Botswana’s Land of the Giants is an extraordinary family safari for children

Of course, any family safari is a luxury, but as Tessa Buhrmann and Caisey Kelly recently discovered, a Botswana safari is a different level of luxurious altogether.

Watching the sun set, Mashatu, Botswana safari

Nothing prepares you for the Land Of The Giants on a Botswana safari

As we fly across Botswana, the vastness of Mashatu Game Reserve becomes evident from the plane window. The Limpopo River is lined with a ribbon of forest, and beyond, rocky outcrops and small trees dot open plains. After clearing immigration we meet our guides for the transfer game drive to 5-star Euphorbia Mashatu, our home for the next few nights.

Euphorbia Villa, Mashatu, Botswana

The luxury of our own villa is unexpected, and exquisite

My Euphorbia villa is exquisite, with a private deck and plunge pool overlooking the Majale River – a perfect spot to sip a cool drink while taking in the landscape. The natural palette perfectly complements the wilderness setting, making it ideal for a special getaway… minus the kids! Top tip: book children into nearby Mashatu Lodge with gran and gramps and you can enjoy activities together and still have some alone time.

Elephants, Matebole Hide, Mashatu, Botswana

Elephants earn this part of Botswana its nickname

Located in Botswana’s Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Mashatu is often called the ‘Land of the Giants’ due to its significant elephant population and the distinctive Mashatu trees that flourish along the rivers. Spanning 420km², Mashatu offers diverse habitats, from sprawling plains dotted with baobabs to rocky outcrops and riverine forests: perfect for game viewing, even on a first family safari with kids.

Land of the Giants, Mashatu, Botswana

Not boasting but…we saw all ‘Big 7 Land Based Giants’ on our Botswana safari

Morning and afternoon game drives with ranger Rodgers and tracker Pontsho are both exciting and informative. We traverse sandy plains, rocky terrain, and dry riverbeds, each offering thrilling opportunities to encounter the area’s rich biodiversity. We watch white-throated bee-eaters flit in and out of their nest holes in the sandy riverbank, a Verreaux eagle owl peers down at us from an apple-leaf tree and a herd of eland scatter, creating clouds of dust.

Rodgers tells us that the eland, the world’s largest antelope, is one of Mashatu’s ‘Big Seven Land Based Giants,’ along with the elephant, giraffe, ostrich, kori bustard and lion. We were fortunate enough to see all seven!

Leopard lazing, Mashatu, Botswana

Botswana delivers leopards and lions and unforgettable moments

Mashatu is also renowned for outstanding leopard sightings and on one drive alone, we have three unforgettable encounters: a young male leopard saunters across the sandy riverbed, casually walking past us before disappearing into the thicket; further along another snoozes beneath a knobby combretum, and two more laze in the branches of a large Mashatu tree.

A pride of lions relax in the mopane scrub, a young one rolls in the sand while another play-fights with the branch of a bush, before they move off with determination. “They’re in hunting mode,” Rodgers tells us. Similarly, in the golden light of dawn, a trio of cheetah watch and wait, there’s a small herd of impala in the distance. They’re happy to bide their time too.

First family safari, Matebole Hide, Mashatu

Don’t miss out on Family Happy Hour at the Hide

Mashatu offers more than just game drives, so it’s ideal for children’s first family safari. There are walking safaris, night camping under the stars, as well as cycling and horseback safaris. But it’s the photographic safaris at the award-winning Matebole Hide that are an absolute highlight. The hide, made from repurposed shipping containers, offers a unique perspective for capturing wildlife coming to drink at the waterhole. Elephants by the hundreds, some so close you could almost touch them, along with herds of impala and kudu, and heaps of birds, from flocks of red-billed quelea to Meyer’s parrots and African green pigeons.

New to Mashatu is ‘Family Happy Hour at the Hide,’ a special experience for families with younger children under-12. This hour-long session, available before or after game drives, allows families with a private vehicle the opportunity to experience the Matebole Hide together.

Mashatu Lodge and Tuli Safari Lodge welcome guests of all ages, while Mashatu Tent Camp is ideal for children aged 12 and over. For a private family getaway, Kolokolo and Shalimpo Safari Homes are the perfect choice. These exclusive-use homes offer the comforts of a fully-equipped four-bedroom residence, tranquil outdoor spaces, private pools, and stunning wilderness views.

