Mashatu Lodge

Mashatu Lodge sits inside the Northern Tuli Game Reserve in Botswana's Tuli Block, on a reserve of thirty-one thousand hectares at the eastern fringe of the Kalahari. The lodge holds fourteen air-conditioned suites arranged along the camp's edge, each with a double bed, an extra-large single, and a daybed — a layout that works for couples and families alike. En-suite bathrooms have both a bath and a shower, and each suite opens onto a verandah facing the bush.

The communal area overlooks an active waterhole, and two swimming pools give you somewhere to be between activities. The kitchen serves meals on a shaded terrace above the waterhole at breakfast and high tea; dinners go to the boma. The cooking is informal and substantial — home-made breads, fresh vegetables, meat dishes, and desserts prepared on site.

Game drives cover the reserve in open four-wheel-drive vehicles with experienced rangers, following elephant paths worn by a population of over a thousand animals. Guided walks and night drives run alongside. The horseback safari programme, operated as Horizon Horseback Mashatu, is available to guests aged twelve and above and must be booked in advance. For photographers, the reserve's sunken underground hide places you at ground level with approaching wildlife.

The Discovery Room at the lodge holds displays on the reserve's natural and cultural history. The on-site Serokolo Spa uses local ingredients. Fly-in access is available from Lanseria to Limpopo Valley Airfield.