Because of the varying topography, a wide variety of mammal, avian, reptile, amphibian and invertebrate species are present at the reserve.

The most recent game count (2015) revealed a total of 2212 head of game at the reserve, including 20 different mammal species. However, during such game count some more stealthy animals are easily overlooked. Animals found on the reserve include buffalo, giraffe, eland, sable, waterbuck, gemsbok, red hartebeest, zebra, kudu, bushbuck, impala, mountain reedbuck, klipspringer, steenbok, duiker, warthog and bush pig. Predators recorded are leopard, cheetah, caracal, brown and spotted hyena and numerous small mammals like civet, red spotted genet, African Wildcat and some mongoose species. The total tally of observed mammal species stands at 34. 

Tuli Wilderness is situated in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, a huge unfenced group of privately-owned properties in the Tuli Block of South Eastern Botswana`. This is also situated in an area soon to be incorporated into the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) which is very accessible from South Africa.  The property borders the great Limpopo River at its Southern end and the Motloutse River to the East and encompasses riverine thickets, mopane veld, open plains and boulder-strewn sandstone ecosystems, complete with the game one would expect.  Large herds of free-roaming Eland, Zebra and Wildebeest are seen regularly and many other plains game are also found in the area.  In among these general game species lurk the predator population of Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Wild Dogs and both Spotted and Brown Hyena

Game-viewing is excellent during the drier months of April to October. The southern 

night skies appear to be studded with more stars than during the other seasons. The stark beauty of the landscape towards the end of the dry season is synonymous with the Tswana word “Tuli” (meaning dust).

The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares, SANParks - Kruger National Park is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies.

   

After border formalities, you are transferred into the Tuli Wilderness.

Camp – Serolo Tented Camp

Serolo Safari Camp is located on the floodplain of the Limpopo River and comprises safari style tents with en-suite bathrooms. Serolo Camp has electricity.

Arrival at Tuli Wilderness
Lunch
An introduction to the area and the activities of the next week is given
Orientation game drive and introduction to ‘general game’ animal species
Depart on foot to explore the Limpopo River floodplain and learn about the riverine systems and birds
Carry out some practical exercises that teach about animal ‘comfort zones’
The afternoon is all about tracking; track and sign identification is our focus, learning how to differentiate spoor and ageing techniques
A short night drive is undertaken to find and learn about nocturnal creatures

Camp – Trails Camp

Trails Camps are rustic non-permanent fly-camps, quite typical of walking safari camps, and we set these up in the wildest places and in areas where there may be more excitement. The bush loos and bucket showers are what give these camps their adventurous charm. 

Pack up camp and move to the rustic Trails Camp, situated in the heart of the wilderness, looking out for animals on the way
Smaller and often-overlooked creatures
Settle into Trails Camp
Walk to explain the intricacies of trailing and finding animals from their spoor
Mammal camouflage and defense mechanism
Astronomy
Walk up Eagle Rock where there are magnificent views over the area and hopefully get a glimpse of the life of the resident Verreaux’s (Black) Eagles
Introduction to wilderness survival techniques, including direction finding, water procurement and dealing with dangerous game.
Learn how to master the art of friction fire.

Camp – Molema Bush Camp

Molema Bush Camp comprises of wooden chalets and the camp is beautifully situated under massive Mashatu Trees; all located right on the Limpopo River.

Pack up and set off on a search for elephants to learn about the behaviour of these fascinating large herbivores before arriving at Molema Bush Camp
The role and use of telemetry sets in research 
Depart on a drive with a resident researcher to try and get a fix on any of the collared predators and learn how to record observation data and how the research is used in mapping programs
Trailing animals; where we follow their tracks with the goal of finding them.

Camp – Mohave Bush Camp

Mohave Bush Camp is a rustic bush camp that is situated in one of our prime game viewing areas and accommodation is Mopane pole huts. The hot showers are open air and we use gas and solar sources for powering, freezers, lighting and to pump water.

Pack up and move to Mohave Bush Camp
Skinning of an Impala and lesson about the internal organs
This afternoon the group delves into the world of archaeology and geology 
A late afternoon drive to admire the magnificent sunset that Tuli has to offer
Farewell bush dinner

Depart from Tuli Wilderness

Cross the border back into South Africa and drive via Musina to the quirky Pafuri River Camp which is situated on the banks of the Mutale river.

Accommodation tonight will be in “Tree Houses” on stilts and it will also be our last evening around the camp fire in the real bush - ENJOY!

Camp - Shingwedzi Rest Camp

Enter Kruger National Park.

A slow game drive will bring us to the beautiful Luvuvhu river area from where we visit the place where 3 Countries meet: Crookes Corner!

In the 1900’s this area was a safe haven for gun runners, poachers, fugitives and anyone else dodging the law. It was an easy hop across the river whenever police from one particular country approached. There is a large plaque here commemorating the legendary ivory hunter Cecil Barnard (Bvekenya) who hid on an island in the middle of the Limpopo to avoid being tracked down by pursuing rangers and police in the 1920’s. Ironically, Barnard later became a ranger himself. A police station was later built here.

The road to Crook's Corner passes under majestic fig trees, jackalberry trees and a forest of fever trees. This is the spot where the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers and three countries, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique, meet.

The region is considered one of Kruger's biodiversity hotspots with some of the largest herds of elephant and buffalo, leopard and lion and incredibly prolific birdlife. In May 2007 the biological significance of the area was recognized in its declaration as a Ramsar Site; a wetland of international importance.

Many bird and animal species that are sometimes really difficult to spot elsewhere occur here. Keep a look out for kudu and nyala, baboons and monkeys - including the Samango monkey. Hippo and crocodile can be seen in large numbers. In the summer the area is full of rarely seen bird species, such as broad-billed and racket-tailed rollers, icterine, river warbler and thrush nightingale.

From this historical place we drive further south and deeper into the magic Kruger National Park until we reach Shingwedzi Rest Camp.

Camp - Mopani Rest Camp

Depart after breakfast.

The Shingwedzi Road crosses the Tropic of Capricorn just north of Grysbok Pan. 

One of Kruger's rarities to look out for here is Sharpe's grysbok after which the water hole was named. Sharpe's is one of Kruger's smallest antelopes and is extremely shy. It feeds mostly by night but does emerge during daylight when the weather is overcast. 

In Kruger it is found only in the extreme north of the Park.