Balerno Bush Lodge is situated next to Mapungubwe National Park, and is a perfect venue for small groups visiting the Park. The camp is situated in a mix of mopane and broadleaved woodland with rocky outcrops. The farm has a dam which attracts a good variety of water birds and raptors. The camp is build into a rocky outcrop and the gardens around the camp attracts Paradise Fly-Catchers, Mocking Cliff-Chat and Red-winged Starlings. The camp, is made up of seven thatched bungalows, each with own bathroom, double bed and single bed. Bungalows are around a well equipped open plan lounge, farm kitchen, stoep, braai area, boma and plunge pool in the rocks. The Lodge is booked as a unit so you have the farm to yourselves. The farm is safe to explore on foot or vehicle and has very interesting sandstone koppies, game such as kudu, blue wildebeest, zebra and impala as well as various bird species. The owners can organize birders access to farm dams in the area if they have some prior warning. The camp sleeps 14 adults extra beds and can be arranged if needed. This is the ideal venue for self catering groups who want to explore the northern limpopo river area. Meals on request by prior arrangement.

Whether you are a beginner birder or an experienced birder, you have to visit the Mapungubwe National Park. The abundance of birdlife is quite spectacular and there are lots of specials to find. Two large hides have been built, one in bushveld habitat and one on the Limpopo River. A Tree Top walkway through the forest canopy on the banks of the Limpopo River has also been developed especially for bird watching. All hides are wheelchair-friendly. The other attraction of the park is the great number and variety of archaeological sites. These date from early Stone Age and Iron Age to the present. The most notable of the sites is Mapungubwe Hill. The artefacts found on these sites reflect one of the most complex social and political entities in Africa during the 8th and 9th Centuries. Guided night drives are offered, but no walking trails, as there are dangerous animals in the Park. For an additional fee the park also offers an Eco-route, which is a self-drive route through some of the remoter parts of the park, and a guided trail into a limited motorised zone. The park offers a number of self-catering accommodation options: Leokwe Rest Camp (14 units), Limpopo Forest Tented Camp (7 units), Tshugulu Lodge (sleeps 12). Rates: RRR - RRRR (s/c)

If you need to get into the bush, relax and feel un-pressured, this is the place to be. With little interference from the owners you really have the place to yourself. Mmabolela covers 5300 ha of dry bushveld with 12 km of Limpopo river frontage. It is renowned for its exceptional wealth of birdlife. Over 300 bird species have been recorded in the area. Specials include African Finfoot, Verreaux´s Eagle Owl, Broadbill Roller and Dusky Lark. The combination of permanent pools in the Limpopo River, tall riparian woodland and arid thornveld, intersected by numerous ephemeral streams provides a rich diversity of habitats and plant communities. In addition many migrants traverse the area during spring and autumn. There are a number of (self-drive) game drives and circuit routes that cover the entire reserve. The absence of elephant or lion makes walking, jogging and biking all possible. The Weerderdooper Homestead offers old-fashioned relaxation and quietude with three double rooms and the adjacent cottages four en-suite double rooms. The quaint Tuli homestead (paraffin & gas) has four double bedrooms. Both houses are fully equipped, staffed and only self-catering accommodation is offered. Visits to Mmabolela are limited to homestead guests only ensuring an exclusive ´go-where-you-will´ stay. Rates: R250 pp minimum of R1000 pd (Tuli Homestead) - R250 pp with a minimum of R1250 (Weerderdooper Homestead) for the whole house.

Mopane Bush Lodge is the ideal base from which to go birding in the new MAPUNGUBWE NATIONAL PARK, with its riverine forest along the Limpopo River, sandstone cliffs and mopane bushveld. Possible bird species in the area are almost 400. The owners will also organize private visits to the Den Staat Wetlands. This locality, otherwise out of bounds, is one of South Africa´s premier waterbird sites. The wetlands are home to many herons, egrets, sandpipers, bitterns, plovers, storks, pelicans including Grey Crowned Crane and Green Sandpiper. Tropical Boubou, Meves´s Starling, Meyer´s Parrot, African Mourning Dove, Broad-billed Roller, Kori Bustard, Senegal Coucal can be found in the Limpopo River Valley. Burchell´s and Double-banded Sandgrouse are found in the drier areas. Specially organised trips can be arranged to see the resident Collared Palm-Thrush and Pel´s Fishing-Owl. The lodge also offers easy access to the Mapungubwe World Heritage Landscape, San rock art sites and the tracking of endangered wild dog. It is situated on the Mapesu Nature Reserve, a safe environment for walking, birding, cycling and bush drives, with many species of game and over 220 bird species. There are two birding trails along the Mapedu River. Mopane Bush Lodge has accommodation for 16 in eight twin-bedded thatched chalets, each within its own kraal, with private en-suite bathroom, an additional outdoor shower, and a secluded veranda. Excellent food, with a personal touch, is served in the spacious dining room, in the boma under the magnificent night skies, in the lapa around the sparkling pool or in the bush. Lunch boxes can be provided for birding day outings. Come and enjoy personal service by the owners. Rates: RRRR

