phernska

I'm considering adding Mashatu/Tuli Block to a Botswana trip planned for November 2018. Is that an okay time to visit? How long and where should I stay? As far as accommodations go, I've been looking at Mashatu Tented Camp, Tuli Safari Lodge, Koro River Camp and Koro Tented Camp.
Thanks in advance for responding.....

christabir

We’ve stayed at Mashatu Tented and Serolo Tented Camp, 2 different years. We always travel May/June. I would definitely stay in a lodge with river access - our trip to Serolo was disappointing. MT was excellent in every way. And we were very spoiled having, by chance, a private vehicle/ranger for 3 days. Very unusual. We did bush walks, an elephant drive I don’t think is offered anymore and had excellent sightings. Great staff. I wish it wasn’t so expensive. If you go early in the year they offer a pay three stay four deal.

Tuli Block is one of my favorite game reserves! Easily combined with Pafuri Camp in northern Kruger, Mapungubwe National Park, the Waterberg region. Best combined with another reserve - there are no rhinos and you always want the opportunity to see rhinos.

KathBC

Mashatu Tented is my all time favourite camp, small with under 10 tents, excellent guiding & great food.

I also visited in mid June as prices are lower,the temps were pretty cold in their open vehicles but that wouldn't stop me from going at that time again. You just bundle up and then unbundle as the sun comes up and vice versa in the evenings.

We saw lots of leopard and one day the guide parked behind a low bush and we sat there for close to an hour as a herd of 80 or 90 elephants passed by on either side of us. It was amazing!

Try to book the hide early.

ekscrunchy

What is the easiest way to reach Mashatu from J’burg?

And from Pafuri?

Can you overnight in the hide?

Thanks!!

KathBC

Of course you can self drive from Joburg to Mashatu however
I flew to Polokwane, was picked up by a driver who took me to the border & then Mashatu staff picked me up on the other side.

You cannot stay overnight in the hide. I believe it was built/funded by C4 Safari Photos who have first dibs on its use. I wasn't able to use it when there as C4 was there with a photography group.

jamikins

This is very timely! We are planning our first trip to Africa in 2019 and the Mashatu Tented camp is on our list for the photography aspects they offer! Can’t wait!

christabir

We drive ourselves all over S Africa. Transfers are silly expensive.

There are flights from JNB to polokwane. You can rent a car there, get a charter or get a transfer (info and prices used to be on the website, not sure if still there with the redesign). We’ve done all but the fransfer. The drive is easy to/from JNB but I’d do it in 2 days or more. The Waterberg region you drive through is beautiful.

You can get a transfer from Pafuri Camp (the private concession in Kruger) or drive. The Outpost is there too. It’s about 4 hours via Mussina, longer using the Punda Maria Gate due to traffic conditions. We’ve done both and both worked out fine. Give yourself plenty of time though. Rough road conditions or closures due to protests and construction happen.

Border crossings are easy but can take a few minutes. If driving, be sure to get the correct paperwork to cross borders from the rental co. Getting across the river in dry season is easy but if there’s water, you’ll need to cross at Baines Drift instead of Pont Drift and drive the long way around the reserve. Both are easy, contact your camp about conditions and directions just before arrival. Mashatu picks you up so no need to drive in Botswana. The other lodges require you drive or maybe they can pick up too (I never asked so I don’t know).

The hide was closed when we visited Mashatu.

Pafuri has a combo special with Tuli Safari Lodge that might work for some. On the website, they also have a charter flight so you could charter to Pafuri, transfer to Tuli, charter out. https://www.returnafrica.com/offers/gems-of-the-north/

jamikins - most lodges offer great photography opportunities. Not sure that would be a big factor for me. Unless you are considering one of the photography course stays they have occasionally.

jamikins

Great info.

They have an on-sight photography guide that you can book, plus the hide. We thought this would be an interesting way to add to our experience.

This is our first trip to Africa and it is a bit overwhelming as there are so many options!

ekscrunchy

If you want to spend a ton of money, go to Zarafa in Botswana; they lend you an incredible Canon camera while you are there, and show you how to use it. (But you sound as if you already know youor way around a camera!)

I wrote a few trip reports here, you can always look at them to get an idea of some of the African trips I've taken.

jamikins

Thanks ekscrunchy - I love your European food focused trip reports! I will look up your African ones now!

ekscrunchy

And vice versa, Jamikins!! Keep up the traveling! I'm musing about Le MArche for next year..

jamikins

ekscrunchy - you will love it!!! If you need any help planning you know where to find me. I found planning difficult given the lack of a lot of guide books etc. But then that is likely why there are so much fewer tourists!! The food is really great though!