Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana’s Northern Tuli Game Reserve, known as the “land of giants”, is where vast landscapes and magnificent wildlife come together in a breathtaking wilderness showcase. This is a place of iconic elephants, big cats, and rich biodiversity. It is no wonder that this place so enamoured photographer duo Roger and Pat de la Harpe, that they embarked on a journey to capture Mashatu’s spirit in their latest book project, Mashatu: Land of the Giants. Here, they share their inspiration for the project and some of the fascinating images captured in the heart of Mashatu.
It feels just like yesterday when we first embarked on what was to be our favourite coffee-table book – Tuli: Land of Giants – some 20 years ago. We have returned to the reserve several times since then, and each time, we have felt emotional at our first glimpse of those dry khaki-coloured plains that stretch as far as the eye can see. Just a few minutes in the area, it becomes apparent that the name of this vast and fantastic place could not be more fitting. Tuli is, after all, the Tswana word for dust, and there is plenty of that about, along with everything that is huge, large and giant – vistas, history, legend, trees, elephants, Africa’s big cats, plains game and bird life.
It is beyond exciting that Steve and Maggie Lansdown, the new owners of Mashatu Game Reserve in the south-central part of Tuli, welcomed us as we set out to produce a new edition of our book, published all those years ago. And so it is that, once again, we find ourselves back in this legendary place, full of enthusiasm, fresh ideas, skills, state-of-the-art cameras and software, and with a superb publishing team, to shoot this new, updated, re-conceptualised book entitled Mashatu: Land of the Giants. The project is all the more rewarding because Steve and Maggie are totally committed to the ongoing conservation of the area – a whopping 42,000 hectares now in Mashatu’s care – while at the same time providing a premier tourism destination with a low carbon footprint. What more could one ask?
Our endeavours highlight the unique past, remote wilderness, and astounding diversity of wildlife in the Mashatu Game Reserve in eastern Botswana. In a selection of some of our favourite pics below, we share what makes Mashatu special.
Like cats everywhere, a leopard has special receptor cells at the base of its whiskers that act as a sensor to help it avoid obstacles. It has particularly long whiskers and eyebrow hairs, which it puts to good use when stalking its prey, especially at night when it is most active. This leopard cub was playing around in a pile of old logsThe elephants of Mashatu do not have large, heavy tusks; some herds are completely tusk-less. It is not known whether this is a genetic tendency or the result of breeding bulls with large tusks being shot out over timeMassive in every way, the Northern Tuli Game Reserve is not for the faint-hearted. It is a harsh and untamed land, baked by a remorseless sun, with searing summer temperatures reaching over 40° C. The reserve forms part of the core of the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Park, a significant wildlife sanctuary of about 5,900 square kilometresWhen startled, zebras are nervous animals and will gallop off, starting a dusty stampede across the veld. Interestingly, the zebra is Botswana’s national animal and appears in the country’s coat of arms. Here, something spooked the zebras, and all the animals took offThe African green pigeon’s plumage, while startling against the dark brown mud here, provides excellent camouflage amongst the leaves and branches of trees. They favour riverine woodland areas, eat mainly fruit and are especially fond of figsThe ultimate bush feminist, the spotted hyena lives in a world controlled by female clan members. They form a formidable sisterhood that leads the hunt, patrols their territory and defends it against other marauding clans. Hyena females are larger and heavier than the males and completely dominate them, even during mating. We had just arrived at Matebole Hide when this hyena trotted in for a drinkAt 4 or 5 years old, wildebeest become very territorial and will aggressively defend their range against other bulls. Despite their rather awkward appearance, the wildebeest is one of the most successful herbivores in eastern and southern Africa. They prefer open grasslands and woodland savannahs and are constantly searching for sweet grasses to eat and water to drink. These two bulls had been going at each other for a while but always with the rear end of one towards us. Then they turned side on, the shutter was pressed, and a second later, they galloped offLion cubs stay close to the pride for protection, and the family’s collective mothering provides security for their offspring. A cub is vulnerable to predation if separated from the rest, particularly by hyenas, lions from other prides, and even leopards. The youngsters are weaned at the age of about eight months but remain dependent on their mother for almost two years, and it is only when they approach three years that they have sufficient skill to participate in a hunt. We loved how this young lion peeped out from amongst the wild sageA leopard crosses the dry Mojale riverbed, beautifully backlit by the early morning light. A morning game drive at Mashatu is well worth getting up early for. The reserve’s game drives are in the care of experienced rangers and trackers, their knowledge of the area adding considerably to the enjoyment of the occasion. Timing is everything though: here, the leopard started walking across the riverbed as a game drive vehicle arrivedAt the end of a long, hot day, a waterhole at Fig Tree Crossing in the Majale River attracts a marvellous diversity of animals and birds. The Majale River is particularly prolific for game sightings and is a favourite with rangers and trackers, who call it, rather appropriately, ‘the mother of Mashatu’. There was plenty happening at this waterhole in the late afternoon lightLion cubs play endlessly, and their constant need for attention can wear even the most patient lioness down after a long day of continuous activity. The females are not slow to discipline their offspring with a snarl or a cuff about the ears if they become too tiresomeThe last rays of the sun picked out this leopard in a thick bush. Despite first appearances, no two leopards are alike. A leopard has dark spots on the legs, shoulders and head and rosettes on the remainder of the body, which provide excellent camouflage against its tawny coat, making it hardly discernible from the surrounding undergrowthThe central Limpopo Valley elephant herds roam freely between Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe. There are 1,400 elephants in the area, and the population is divided into four subgroups that vary in size with the seasons and the availability of waterSwirling waves of red-billed queleas regularly arrive to drink at the Matebole waterhole. Here, an eland peers through a flock of these little birds, known as ‘Africa’s feathered locusts’ because they are so destructive to cropsWhen a water source begins to dry up and becomes unpalatable, elephants often dig holes close by to access cool, fresh water that seeps through the sand. At the height of summer, water becomes all the more vital for Mashatu’s wildlife, and other animals often use these wells to slake their thirst. We crept to this lovely viewpoint overlooking the Majale River—what a sight!
Are you keen to embark on your own trip to this epic safari destination? Check out our safaris to Tuli Block here. You can choose from ready-made safaris or ask us to build one just for you.
About the authors
Roger and Pat de la Harpe are freelance photographers and writers based in South Africa. They are passionate about conservation, natural history, travel, and wild places. They make frequent excursions into various regions of Africa in pursuit of great stories and imagery, and their work has been featured in numerous local and international publications. They have published 28 coffee table books, many of which are a celebration of nature and the environment. As part of their commitment to using their photographic and writing skills to more significant effect, several of Roger and Pat’s books have a strong conservation emphasis to increase public awareness of the natural world.
Botswana’s Tuli Block is a place where the wind carries stories of the past, whispering over rocks, around baobabs and across the vast wilderness. Read more about Tuli here.
Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
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Are you keen to embark on your own trip to this epic safari destination? Check out our safaris to Tuli Block here. You can choose from ready-made safaris or ask us to build one just for you. 
