1Rock Camp
Rock Camp consists of 4 freestanding units each accommodating 2 people with an extra bedroom in unit 1 for the use of 2 children under the age of 12. There is a lounge, veranda, kitchen and storeroom in a separate living area and an outdoor boma for braais and plunge pool with thatched seating. The camp is fully equipped with crockery, cutlery, bed linen and towels. The kitchen has a gas stove, generous fridge and freezer space and all cooking utensils, pots and pans etc. There is a game drive cooler box and plastic coffee mugs, thermos flasks and plastic wine and whisky glasses for use in the vehicle. Take a packet of candles if you like a candlelit dinner!
Please note that the interior of all rooms is non-smoking – ashtrays are available in the kitchen for use outside.
Shareholders are asked to provide all food and drinks, toilet paper, toilet soap, matches, washing up liquid, torches and personal first aid items.
ARRIVAL
The driver will meet you at the border with a land cruiser and trailer. Vehicles can be safely left on the SA side of the river. In order to park on the SA side of the river or to take your vehicle across into Botswana, shareholders must supply registration documents to customs. If the Limpopo River is dry, the journey, after clearing the border post, takes about 10 minutes to the camp. If the river is flowing crossing is by means of cable car for which a charge is levied for each person. We do not recommend taking vehicles across the river during the rainy season.
BOOKINGS
Each booking at Rock Camp runs from Wednesday at 2pm to Tuesday at 11am i.e. 6 nights. In order for the driver to fetch guests at the Pontdrift border it is necessary for the shareholder to contact the Mashatu offices at least 48 hours before a planned trip to notify them of arrival time. For details please refer to the ''Contacts" page on this website.
The staff are only available to assist you with unpacking on a Wednesday and lighting the braai fire.
There are no game drives on a Wednesday evening.
CAMP EQUIPMENT
The camp is fully equipped with all linen, crockery and cutlery including swimming towels.
Rock Camp provides a game drive vehicle and trailer for border transfers and game drives.
CELL PHONE RECEPTION AND WIFI
There is limited cell phone coverage at Rock Camp but you can pick up Vodacom and Orange signal in various places in the camp. There are also various areas in the reserve where you'll get better signal. There is no Wi-Fi at the camp.
CLIMATE
Tuli is a semi-arid region, with rain falling in the summer months between November and March, although the rains tend to be erratic and there are frequent summer droughts.
Temperatures can drop below freezing during winter, but starts to climb rapidly at the onset of spring in September, when hot and dry winds blow from the east.
Please refer to the "Home" page for an up to date weather forecast for the area.
CONSERVING WATER
Please be aware that the Tuli area has a low annual rainfall and water is extremely precious.
Conserve water where possible. The water from the taps is safe to drink.
CROCKERY AND CUTLERY
Please ensure that all crockery and cutlery is returned to the kitchen after any meal to prevent breakages by animals.
Inform your camp manager of any breakages. We have had considerable trouble from both hyena and monkeys!
CURIO SHOP
There is a curio shop at Mashatu Main Camp, which may be visited by prior arrangement. Please ask your camp manager to do this. There is also a range of clothes and a few other items for sale at Rock Camp. Your camp manager is in charge of this and will assist you with purchases.
DANGEROUS ANIMALS
As the camp is unfenced, potentially dangerous animals can wander into the camp, especially at night. If you do encounter anything, face them and slowly walk to the closest building. If any creature such as a snake or scorpion needs to be removed from any room please notify your camp manager.
ELECTRICITY
The camp is electrified using the South African electrical system. If there is a break in mains electrical supply, a standby generator will automatically start and provide power while the main supply is down. Ensure that all lights are switched off before going to bed. Lights attract insects so guard against leaving lights on and windows open.
EMERGENCIES
Shareholders should familiarize themselves with the emergency procedures as stated in the kitchen and load emergency numbers into their cell phones. Minor emergencies can be dealt with by the manager. There is a basic first aid kit in the camp. Please advise your camp manager if any items are used to ensure replacement for others.
FIRE
No candles or open flames are permitted in any room. In the event of a fire, please move to the pool area to await instructions from your host. There are fire extinguishers on the exteriors of all the buildings. Please ensure that before leaving the boma at night, that the fire cover provided is placed on top of all glowing embers.
