Ecosystem Overview – January 2013Posted by mashatu in Uncategorized on Feb 15th, 2013 | 0 comments
New Year’s Eve brought great hopes for rainfall in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, when several millimeters were received at the stroke of midnight. Average rainfall for the greater reserve is estimated to be around 400mm, but last year produced only 100.5mm for Main Camp. Moving into January, hopes were rising that 2013 would bring more rainfall for the land and wildlife. Despite dry conditions through the first two weeks of the month, a positive outlook persisted and on the 14th, we graciously welcomed 1mm. The next day brought our first real rain event, which continued through the 16th, with a...
 A tense moment in the bush between predatorsPosted by mashatu in Uncategorized on Feb 7th, 2013 | 0 comments
On the morning of January 7th, ranger Bashi and his guests – regulars from Italy – had a nice sighting of a mother leopard and her small two month old cub. Later that evening they returned to the area in the hope of having another glimpse. The scene had dramatically changed, however. The mother was found again in a tree, but there was no sign of the young one. Below the mother, a pride of lions lounged in the shade. The group consisted of two females – sisters who are excellent hunters – and their five big cubs. The cubs are from two different litters, separated by just a few...
Elephant UpdatePosted by mashatu in Uncategorized on Jan 27th, 2013 | 0 comments
There has certainly been a lot of change for the elephants over the first few weeks of the New Year. A gap was shut between early rains in December and minimal rain coming into 2013. Our rain fall total for 2013 is nearly three times that of 2012 as a result of some serious and extensive flooding. That topic will be covered in the next installment of our month in review. For now, the focus remains on the elephants as they approached the big rain event which brought 220 – 300mm of rain in different parts of the reserve.
Coming into January we saw elephants throughout the reserve with consistency, and...
Predator update – 9 January 2013Posted by mashatu in Uncategorized on Jan 9th, 2013 | 1 comment
Christmas week was rewarded by the sighting of what can only be described as a “pride” of leopards! An old female leopard with two three-month old cubs had made a kill and was seen alongside her daughter and son from her previous litter. A total of five leopards!
The famous three musketeers, three male cheetahs, have made a reappearance in the central area of Mashatu. These three brothers are thought to be about 11 years old, and have held the territory over Mashatu and its neigbouring reserves for quite a few years now. The maximum lifespan for cheetahs in the wild is usually between 7 and 10...
December Game ReportPosted by mashatu in Uncategorized on Jan 7th, 2013 | 0 comments
A season in review
The month of December started with a nice quantity of rain following a nearly totally dry November. The single event brought measures of 12 – 55 mm of rain throughout the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. Heavy erosive action was experienced north of the airport where the greatest amount of rainfall was measured. Now with road passage regained the land as well has shown the clear signs of recovery we have been waiting for. Although grass cover has not been regained throughout the greater reserve, a vast expanse of greenery can now be seen near the marsh and surrounding low lying...
Elephant update – 24 December 2012Posted by mashatu in Uncategorized on Dec 26th, 2012 | 0 comments
Life at Mashatu continues to be filled with unexpected treasures and beautiful encounters. The start of December brought relatively heavy rainfall to most of the Tuli area ranging between 10–55mm, which has allowed the browsers, mixed feeders and grazers in particular to recover well from the previous dry conditions. Green grass is growing in large open spaces just south of Main Camp where many zebra, wildebeest and other herbivores are enjoying the reprieve. Elephants are likewise active in these grass covered expanses and have also made good use of the many pools that formed throughout the...
Start spreading the news
Follow us on...
Mashatu Game Reserve is located in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve of Botswana bordering South Africa. It is the embodiment of all that defines Africa. Space so open and vast, taking it all in is almost too much; an array of wildlife from the gigantic to the miniscule; majestic skies open to the universe and unfettered by smog; a quiet so loud it thrums with life; and unexpected adventure beyond the game drive with horse-back safaris, cycling safaris and walks in the wild. Experience the lives of Africa's big cats, as well as on of the world's largest mammals - the elephant - through the mesmerizing Mashatu Research Programme.
|
