+44 (0)1625 591 112

At a glance

  • Shares unfenced borders with both South African and Zimbabwean national parks, making for a unique and diverse ecosystem
  • Scenically stunning, the landscape is unlike anywhere else in Botswana, with large baobab trees and towering rock kopjes and basalt cliffs
  • Impressive sightings of lion, leopard and cheetah and incredible numbers of elephant
  • Multitude of activities on offer, including game drives, walking safaris, cycling, horse riding and excellent photographic opportunities

Overview

Located far from any of the other national parks in Botswana, Mashatu is well worth the effort to reach. Scenically bewitching, this biodiverse area encompasses nearly 72,000 acres of privately owned land and is a true wilderness for all things ‘big’, including three of the Big Five (lion, leopard and elephant), healthy populations of the world’s biggest bird, the ostrich, giant baobab trees, towering basalt cliffs known as Solomon’s Wall, and vast, open skies.

When to visit

  • January
    37ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    24ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    110mm
    Average Rainfall
    The start of the year sees the area looking lush with verdant plains and dense greenery. There is plenty of water about due to the summer thunderstorms, which typically occur in the late afternoons. Zebra and waterbuck begin to give birth and kudu start calving towards the end of the month. Elephants are to be found in large numbers, with migrant herds up to 200 strong moving into the area. Temperatures may be high, reaching between 35ºC and 40ºC. Fortunately the heat is often tempered in the afternoons and early evenings by the buildup of clouds and the possibility of a cooling thunderstorm. Cheetahs normally make an appearance in January, drawn to the area by concentrations of impala moving from the woodlands into the open plains.
  • February
    40ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    23ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    97mm
    Average Rainfall
    The temperature soars in February – one of the hottest months of the year. The conditions are similar to those of January. Kudus continue to calve and there is also a good chance of seeing late impala fawns. Due to the excessive daytime heat, the animals wisely seek shade before 8am, only becoming active again in the late afternoon just prior to sunset. Tropical thunderstorms are still a regular afternoon feature, and there is also a high probability of flooded rivers to add some excitement to game drives.
  • March
    35ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    21ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    88mm
    Average Rainfall
    The heat of summer begins to abate and there is less likelihood of rain. A few late kudu calves may make an appearance at the beginning of the month and large nursery herds of impala young are seen. The bush is still dense but the bright shades of green are starting to dull. Due to the decrease in rainfall, the characteristic carpets of yellow flowers, so prevalent in the early summer months, begin to disappear.
  • April
    30ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    18ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    28mm
    Average Rainfall
    This is a wonderful time of year to visit. Daily temperatures are pleasant as Mashatu moves into autumn, with balmy days and nights. The trees are still green and the bush is thick. Flocks of migratory birds begin to congregate in the treetops, gathering together in preparation for the long flight northwards to sunnier climates. The rains for the most part have abated although some showers may still occur.
  • May
    30ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    12ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    5mm
    Average Rainfall
    The transition from summer to winter happens quickly. Temperatures begin to drop rapidly after sunset and both morning and evening game drives require warmer clothing. Although chilly in the mornings, the days are clear and pleasant with crisp blue skies. Now that the rains are over, the landscape begins to dry out and game starts congregating around the major water sources. The eight perennial and non-perennial rivers on Mashatu now provide much-needed water for the wildlife. As the vegetation starts to thin, leopards are easier to spot in the bushy riverine corridors. Lion, which disperse with the game in the wet season, now begin to concentrate their activities in the central parts of Mashatu.
  • June
    29ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    9ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    1mm
    Average Rainfall
    Many of the natural pans and pools of water have now dried up, causing elephants and other species to frequent the last remaining ponds and artificial waterholes around Mashatu's fixed and tented camps, which makes for some exciting mealtime game viewing. Predator sightings are good at this time of the year thanks to the thinned-out vegetation and increased concentration of game. Generally the game is more active during the day.
  • July
    29ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    8ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    0mm
    Average Rainfall
    The conditions are much like those in June. The days are warm with crisp mornings with cold nights. Elephants begin to dig for water in the sandy riverbeds, providing water not only for themselves but also for a variety of other animals. This is a favourable time to visit the archaeological site at the Motloutse River as the summer vegetation has disappeared and a host of interesting features are now visible.
  • August
    31ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    13ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    0mm
    Average Rainfall
    The landscape is extremely dry now and the floodplains and grasslands adjacent to the Limpopo are now barren. The veld’s colour palette comprises hues of brown and red as the last remaining mopane trees shed their leaves. The weather is fine, with temperatures becoming warmer. Early mornings and evenings are now comfortable on the game drives. August is a showy month when it comes to spectacular sunsets, the airborne dust giving rise to excellent displays as the sun sinks below the horizon.
  • September
    36ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    16ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    1mm
    Average Rainfall
    The bush is still very dry – a condition exacerbated by the south-eastern winds that blow from August through to October. Many trees begin to blossom in anticipation of the rapidly approaching summer and their vibrant blossoms enliven the bush, providing a bountiful treat for baboons and other hungry inhabitants that have struggled through the lean winter months. Temperatures begin to creep upwards, and game drives are once again move to early mornings and late afternoons to avoid the worst of the heat.
  • October
    39ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    19ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    13mm
    Average Rainfall
    October sees temperatures rise ahead of the rains. Predators have a fine time as many animals are weak and restrict their activities to areas close to waterholes. The lack of dense vegetation and dry powdery soil make tracking lion and leopard easier, often resulting in some exceptional sightings. Elephants listlessly wait out the dry season, moving from one waterhole to the next, where they wallow and drink for hours, only moving from the shade into the bush to forage when the temperature drops sufficiently. This is also when eland begin to calve.
  • November
    37ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    22ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    49mm
    Average Rainfall
    Summer is now in full swing, temperatures are high and there is a lot of humidity in the air. The chances of thunderstorms are good, although the real rains are still a month away. Some of the summer migrant birds begin to arrive.
  • December
    33ºC
    Maximum Tempurature
    20ºC
    Minimum Tempurature
    80mm
    Average Rainfall
    December is the most vibrant month at Mashatu. Rains are a regular occurrence with spectacular thunderstorms. After the rains, the landscape is transformed into a golden carpet of yellow-flowered 'devil thorns' and vibrantly coloured flowers. Swamps and marshlands along the Limpopo River fill with water attracting water birds in their droves, which take full advantage of the explosion of insect numbers, amphibians and reptiles. Impala and wildebeest give birth. Migratory birds return en masse with enormous flocks of white, black and abdims storks roaming the grasslands. Lesser-spotted and steppe eagles compete to annex every available treetop.

Accommodation

View all