FIREWOOD
Firewood is obtained from local communities and no wood from the property is used. Guests are asked to limit the size of their fires as firewood is a precious resource and only 6 bags are provided per weekend.
Please supplement with your own charcoal.
GAME ACTIVITIES
Two game activities are available per day. Your camp manager will discuss game drive times with you. These must be approximately the same as the Mashatu drives in order to maintain radio contact with other vehicles and the Mashatu office. Evening game drives must be back in camp by no later than 20h30.
GAME DRIVE PROTOCAL
Your driver will give you a short introduction to game drive protocol on arrival. Please ask your guests to listen to any instructions he may give. He is responsible for the welfare of guests and has in depth experience of animal behaviour.
In order to give all Mashatu guests an equal opportunity to view and photograph special sightings and to protect the animals concerned, there is a rule that no more than 3 vehicles can be in a sighting at any one time. Your driver will monitor this and can return to a sighting later if you wish to have further viewing once other vehicles have departed.
Animals are used to the shape and sound of the Mashatu vehicles and guests are asked to remain seated while on the vehicle. A change in outline caused by someone standing up very often causes the animal concerned to run away.
INDEMNITY
All guests are required to sign indemnities that will be given to you by your camp manager or available on this website.
No person is permitted to participate in game activities on the property without signature of these indemnities.
Parents need to sign on behalf of children.
BRAAI FIRES
Please ensure that before leaving the boma at night, that the fire cover provided is placed on top of all glowing embers.
LAUNDRY
There is no laundry service in the camp.
MALARIA
Rock Camp is in a low grade malaria area but malaria has become prevalent recently. Guests are strongly advised to consult medical advice re prevention. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. All windows in the bedrooms are screened. Only electrical mosquito mats are permitted in the rooms (guests to provide their own.) Mosquito nets are available on request.
MONKEYS
Please do not feed the monkeys or any other animals in the camp. Do not leave any doors open when you leave your room or the living/kitchen area as you may have unwelcome visitors.
REFUSE
Please use the relevant bins provided in the kitchen and follow the recycling protocols in the camp.
REMOVAL OF ARTIFACTS, MINERALS, FAUNA AND FLORA
Do not remove anything from the bush, whether to take home or leave lying around the camp. Mashatu is a living museum for the benefit of all visitors and all artefacts remain the property of the Botswana Government with severe penalties attached to their removal.
SMOKING
Ashtrays are provided in the kitchen. Out of consideration for everyone who uses the camp we ask that there is no smoking in any of the interiors and that cigarette butts are placed in the bins in the kitchen. Do not discard cigarette butts on game drives and remove from vehicle on arrival at camp.
SNAKES
The rocks behind the buildings provide an ideal hiding place for snakes so warn your friends to
take care and use a torch at night.
STAFF
We employ two housemaids, a gardener and a camp manager/guide. Mashatu supervises the housekeeping and any minor problems should be discussed firstly with the camp manager who can sort out most things. They work from ½ hr before your morning game drive until midday and from ½ hr before the afternoon drive until approx. 18h00. Their duties include making early morning tea and coffee before game drives, packing the game drive cooler box, cleaning the camp, setting tables and washing up. They also prepare brunch and will cook all breakfast items, make salads, bake potatoes and bake bread if necessary. They are not responsible for doing personal laundry.
Most guests prefer to have a brunch after returning from a morning drive and then braai their own meat for dinner on their return in the evening. Do organise your time in camp to suit yourself but just note that staff do not work more than 8 hours a day unless you make a personal arrangement with them and are prepared to pay them overtime.
The gardener will light a fire for you each evening in the boma. We have been asked to preserve wood as much as possible so please try to be economical with the supply. It is strictly against Mashatu rules to light any fires or braai outside the camp area.
VEHICLE CHARGES
Vehicle usage is covered by your levy.
You will however be asked to sign a usage slip giving arrival and departure km readings.
This is to enable management to keep check on usage. Please verify the readings on arrival and departure.
TIPS
The present tipping rate for staff is P250 (R350) per night for the driver and P125 (R175) per night for each of the other 3 x staff.
Based on R1.40 to the Pula September 2023.
These gratuities are set as a minimum however there is no maximum amount.
