Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Gaborone
60
6
Kasane
106
7
Maun
89.90
5
Nata
41
2
Getting Around
Francistown's airport is 5.5km west of the city centre. A taxi into town shouldn't cost
more than P50.
Tuli Block
Tucked into the nation's right side pocket, the Tuli Block is one of Botswana's best-kept
secrets. This 10km- to 20km-wide swath of freehold farmland extends over 300km along
the northern bank of the Limpopo River and is made up of a series of private properties,
many of which have a conservation bent. Wildlife is a big attraction here, but so too is the
landscape, which is unlike anywhere else in Botswana. With its moonscapes of muddy or-
anges and browns, its
kopjes
overlooked by deep blue sky, it's the sort of Dalí-esque
desert environment that puts one in mind of Arizona or Australia, yet the barren beauty
belies a land rich in life. Elephants, hippos, kudu, wildebeest and impala as well as small
numbers of lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas circle each other among rocks and
kopjes
scattered with artefacts from the Stone Age onwards. More than 350 species of birds have
also been recorded in the reserve.
The northern reaches of the Block make up the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. In the
longer term, there are plans to extend the reserve's boundaries south, and, even further in-
to the future, join up with contiguous protected areas across the border in Zimbabwe.
Once owned by the British South Africa Company (BSAC), the land was ceded to white
settlers after the railway route was shifted to the northwest. However, much of the land
proved to be unsuitable for agriculture and has since been developed for tourism. As such,
the potential for this region is endless.
One advantage of visiting the Tuli Game Reserve is that entrance is free. Night drives
(not permitted in government-controlled parks and reserves) are also allowed, so visitors
can often see nocturnal creatures, such as aardwolves, aardvarks and leopards. The best
