Often-overlooked, the Tuli Block is a thin strip of land that stretches along Botswana's south-eastern boundary, at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers. It borders South Africa to the south and Zimbabwe to the north.
A former farming region turned conservation area, the Tuli Block is comprised of a series of private reserves and game farms. Most prominent among these is Mashatu Game Reserve, which derives its name from the magnificent Mashatu trees that occur throughout its landscape. Mashatu is home to no fewer than seven of "Africa's giants": the African elephant, the lion, giraffe, the baobab tree, the eland, the ostrich, and the kori bustard. Alongside driven safaris, horse riding and mountain biking safaris are also possible at Mashatu, making it a great choice for those travellers seeking a more active safari.
Bordering Mashatu is the Northern Tuli Game Reserve and a number of smaller private game farms.
The Tuli Block’s semi-arid terrain distinguishes it from Botswana’s core game-viewing territories, including Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta. This is a largely dry landscape, notable for its rocky outcrops, kopjes and baobab-strewn plains, though small pockets of marshland and the flow of water from the Limpopo River ensure relatively good game-viewing throughout the year.
In and around Tuli Block, Botswana
The Tuli Block is amongst Botswana’s least visited regions, but for those looking for a more off-the-beaten-track experience it offers a number of unique attractions. Most of the private reserves in Tuli offer both 4x4 driven safaris as well as walking safaris. Adventure activities such as mountain biking and horseback safaris are also possible. For the intrepid traveller wanting a more activity-focused safari, the Tuli Block has much to offer.