Rock Camp consists of 4 freestanding units each accommodating 2 people with an extra bedroom in unit 1 for the use of 2 children under the age of 12. There is a lounge, veranda, kitchen and storeroom in a separate living area and an outdoor boma for braais and plunge pool with thatched seating. The camp is fully equipped with crockery, cutlery, bed linen and towels. The kitchen has a gas stove, generous fridge and freezer space and all cooking utensils, pots and pans etc. There is a game drive cooler box and plastic coffee mugs, thermos flasks and plastic wine and whisky glasses for use in the vehicle. Take a packet of candles if you like a candlelit dinner!
Please note that the interior of all rooms is non-smoking – ashtrays are available in the kitchen for use outside.
Shareholders are asked to provide all food and drinks, toilet paper, toilet soap, matches, washing up liquid, torches and personal first aid items.
ARRIVAL
The driver will meet you at the border with a land cruiser and trailer. Vehicles can be safely left on the SA side of the river. In order to park on the SA side of the river or to take your vehicle across into Botswana, shareholders must supply registration documents to customs. If the Limpopo River is dry, the journey, after clearing the border post, takes about 10 minutes to the camp. If the river is flowing crossing is by means of cable car for which a charge is levied for each person. We do not recommend taking vehicles across the river during the rainy season.
BOOKINGS
Each booking at Rock Camp runs from Wednesday at 2pm to Tuesday at 11am i.e. 6 nights. In order for the driver to fetch guests at the Pontdrift border it is necessary for the shareholder to contact the Mashatu offices at least 48 hours before a planned trip to notify them of arrival time. For details please refer to the ''Contacts" page on this website.
The staff are only available to assist you with unpacking on a Wednesday and lighting the braai fire.
There are no game drives on a Wednesday evening.
CAMP EQUIPMENT
The camp is fully equipped with all linen, crockery and cutlery including swimming towels.
Rock Camp provides a game drive vehicle and trailer for border transfers and game drives.
CELL PHONE RECEPTION AND WIFI
There is limited cell phone coverage at Rock Camp but you can pick up Vodacom and Orange signal in various places in the camp. There are also various areas in the reserve where you'll get better signal. There is no Wi-Fi at the camp.
CLIMATE
Tuli is a semi-arid region, with rain falling in the summer months between November and March, although the rains tend to be erratic and there are frequent summer droughts.
Temperatures can drop below freezing during winter, but starts to climb rapidly at the onset of spring in September, when hot and dry winds blow from the east.
Please refer to the "Home" page for an up to date weather forecast for the area.
CONSERVING WATER
Please be aware that the Tuli area has a low annual rainfall and water is extremely precious.
Conserve water where possible. The water from the taps is safe to drink.
CROCKERY AND CUTLERY
Please ensure that all crockery and cutlery is returned to the kitchen after any meal to prevent breakages by animals.
Inform your camp manager of any breakages. We have had considerable trouble from both hyena and monkeys!
CURIO SHOP
There is a curio shop at Mashatu Main Camp, which may be visited by prior arrangement. Please ask your camp manager to do this. There is also a range of clothes and a few other items for sale at Rock Camp. Your camp manager is in charge of this and will assist you with purchases.
DANGEROUS ANIMALS
As the camp is unfenced, potentially dangerous animals can wander into the camp, especially at night. If you do encounter anything, face them and slowly walk to the closest building. If any creature such as a snake or scorpion needs to be removed from any room please notify your camp manager.
ELECTRICITY
The camp is electrified using the South African electrical system. If there is a break in mains electrical supply, a standby generator will automatically start and provide power while the main supply is down. Ensure that all lights are switched off before going to bed. Lights attract insects so guard against leaving lights on and windows open.
EMERGENCIES
Shareholders should familiarize themselves with the emergency procedures as stated in the kitchen and load emergency numbers into their cell phones. Minor emergencies can be dealt with by the manager. There is a basic first aid kit in the camp. Please advise your camp manager if any items are used to ensure replacement for others.
FIRE
No candles or open flames are permitted in any room. In the event of a fire, please move to the pool area to await instructions from your host. There are fire extinguishers on the exteriors of all the buildings. Please ensure that before leaving the boma at night, that the fire cover provided is placed on top of all glowing embers.
