Mashatu Game Reserve is a large, privately owned reserve set in the south eastern corner of Botswana, forming part of the greater Tuli Game Reserve. The diverse habitats within the reserve provide refuge to an amazing array of wildlife. Taking its name from the sacred Mashatu or Nyala Berry tree, Mashatu Game Reserve is also referred to as Land of Giants, being home to the biggest herd of elephants found on private land on the entire African continent. All of Africa’s predators, numerous antelope species and bird life abound in the reserve. Mashatu offers day and night drives conducted by professional, experienced guides, many of whom have been in the employ of Mashatu in excess of 12 years. Additional exciting experiences offered include walking, mountain biking and horseback safaris. The specialised photographic safaris offered by Mashatu have drawn great interest from around the world, with four types of hides that cater to specific areas of photographic interest such as elephant viewing and birding. Mashatu Game Reserve is undoubtedly an incredible destination suited to every level of safari traveller ranging from families to adventurers, whilst maintaining the intimacy of a top safari getaway.
With balancing boulders, standing stones, massive monoliths and precariously perched pebbles; the granite formations of Matobo (also known as Matopos) hills are among the world’s most spectacular geology.
Matobo’s boulder-strewn hills have a rugged and timeless beauty of their own and it’s easy to see why humans have habituated them for thousands of years. Across their amphitheatre much of Zimbabwe’s history has played out. Here one can marvel at ancient Khoi-San rock art and visit Malindidzimu ‘The Hill of spirits’ a sacred site to indigenous peoples and the grave of Cecil Rhodes; an important reminder of the country's colonial past.
As you walk across granite monoliths you can feel the history beneath your feet. Many describe the spires and rock formations as ‘cathedral like’ making it easy to understand why the area has great spiritual and cultural significance to local people. This is the perfect location to explore on foot or on horseback. Follow ancient trails to breath-taking views or hidden caves adorned with beautiful and unique paintings of animals dating back as far as 20 000 years.
Matobo National Park’s main attraction is its natural beauty and historical significance; however, wildlife can also be seen throughout the park. The park is said to have the highest density of leopards in the world given its size, and with leopards having a natural preference for rocky habitats this fact is unsurprising. Don’t expect to see a lot of Matobo’s leopards however, as their secretive nature makes them hard to spot. Within the park is an "Intensive Protection Zone" where the best game viewing can be found, including a sizeable population of the highly endangered black and white rhinoceros, which are successfully breeding. The park also hosts numerous small species and magnificent birding, from the many rock dassies (hyrax) and colourful agama lizards that scramble across the rock faces.
The park’s location means that it makes an excellent stopover for people travelling between Zimbabwe’s East and Victoria Falls or Hwange National Park and begins a mere 35 kilometres from Bulawayo. There are luxury accommodation options within and around the park, as well as the basic but reliable National Park chalets, however it is close enough to Bulawayo to be visited as a day trip as well.
Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve (Malilangwe meaning ‘the call of the leopard’), is a breathtaking private reserve located in the beautiful southern reaches of Zimbabwe, bordering spectacular Gonarezhou National Park. This scenic corner of the world spans 40,000 hectares of diverse landscapes - sandstone outcrops, vast mopane woodlands, and majestic baobab trees. These provide habitats for a wide variety of wildlife (including high concentrations of endangered black rhino). Visitors can also look forward to spotting over 14 species of eagle, as well as giraffe, zebra, impala, wildebeest, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, sable antelope, hippo, crocodile, elephant, buffalo, terrapin, lion, hyena, and leopard. History lovers will enjoy exploring the impressive collection of ancient 2000-year-old rock art. Enjoy hiking, guided bush walks, excellent game drives, and superb fishing opportunities.
