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Botswana🇧🇼 | national parksTuli BlockLimpopo riverbed, mashatu trees, photographic hide, leopard ridges | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Tuli Block
👌 Worth visitingnational park ranked #8
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Elephants cross the Limpopo here without a border post, moving between Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe along the river’s sandy bed. Tuli Block is a strip of privately owned reserves in the far east of Botswana, reached from Francistown or by road from Pontdrif. Open sandstone ridges, mashatu trees and red rock koppies replace the lush delta green found elsewhere in the country. Game drives and guided walks are the norm, and independent walking is limited, which frustrates those who want free-roaming trails. Crowds are thin, and the mood is quiet. Leopard, elephant and wild dogs show up with decent odds. A first day could mean a late-morning arrival, lunch at camp, then an afternoon drive to the river for sundowners among the elephants.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #8 national park in BotswanaWhat makes this national park worth exploring

Tuli Block suits backpackers who want big game without the delta’s price tag or the crowds of Chobe. The reserves are private, so access is by the camp’s own vehicle or on foot with a guide, but camping options and shared drives keep it far more affordable than lodges nearby. The big draw is the Mashatu Game Reserve, where the giant mashatu trees shade elephant herds, and the landscape is wide enough that you can watch animals from a hide at eye level. Self-drivers with a 4x4 can also enter some areas and cover ground at their own pace. Cheaper camps and the river frontage near Limpopo-Shashe confluence let you combine wildlife with a campfire evening under dense stars. Few places in southern Africa give you this much predator and elephant action with so few other vehicles around.

💡 HighlightsDon't-miss highlights and experiences

  1. Mashatu Elephant Herds: Among the largest elephant concentrations on private land in southern Africa, often seen crossing open plains and river flats.
  2. Giant Mashatu Trees: Huge, wide-crowned trees that give the reserve its name and cast welcome shade over resting game.
  3. Limpopo River: A wide sandy riverbed where animals dig for water in the dry months and elephants cross borders freely.
  4. Leopard Sightings: The rocky ridges and riverine woodland make this one of the better places in the region to find leopard.
  5. Mashatu Hides: A sunken photographic hide beside a waterhole lets you sit at ground level as elephants drink a few meters away.
  6. Solomon’s Wall: A natural rock formation on the Limpopo where the river cuts through a gorge, a popular sundowner stop.
  7. Mapungubwe Views: Looking across the river toward
… read more 👉
  1. Mashatu Elephant Herds: Among the largest elephant concentrations on private land in southern Africa, often seen crossing open plains and river flats.
  2. Giant Mashatu Trees: Huge, wide-crowned trees that give the reserve its name and cast welcome shade over resting game.
  3. Limpopo River: A wide sandy riverbed where animals dig for water in the dry months and elephants cross borders freely.
  4. Leopard Sightings: The rocky ridges and riverine woodland make this one of the better places in the region to find leopard.
  5. Mashatu Hides: A sunken photographic hide beside a waterhole lets you sit at ground level as elephants drink a few meters away.
  6. Solomon’s Wall: A natural rock formation on the Limpopo where the river cuts through a gorge, a popular sundowner stop.
  7. Mapungubwe Views: Looking across the river toward the sandstone landscape of Mapungubwe in South Africa, an area with Iron Age history.
Tuli Block hide sessions and guided drives at Mashatu need booking ahead, since the reserve limits numbers.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?When to go for the best experience

  • Dry Season (May to September): Cool, dry days of 22 to 28°C (72 to 82°F) and nights that drop to 4 to 10°C (39 to 50°F) near the Limpopo. Daylight runs roughly 11 hours. Thin bush makes animals easy to spot at the river and waterholes.
  • Hot Build-up (October to November): Days reach 34 to 40°C (93 to 104°F). Elephants crowd the riverbanks, but midday walking is miserable. Daylight stretches to about 13 hours.
  • Rainy Season (December to March): Afternoon storms, 30 to 36°C (86 to 97°F), and rates often 20 to 30 percent lower. Dirt tracks turn to slick black cotton soil, and the Limpopo can rise.
  • Shoulder (April and May): Green bush, 25 to 30°C (77 to 86°F), and few other visitors.
Book June to August lodges well ahead; July is the busiest month, while April and October are quieter for the same wildlife.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Most backpackers sleep at lodges and campsites inside the Tuli Block itself, with Pont Drift and the Limpopo riverbank as the main clusters. Tuli Block is private farmland and reserve land, not a gazetted park, so there are no national park rest camps. Camping is the budget route: riverside sites at places such as Mashatu Tent Camp area and the Limpopo Valley farms run roughly US$15 to 30 per person, usually with braai pits, cold showers and shared ablutions. Self-catering chalets and tented rooms cost about US$50 to 120 a night, while full-service lodges like Mashatu and Tuli Safari Lodge charge … read more 👉
Most backpackers sleep at lodges and campsites inside the Tuli Block itself, with Pont Drift and the Limpopo riverbank as the main clusters. Tuli Block is private farmland and reserve land, not a gazetted park, so there are no national park rest camps. Camping is the budget route: riverside sites at places such as Mashatu Tent Camp area and the Limpopo Valley farms run roughly US$15 to 30 per person, usually with braai pits, cold showers and shared ablutions. Self-catering chalets and tented rooms cost about US$50 to 120 a night, while full-service lodges like Mashatu and Tuli Safari Lodge charge US$250 and up with meals and drives included. Book ahead in July to September.