FIREWOOD
Firewood is obtained from local communities and no wood from the property is used. Guests are asked to limit the size of their fires as firewood is a precious resource and only 6 bags are provided per weekend.
Please supplement with your own charcoal.
GAME ACTIVITIES
Two game activities are available per day. Your camp manager will discuss game drive times with you. These must be approximately the same as the Mashatu drives in order to maintain radio contact with other vehicles and the Mashatu office. Evening game drives must be back in camp by no later than 20h30.
GAME DRIVE PROTOCAL
Your driver will give you a short introduction to game drive protocol on arrival. Please ask your guests to listen to any instructions he may give. He is responsible for the welfare of guests and has in depth experience of animal behaviour.
In order to give all Mashatu guests an equal opportunity to view and photograph special sightings and to protect the animals concerned, there is a rule that no more than 3 vehicles can be in a sighting at any one time. Your driver will monitor this and can return to a sighting later if you wish to have further viewing once other vehicles have departed.
Animals are used to the shape and sound of the Mashatu vehicles and guests are asked to remain seated while on the vehicle. A change in outline caused by someone standing up very often causes the animal concerned to run away.
INDEMNITY
All guests are required to sign indemnities that will be given to you by your camp manager or available on this website.
No person is permitted to participate in game activities on the property without signature of these indemnities.
Parents need to sign on behalf of children.
BRAAI FIRES
Please ensure that before leaving the boma at night, that the fire cover provided is placed on top of all glowing embers.
LAUNDRY
There is no laundry service in the camp.
MALARIA
Rock Camp is in a low grade malaria area but malaria has become prevalent recently. Guests are strongly advised to consult medical advice re prevention. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. All windows in the bedrooms are screened. Only electrical mosquito mats are permitted in the rooms (guests to provide their own.) Mosquito nets are available on request.
MONKEYS
Please do not feed the monkeys or any other animals in the camp. Do not leave any doors open when you leave your room or the living/kitchen area as you may have unwelcome visitors.
REFUSE
Please use the relevant bins provided in the kitchen and follow the recycling protocols in the camp.
REMOVAL OF ARTIFACTS, MINERALS, FAUNA AND FLORA
Do not remove anything from the bush, whether to take home or leave lying around the camp. Mashatu is a living museum for the benefit of all visitors and all artefacts remain the property of the Botswana Government with severe penalties attached to their removal.
SMOKING
Ashtrays are provided in the kitchen. Out of consideration for everyone who uses the camp we ask that there is no smoking in any of the interiors and that cigarette butts are placed in the bins in the kitchen. Do not discard cigarette butts on game drives and remove from vehicle on arrival at camp.
SNAKES
The rocks behind the buildings provide an ideal hiding place for snakes so warn your friends to
take care and use a torch at night.
STAFF
We employ two housemaids, a gardener and a camp manager/guide. Mashatu supervises the housekeeping and any minor problems should be discussed firstly with the camp manager who can sort out most things. They work from ½ hr before your morning game drive until midday and from ½ hr before the afternoon drive until approx. 18h00. Their duties include making early morning tea and coffee before game drives, packing the game drive cooler box, cleaning the camp, setting tables and washing up. They also prepare brunch and will cook all breakfast items, make salads, bake potatoes and bake bread if necessary. They are not responsible for doing personal laundry.
Most guests prefer to have a brunch after returning from a morning drive and then braai their own meat for dinner on their return in the evening. Do organise your time in camp to suit yourself but just note that staff do not work more than 8 hours a day unless you make a personal arrangement with them and are prepared to pay them overtime.
The gardener will light a fire for you each evening in the boma. We have been asked to preserve wood as much as possible so please try to be economical with the supply. It is strictly against Mashatu rules to light any fires or braai outside the camp area.
VEHICLE CHARGES
Vehicle usage is covered by your levy.
You will however be asked to sign a usage slip giving arrival and departure km readings.
This is to enable management to keep check on usage. Please verify the readings on arrival and departure.
TIPS
The present tipping rate for staff is P250 (R350) per night for the driver and P125 (R175) per night for each of the other 3 x staff.
Based on R1.40 to the Pula September 2023.
These gratuities are set as a minimum however there is no maximum amount.
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