Mashatu Game Reserve
Wildlife & Animals
Botswana Parks
Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Botswana.
Mashatu Game Reserve offers great wildlife viewing. Big herds of elephant make their daily appearance at the dry riverbeds to find some puddles of water. This is one of the best places to get close to these giants and observe their behavior and interactions. Leopard is often tracked along the riverbeds and off-road through the bush.
Wildlife Highlights
Wild dogs were reintroduced into the reserve and have established extremely well. Sightings are hit-and-miss, but when you do see them, you can follow the pack and spend a couple of hours, hopefully witnessing a kill or some family bonding. The most impressive of several antelope species is the stately greater kudu. The males with their big corkscrew horns can sometimes be found in a deadly fight.
Best Time for Wildlife Viewing
Mashatu offers great wildlife viewing throughout the year. However, the best time is during the dry winter months, from April to October, when water is scarce and animals stay near the rivers. The summer months are very hot, but December to February is a good time to see big herds of elephants, eland, zebra and other ungulates (hoofed mammals).
