When Diana Andersen first set foot in Mashatu’s Tent Camp, she found herself immersed in the rhythm of the wild. In her own words, Mashatu Tent Camp “feels connected to the African bush, offering a sense of seclusion and harmony with the environment.” It’s from her point of view — waking to birdsong, settling into evenings under open skies — that we rediscover Mashatu not as a destination, but as a living, breathing space of nature.
Mashatu Tent Camp – An Authentic African Experience
Diana describes Tent Camp as the more “rustic” option among Mashatu’s accommodation offerings, yet it remains “one of the most loved camps for all the right reasons.” Despite its simplicity, the camp delivers high standards of service, food, and guest attention that rival its more luxurious counterparts.
Each of the eight canvas tents, raised on platforms with verandas facing the bush, includes a private en-suite bathroom (outdoors). There’s no air conditioning or heating, but each bed is cozy, with hot water bottles in colder months and a pool for hot days. The main lounge and dining area is welcoming and inclusive — meals, local beer, wine, and spirits are part of the stay.
What sets Mashatu Tent Camp apart is its closeness to wildlife. A waterhole at the camp draws animals throughout the day, and an underground onsite hide allows guests to observe wildlife up close without leaving camp. Diana admits she once skipped her last morning game drive just to stay in the hide, capturing her favourite Mashatu photos as animals came for their dawn drink.
Beyond the camp, guests can visit other hides like the Matebole Hide or the Lala Limpopo overnight hide, with the latter offering an even more immersive photographic experience (at extra cost). Game drives in open vehicles, guided by Mashatu’s expert guides and trackers, traverse dry riverbeds and giant Mashatu trees — a prime environment for leopards, elephants, giraffes, and many others.
Birdlife is also exceptional, especially as the wet season draws near — Diana notes that around November, species count swells to some 350. In the dry season, you’ll traverse stark landscapes with exceptional game viewing.
Mashatu is accessed via charter flights from Johannesburg (Lanseria) or by road (approx. 6 hours), with Mashatu handling internal transfers and arrival logistics. Only Mashatu vehicles are allowed inside the reserve, though self-drivers may leave their cars at Pont Drift Border
Reflections, and Why This Place Resonates
By the end of her stay, Diana’s tone captures what many travellers feel but find hard to put into words: Mashatu Tent Camp is more than accommodation — it’s a way to feel part of the land. She emphasizes how the rustic elements don’t detract but rather enhance the experience: “Surrounded by nature, guests can enjoy the sounds of birds, hyenas, and vervet monkeys … making it easy to forget that the outside world exists.”
She also notes that moments like sitting quietly in the hide as dawn’s light bathes a drinking impala or elephant become the episodes you carry with you — the ones you return to when you close your eyes.
Her experience reveals something Mashatu aficionados already sense: luxury isn’t always about opulence — sometimes it’s about presence, intimacy, and wildness.
Ready to See Mashatu Through Your Own Eyes?
If Diana’s journey has stirred your safari wanderlust, perhaps it’s time you embarked on your journey. Whether you stay at Mashatu Tent Camp, one of our other 3 lodges or two safari homes, or explore the hides and game drives she so vividly describes, Mashatu offers you a rare chance to step into pristine wilderness.
Visit Mashatu Tent Camp to learn more or book your stay | Reach out directly and we’ll help you tailor the perfect Mashatu trip: reservations@mashatu.com | Read Diana’s full original article here: Mashatu Tent Camp, Botswana – An Authentic African Experience – Wildlife Information