Botswana - Tuli Safari
The Tuli Safari explores the banks of the Limpopo River within the Mashatu Reserve. Mashatu is a little known area but offers some of the most exciting game viewing in Africa. It’s particularly well known for large herds of elephant.
The tree lined river courses which flow into the Limpopo River provide shade for eland, impala, wildebeest, kudu, waterbuck, giraffe and zebra. Whilst at night the bat eared fox and African wild cat search for prey. The large impala population means there are many lion and leopard in the area as well as cheetah and wild dog. The Tuli Block also hosts over 350 bird species.
The well schooled horses have been carefully chosen from various breeds. These bush-wise horses include Boerperd, Shire, Thoroughbred crosses, Appaloosas and Friesian crosses. They range in size from 14hh to 17hh. You ride in comfortable South African stock saddles.
The riding varies from exploratory and informative walks through the bush and in the riverbeds, to many short and long canters. You will also likely be jumping small ditches and logs knocked over by elephants (jumping is optional). You could spend up to six or seven hours a day in the saddle with plenty of breaks. On some days afternoon rides are part of the itinerary.
On the Tuli Safari you are riding in an area of dangerous game and to join this ride you need to be an experienced rider. You will usually spend four to six hours a day in the saddle and so you do need to be riding fit. You should feel confident about keeping up with the group, capable of rising to the trot and controlling your horse at a fast canter over rough and varied terrain.
The usual minimum age is 16 years but exceptions can be made for private groups or very competent riders. Riders under 12 years of age cannot be accepted.
Hard hats are mandatory on this ride.
On the Tuli Safari you stay at a number of wilderness camps. This is normally three nights at Two Mashatus, two nights at Kgotla Camp, and two nights at the newly built Treehouse camp.
At Two Mashatus you stay in canvas 'A' frame tents with beds (made up with sheets and duvets) and additional blankets for colder nights. Kgotla Camp has shared flush loos and hot running water. Treehouse camp is built on raised wooden decking. All of the tents are close together on a platform within the trees under the shade of the neighbouring woodland. This camp has shared outdoor shower and toilet facilities.
The camps are not enclosed and it is very exciting to see game in and around camp.
N.B. Occasionally alternative camps may be used instead of those stated above.
There are set dates throughout the year.
| Holiday | Experience LevelExp Lvl | Arrive - DepartArr - Dep | Price | Itinerary | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuli Safari | 22 May 2022 - 29 May 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $3,430.54 |
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Full | |
| Tuli Safari | 29 May 2022 - 5 Jun 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $3,430.54 |
|
Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 5 Jun 2022 - 12 Jun 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $3,430.54 |
|
Full | |
| Tuli Safari | 12 Jun 2022 - 19 Jun 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $3,430.54 |
|
Full | |
| Tuli Safari | 19 Jun 2022 - 26 Jun 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $3,430.54 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 26 Jun 2022 - 3 Jul 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $3,430.54 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 3 Jul 2022 - 10 Jul 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 10 Jul 2022 - 17 Jul 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 17 Jul 2022 - 24 Jul 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 24 Jul 2022 - 31 Jul 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
|
Full | |
| Tuli Safari | 31 Jul 2022 - 7 Aug 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
|
Full | |
| Tuli Safari | 7 Aug 2022 - 14 Aug 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 14 Aug 2022 - 21 Aug 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 21 Aug 2022 - 28 Aug 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 28 Aug 2022 - 4 Sep 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 4 Sep 2022 - 11 Sep 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 11 Sep 2022 - 18 Sep 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 18 Sep 2022 - 25 Sep 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 25 Sep 2022 - 2 Oct 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 2 Oct 2022 - 9 Oct 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 9 Oct 2022 - 16 Oct 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 16 Oct 2022 - 23 Oct 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 23 Oct 2022 - 30 Oct 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 30 Oct 2022 - 6 Nov 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 6 Nov 2022 - 13 Nov 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
|
Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 13 Nov 2022 - 20 Nov 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
|
Full | |
| Tuli Safari | 20 Nov 2022 - 27 Nov 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
|
Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 27 Nov 2022 - 4 Dec 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $4,120.15 |
|
Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 4 Dec 2022 - 11 Dec 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $2,941.71 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 11 Dec 2022 - 18 Dec 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $2,941.71 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 18 Dec 2022 - 25 Dec 2022 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $2,941.71 |
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Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 25 Dec 2022 - 1 Jan 2023 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $2,941.71 |
|
Book | |
| Tuli Safari | 8 Apr 2023 - 15 Apr 2023 | 7 nights 7 ngts | $3,430.54 |
|
Book |
INCLUDES Accommodation; full board; drinks; riding; game drives; laundry.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT A single supplement as outlined below is payable to guarantee a single tent. There is no single supplement if you are willing to share.
| Single supplement | |
| 2 January to 26 February 2022 | $735.74 |
| 27 February to 2 July 2022 | $1,200.88 |
| 3 July to 3 December 2022 | $1,441.55 |
| 4 - 31 December 2022 | $735.74 |
PAYABLE LOCALLY Tips; Conservancy fee of US$70 per person payable locally on entry to Botswana.
NEAREST AIRPORT Johannesburg.
TRANSFERS You will normally be transferred between Johannesburg and Botswana by air charter. The cost of the return flights is $847.97 per person.
Light aircraft transfers to and from Limpopo are from Johannesburg O R Tambo airport.
The meeting point is at the information desk in the international arrivals hall at 11:00 and the light aircraft will depart at 11:45.
Your flight should be scheduled to arrive into Johannesburg O R Tambo no later than 10:15.
The return flight from Limpopo will arrive back at Johannesburg O R Tambo airport by 16:05. We recommend onward domestic flights should depart after 19:00 and international flights should depart after 20:00.
NB: It is possible in exceptional circumstances that the light aircraft transfer is replaced by a road transfer. A minimum of 4 pax is needed to confirm the air transfers.
In the remote eastern corner of Botswana lies an area known historically as the Tuli enclave; this part of Botswana borders both South Africa and Zimbabwe.
May to August days are clear and sunny. Early mornings and evenings can be cold. From October onwards day time temperatures time can rise to high 30s. December to February are the main rainy months when some thunderstorms can be expected.
Right from the beginning from the booklet of what to expect, advice of what to take, the itinerary even included my flight details which I booked.
The standard of the tents, beds, food throughout each camp was fantastic,
Some of the many highlights were the baboons about 30 of them running through the camp at 6:00 in the morning, the sighting of a leopard under a clump of bushes, when the leopard told us we were close enough with a growl the horse only jump side ways didn’t bolt off, and the hynena cubs just 5 yards away, the fathers taking them back in his mouth to safer ground, cantering with the giraffe and widerbeast, the horses side stepping the rocks in canter, we saw lots more animals and birds, Thank you to every one the guides, cooks and grooms for a fantastic holiday. Hope to see you next year.
Jeff ,Conwy
Overall rating: 5/5
Take a wide angled lens to fit your big smiles into the photos! A head torch is a must for camp.
In The Saddle says
This is a fast fun ride offering some of the best horses and most exciting game viewing in Africa.