Tuli Safari Lodge operates in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, a beautiful, unspoilt corner of Botswana home to diverse wildlife, over 350 birds species and boasting a rich cultural heritage, just a few minutes’ drive from the Pont Drift border post. We offer varied accommodation options: • Tuli Safari Lodge: a charming home-from-home on the banks of the Limpopo. With friendly staff and just 8 individually designed suites, we can offer our guests a personalised, relaxed and exciting stay. All suites have double/twin beds, en-suite bathrooms, sitting areas and air conditioning. • Nokalodi: our rustic self-catering bush camp, with 4 en-suite meru-style tents and fully-equipped kitchen/braai area. Nokalodi overlooks beautiful riverine bush and is backed by a massive sandstone cliff where resident Black Eagles nest. • Molema: our community joint venture camp site (4 sites each with own reed-enclosed shower/toilet/basin & braai facility) and 4 fully-furnished self-catering chalets, located near the Platjan border post. The area is scenically very different to the rest of Botswana, with dominant basalt formations and large areas of rugged sandstone hills and ridges, together with a network of mostly dry riverbeds and riverine forests as well as open grasslands and marshy areas. Tuli is recognised as an Important Bird Area, and specials in the area include Kori bustard, Senegal coucal, Threebanded courser, Ayre’s Hawk Eagle, Bat Hawk and Pel’s fishing owl. As well as birding with our accredited local bird guide, you can enjoy game drives & walks, spend time at our hides and participate in our community & conservation projects. Tuli is a great destination in its own right, and also an ideal stop-off point en route to the Kalahari, Delta, Chobe & beyond, or a natural extension to a Limpopo/Waterberg/Northern Kruger trip. Email: tuli@global.bw or Web:

Tuli Wilderness Trails have a concession in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. The area has a wide range of habitats, from riverine forest on the Limpopo River to alluvial flood plains and basalt ridges. The western side of the reserve is criss-crossed by countless dry riverbeds and stunning sandstone ridges that rise 100ft above the Motloutse River allowing awesome views of the surrounding landscape. It is a rich wildlife area, lion are common, elephant are abundant and there are cheetah, leopard, hyena and many plains game species. Birding is excellent with over 350 species recorded in the Tuli Block. They have three camps operating: Musth Camp is the luxury safari style tented camp, consisting of five twin units with en-suite bathrooms and a central self catering kitchen/dinning room area. Mohave Bush Camp is more rustic with four mopane pole-and-thatch huts sleeping 12 people in total. Mohave has outdoor communal bathrooms and a central kitchen/lapa area. Rutt Camp is a movable tented camp, which is used for the Wilderness Trails. Craig and Sandy, who own and run the operation, have many years of experience in the eco-tourism industry and Craig is a knowledgeable guide. Rates: RRR (s/c)

This De Beer’s property that is situated adjacent to the Mapungubwe National Park member of the national Diamond Birding Route. The 33 000 hectare reserve is dominated by mopane woodland and has beautiful riverine forests and sandstone cliffs in the north. Over 4oo species have been recorded in the reserve including Mayer’s Parrot, Meve’s Starling, Senegal Coucal and Tropical Boubou. The Lodge called Little Muck, can accommodate 17 people in three luxury air-conditioned chalets or in three separate air-conditioned double rooms. The central lodge has a fully equipped kitchen and an open dinning and recreation area with a pub, swimming pool and camp fire. Guests can choose to be self catering or fully catered. The lodge is set amongst the sandstone outcrops of the area and birds often seen around the camp include African Green Pigeon, Black-faced Waxbill, and Grey-backed Camaroptera. The reserve has a trained bird guide who can take guests to the local birding hotspots in the area or for walks in the reserve. You can also go wild dog tracking, and have the chance of seeing Elephant, White and Black Rhino and a variety of antelope species on the reserve.