But don’t take my word for it. Caisey Kelly, aged 15, shares her own first family safari at Mashatu experience.

Caisey and Harry Kelly, first family safari at Mashatu Lodge 

My magical five day Botswana safari at Mashatu

Our journey began with so much excitement I couldn’t sleep the night before! My family woke up at 5am, but I was already dressed and ready to go. We flew from Durban to Lanseria in Johannesburg, then met our pilots for our flight to Limpopo Valley Airport. During the flight, we were served lunch, giving us the energy we needed for the safari ahead. As we approached our destination, the view from the plane was breathtaking, with herds of elephants, zebras, and even giraffes.

After clearing customs at the private airstrip, we met our amazing guide, Lovemore, who drove us to Tuli Safari Lodge. The adventure began immediately, with a thrilling drive where we spotted a leopard and her cubs. When we arrived, we quickly unpacked and settled into our beautiful new home, where I couldn’t wait to take a shower under the stars in the evening.

The chefs prepared a delicious high tea, which we enjoyed before heading out on our first game drive. Our excitement grew as we saw a pride of lions, another leopard, and a herd of elephants! But the best part was the mesmerising sunset. Our guides found the perfect spot for a sundowner, where we enjoyed long, cool drinks and some African snacks: I loved the dried mango.

Night sky, Tuli Lodge, Botswana

First night in Botswana: a sky full of stars and the bush lullaby

The drive back to the lodge was magical, with a sky full of stars and the distant call of hyenas. Our guide stopped often to point out constellations, and I’ll never forget the vastness of the skies above us. When we returned to the lodge, we were welcomed with hot face towels that refreshed us after the dusty drive. That night, I fell asleep almost immediately, lulled by the sounds of the bush.

Lions on game drive, Mashatu

Full English breakfast…by the waterhole

Day two started with a 5am wake-up call. After a quick breakfast, we hopped onto the game viewing vehicle for a chilly morning safari, grateful for the blankets and hot water bottles! The freezing air was soon warmed by the rising sun, and as it got light, we stopped for hot drinks! Back at the lodge, the staff surprised us with a delicious English breakfast by a waterhole, where we watched a herd of elephants drinking.

We enjoyed some time splashing around in the pool before heading out for our afternoon game drive. We watched in excitement as our guide tracked a leopard and found her with her two cubs on some rocks with a fresh kill. I was blown away by the experience of seeing the cubs try to copy their mother before she quickly put them in their place. We also had two rare sightings: a honey badger and an aardvark. At the lodge’s bar, there’s a chalkboard where guests share their sightings, and ours impressed everyone!

Our day ended with dinner in the Boma with the Tuli Lodge staff entertaining us with song and dance – I am pretty sure my dad had a tear in his eye, though he said it was from the dust!

Sub adult cheetah, Mashatu, Botswana

It’s official, Botswana is nothing like Bristol

We moved to Mashatu Lodge on day three. Its big trees and two swimming pools are impressive, but my favourite was to sit in the outdoor lounge, where I could watch a crocodile sunning itself by the waterhole, not something I usually see at home in Bristol! Mashatu Lodge has good Wi-Fi, so I caught up with my friends and shared my experiences. The lodge also has an educational room where I hung out and downloaded my photos.

That afternoon with our new guide, Bellamy, we set out in search of cheetahs: two brothers and a sister. We found them tracking a herd of impala and followed at a safe distance so as not to spook them, but after about 45 minutes one of the boys got impatient and startled the herd, ruining the hunt. I was quietly happy for the impala on this occasion.

Bush walk, Mashatu

Next time I’ll definitely sleep out under the stars

Our final morning was more relaxed. While my dad and brother went on what looked like an amazing bush walk, judging by the photos, I was treated to a massage and a foot treatment at the lodge. Then, in the evening, after our game drive, we enjoyed a surprise “bush” dinner where dancers from the local village performed. Tradition required us to enter the party by dancing, which was so much fun. The dinner was set up next to a camp where guests can sleep out under the stars, something I definitely plan to do next time!

On Day five we packed up and headed back to Limpopo Valley Airport. The flight back to Johannesburg was short, but I left with a heart full of memories, a camera full of pictures, and a head full of dreams about my next Botswana safari.

Photography: Tessa Buhrmann; Tuli Safari Lodge, Mashatu; Mark Kelly