limpopo Valley Airstrip and Mashatu Private Game Reserve.
Located in Botswanas Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Mashatu Game Reserve is the largest private concession in southern Africa at a massive 25 000 hectares and 40% of the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. It shares unfenced borers with both the South African and Zimbabwean National parks and this vast area forms part of a cross boundry wildlife conservation area protecting the substantial biodiversity of fauna and flora in this region.
Whether staying at Main or Tented Camp, the meals are a sumptuous celebration of traditional African Cuisine – flavoursome, but lacking in ostentation. Fresh fruits, vegetables, home-made breads and pies, succulent meat dishes and delicious desserts will appeal to a guest who appreciates home cooking at its best,
Activities for the next days include Game drives in open landrovers with your ranger and tracker team. Mashatu is home to no less than seven of Africa’s “giants” – the African elephant, the lion, giraffe, the baobab tree, the eland, ostrich and the kori bustard. It is therefore fitting that these giants have a massive habitat, and some 29 000 hectares (72 000 acres) of pristine game land have been set aside as a refuge for these creatures.
Other optional * activities include:
Limpopo Horse Safaris
“Take a ride on the wild side.” A horse safari in the Land of Giants will arouse the explorer in you. Allow the spirit of your horse to carry you in rhythm with the African beat, to return you to an age-old Africa. Join Limpopo Horse Safaris for a morning or afternoon ride.Limpopo Horse Safaris operates as a concessionaire on Mashatu Game Reserve. The area is perfect for riding; good going with natural ditches and logs to jump gives an exhilarating ride. Regular game sightings not only of the elephants and cats but also of antelopes, wild dogs, jackals, bat eared foxes, giraffe and the occasional canter with zebras and wildebeest across the plains leaves you with unforgettable holiday memories.
Mountain Bike Safaris
For guests staying at Mashatu Main Camp or Mashatu Tented Camp, there is an opportunity, for the more adventurous, to join a mountain bike safari and see the bush from a completely different perspective. Experienced rangers accompany the cyclists as they pedal their way along ancient elephant paths.Cycling amid the “Giants of Mashatu” is an awesome, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the mountain bike safaris are tailored to suit the fitness and strength of the riders. Rides are conducted in the early morning and late afternoon. Mountain bikes, cycling helmets and water bottles are available at Mashatu.
Half Day Walking Trail
On a walking trail the focus is more holistic than purely big game. Although many opportunities arise to view big game, the focus is on the little, often overlooked aspects of the bush – tracks, plants, insects, etc. A walking safari is an awakening of all the senses. You are a part of the environment – not merely a spectator on a safari vehicle. There is no better place to enjoy a walking safari than the Land of the Giants.
Cultural Safaris
The cultural excursion is conducted from the camps via the Mmamagwa ruins to Mothabeneng village. Mmamagwa ruins take us way back to 900AD. Different civilizations including the Zhizo, Leopard’s kopje or K2 and the Mapungubwe people, moved in and out of the area as their circumstances changed. This is evident from the multitude of pottery pieces and beads scattered throughout the site. Departing from the ruins drive thru Solomons wall and arrive in the Mothabeneng village where the first stop is the kgotla. The word “kgotla” refers to a physical structure which normally consists of a semicircular log palisade. A kgotla belongs to the community, and it is the place which the village community use as their meeting place and tribal court where the chief presides. It is a basic structure in the administration of society in most African communities. This is where the chief and his people will welcome guests with ululations. Continue to the basket weaving sites where local ladies meet to weave a variety of baskets formed from informal educational groups and those for sale.
*Optional activities require reservations and are at an additional cost.
This morning following breakfast and morning activity depart from the lodge for the Tuli Airstrip and your private lite aircraft flight “the Malatu Express” the charter flight is conducted in a Cessna Grand Caravan – a single engine, un-pressurized turboprop aircraft. Clear customs at Polokwane before continuing to the private airstrip at Mala Mala Game Reserve arriving this afternoon in time for afternoon tea and your game drive.
Here meet your ranger, who will share their wealth of knowledge as they introduce you to the game reserve's diverse wildlife, prolific bird species and unique vegetation. Experience a night drive that brings you closer to the magic of the nocturnal wildlife for the next three nights.
On arrival at the camps within the reserve, guests are introduced to their ranger who acts as host, guide and educator. While an itinerary is suggested (as detailed below) to take advantage of the more comfortable temperature ranges and the enhanced game viewing opportunities, it is also important to have time to relax and enjoy the camp surroundings, and to immerse oneself in the environment.
Game drives are conducted in open 4-wheel drive safari vehicles in the 40,000 acre private reserve. The rangers are in constant radio communication with one another to keep each other informed about the location of wildlife. Headsets are used for this purpose so as not to interrupt the sounds of the African bush. The 4-wheel drive safari vehicles enable the rangers to leave the road and provide guests with close up game viewing and fantastic photographic opportunities. Night drives, with the aid of powerful spotlights, bring the bush to life at night.
Take a last morning game drive before having breakfast and departing for the Skukuza Airstrip. Tour Ends.