For town stays, Selebi-Phikwe is the nearest sizable town, about 1.5 to 2 hours by road, with basic guesthouses at US$30 to 60 and supermarkets for stocking up. Francistown is farther north and has more hostels and hotels. Gaborone suits an overnight on the way in. Buy fuel and food before arriving, because shops near the border posts are tiny.
Best hostels in Botswana


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👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)How expensive it really is

Tuli Block costs a backpacker about US$85 a day when self-driving and camping, with lodges pushing well beyond that. Prices are quoted in US dollars, though you pay in pula at most places.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entrance and conservation feesUS$10 to 30Private reserves charge per person per day; farm campsites often include access
Accommodation (high season)US$15 to 30Basic camping with shared ablutions; chalets cost US$50 to 120
Local transportUS$25 to 40Fuel and vehicle hire share; no public transport inside the block
Food and suppliesUS$10 to 20Self-catering from Selebi-Phikwe or Gaborone supermarkets is cheapest
Guided activitiesUS$0 to 60Game drives and walks run US$40 to 100 at lodges; self-drive is free
Total Daily BudgetUS$85Camping, self-catering and a shared vehicle
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsTrail guide for Tuli Block national park

Tuli Block is mostly explored by vehicle, with guided bush walks and a few mountain bike or horseback options on offer at some private reserves, so named trails are not the focus here. The terrain is sandstone ridges, dry riverbeds and open mopane and mashatu woodland, with the Limpopo as the main landmark.
  • Guided Bush Walk: Usually 2 to 3 hours, easy to moderate, flat to gently rolling ground through riverine woodland, with a guide who tracks spoor and explains plants and small creatures.
  • Limpopo Riverbed Walk: About 2 hours, easy, on soft sand along the dry or shallow river, with chances of elephant
… read more 👉
Tuli Block is mostly explored by vehicle, with guided bush walks and a few mountain bike or horseback options on offer at some private reserves, so named trails are not the focus here. The terrain is sandstone ridges, dry riverbeds and open mopane and mashatu woodland, with the Limpopo as the main landmark.
  • Guided Bush Walk: Usually 2 to 3 hours, easy to moderate, flat to gently rolling ground through riverine woodland, with a guide who tracks spoor and explains plants and small creatures.
  • Limpopo Riverbed Walk: About 2 hours, easy, on soft sand along the dry or shallow river, with chances of elephant and kudu.
  • Koppie Ridge Walk: Around 2 to 3 hours, moderate, scrambling over rock outcrops for views across the plains and a chance of leopard sign.
  • Mountain Bike Rides: Half-day guided rides on game tracks, moderate, on sandy and stony surfaces.
Tuli Block is reached by road from Francistown or via the Pontdrif border crossing, and public transport only gets you as far as nearby villages, so most travelers arrange a pickup or drive a 4x4 themselves. Roads inside are sandy and rough. Crowds are very light because the reserves limit vehicles. Entrance is charged through the reserve or camp you book with, and fees are for private reserves rather than a national park gate.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetySafety Tips and Common Scams in Tuli Block

Tuli Block is straightforward for hikers who respect heat, sand roads and elephants. Summer afternoons regularly pass 35°C (95°F), so walk at dawn, carry at least 3 liters of water per person and wear a hat. Many tracks are deep sand or rocky riverbed, and a 4x4 with decent clearance is needed for self-driving. Tuli has one of southern Africa’s largest elephant populations, and herds often cross roads and camps. Stay in the vehicle, give them room, never get between a mother and calf, and back away calmly if one flaps its ears. Leopards, hyenas and snakes are present but rarely a problem if you keep to camps at night, use a headlamp and zip tents closed. Mobile signal is patchy, so tell your lodge your route. Carry a paper map and a first-aid kit, and stay out of the Limpopo, which holds crocodiles.
Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

Two to three days is enough for Tuli Block, which gives you time for two game drives or walks and an evening at the Limpopo. Add a fourth day if you want to explore the Solomon’s Wall area or the Motloutse River. Most visitors stay at Pont Drift or Mashatu lodges for two nights.
Reaching Tuli Block without a car is difficult but possible. Buses run from Gaborone and Francistown to Selebi-Phikwe (about 5 to 6 hours from Gaborone), and lodges can arrange transfers for roughly US$50 to 120 each way. Once inside, most travelers join lodge game drives, because roads are deep sand and distances are long.
Tuli Block has no single national park gate, so fees depend on where you stay. Private reserves such as Mashatu charge conservation fees of roughly US$10 to 30 per person per day, often included in lodge rates. Camping on private farms usually includes access, and no government permit is needed. Border crossings such as Pont Drift require a passport and a Botswana or South Africa visa where applicable.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Botswanan national parks near Tuli Block

Explore more nearby:

  • Khama Rhino Sanctuary—white rhino sightings, acacia woodland, conservation area, guided vehicles| 251 km away
  • Gaborone Game Reserve—Urban wildlife, birdwatching hides, picnic spots, short walking trails| 426 km away
  • Mokolodi Nature Reserve—close-range giraffe, bushveld trails, cheetah encounters, bird hides| 443 km away

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We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Tuli Block trips go wrong when travelers book a single night and rush the drives. Stay at least two nights, take both a walk and a hide session, and pack a warm layer for open-vehicle mornings. The leopards and elephants reward patience far more than a checklist.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Botswana. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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