Long time repeat guest Julien (who has visited Mashatu 28 times! And counting…), usually stays at his home away from home, Mashatu Lodge. However, on his most recent trip with friends, they decided to experience something different.
A new and thrilling activity – WalkMashatu’s Night Under the Stars, sleeping in bespoke designed tents, listening to the sounds of the bush whilst gazing up at the mesmerising night sky.
Read all about Julien’s thrilling experience at the WalkMashatu Fly Camp – giving you a sense of what’s in store for your upcoming safari visit to Mashatu.
“This year, when we left home in Belgium for our trip to Mashatu Game Reserve, we were very excited. We were so used of staying in Mashatu Lodge (this would be our 28th stay!) that it became a second home for us, but this time our stay would be different.
The management of Mashatu had recently introduced a new activity, a sleep-out under the stars in the WalkMashatu Fly Camp. Together with our friends we had booked this activity for 1 night without knowing what exactly to expect.
Packed with our toiletries and some fresh clothes for the next day we left Mashatu Lodge after High Tea and departed for our normal afternoon game drive. After sunset our guide brought us to the WalkMashatu Fly Camp and big was our surprise when we arrived there.
This was not just a simple backpackers camp where you stay in small tents, sleep on a mattress on the ground and quickly eat some food while holding a plate in your hands.
On a nice open spot 8 comfortable one-person tents (6 for us and 2 for our guide and tracker) were placed in a semicircle. These tents were tailor-made by one of the directors of Mashatu Game Reserve. In each tent stood a real bed with a very comfortable mattress and towels for the shower. In front of the tent stood a chair and an iron box wherein we could place our personal belongings for the night.
In the other half of the semicircle 2 cooks and a barman where preparing sundowner drinks and a nice meal for us. A long table was nicely set, exactly as it was done in the lodge. Next to the table, chairs were set around an inviting campfire. And everywhere in the camp candles were placed, making the complete area looking a bit mysterious but also romantic.
After a sundowner around the campfire, we were offered a very nice dinner. And then we could experience the highlight of our stay here. Together with our guide we walked to a little spot out of the circle of the camp where it was completely dark, and where we had a fantastic view on the star sky above us.
I had chosen to stay at this camp on a night that there was no moon. That was a good choice because we clearly could see the milk-way and millions of stars. Our guide and tracker pointed out to us the different constellations, planets, asteroids and other celestial objects that were visible that night.
There was just one disappointment. The Southern Cross was not visible yet. That would only be around 04.30h the next morning. No problem! Our alarms were set at 04.15h and by the time the Southern Cross was fully visible, we all stood ready listening to our guide who explained to us how one can find “south” by looking at the Southern Cross.
Now came the time to try out the showers that this camp had. We expected bucket showers with cold water, but we were wrong. The WalkMashatu Fly Camp had 2 proper showers with hot water, each in a private canvas tent. These stood next to 2 proper toilets, also each in a private canvas tent.
Before we left this camp and started our morning game drive, we were offered tea, coffee, rusks, fruit, … same as we were used to while staying in Mashatu Lodge.
What an experience this was. Wow! This we never expected and I am sure that we will again book a night in the WalkMashatu Fly Camp when we come back to Mashatu next year.
Our friends often ask us, why do you always go back to Mashatu? The answer is simple, Mashatu never disappoints!”
Contact our team to book this thrilling safari activity: reservations@mashatu.com (SA) / reservationsbw@mashatu.com (BW): + 27 31 761 3440 (SA) / +267 74 988 822 (BW).
