Notugre is a landowners association which has been formed through members’ common interest in conservation. The association advises members upon- and assists members in- developing and using the Reserve within an acceptable ecological framework as an integral unit to the best benefit of the land, the people, the owners and the country by optimum wildlife utilization and encouragement of tourism as a major form of land use.
The association is established for the protection and preservation of the fauna, flora, ecology and heritage of the Reserve, by and for the benefit of members.
One of the largest privately owned game reserves in southern Africa and incorporating three major private concessions (Tuli Safari Lodge, Nitani Private Game Reserve, and Mashatu Game Reserve), the NTGR is home to 48 species of mammals and over 350 species of birds, with an estimated 20 000 animals residing in the reserve.
Most naturally occurring wildlife species are present, including elephant, kudu, zebra, impala, duiker, wildebeest, waterbuck, steenbok, and warthog. Large herds of eland – often not seen elsewhere in Botswana – are present, and these are indeed an awesome sight. All major predators, including lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena, are present, and the birdlife is prolific.
The NTGR is adjacent to a larger area of eastern Botswana called the Tuli Block. This is a ten-kilometre-wide strip of land running approximately 180 kilometres south to Martin’s Drift that holds a string of commercial agricultural and game farms, several of which also offer tourist facilities. Travellers keen for a more active safari experience will delight in all there is on offer. You can hike the reserve, bike the reserve, horse-ride the reserve, and even hot air balloon the reserve!
At Mashatu Game Reserve, guests can accompany elephant or predator researchers, to gain first-hand insights into the behaviour, feeding habits, territories, demography, and social structure of these animals, as well as critical wildlife conservation issues.
A similar experience awaits guests at Nitani – as they come to understand the complexities of a long-term hyena research project.
Molema Bush Camp, a community-based tourism project managed and operated by Tuli Safari Lodge, is an ideal way to take part in a tourism concept that is rapidly gaining momentum in Africa. Local communities become active partners in tourism projects, from which they can more readily see clear-cut financial and social benefits. Molema is a joint venture between three local villages: Motlhabaneng, Lentswe le Moriti and Mathathane and two tour operators: Tuli Safari Lodge and Talana Farms.
Archaeological sites provide an important historical perspective to the region. Iron Age sites demonstrate the formidable skills in pottery, mining, and smelting of the Zhizo, Leopard’s Kopje and Mapungubwe peoples, who practised agriculture and animal husbandry in the area.
Artifacts from the Mapungubwe Kingdom (1220-1290AD), a precursor to the Great Zimbabwe civilisation, reveal the sophistication of the technology and society of its people, and their extensive trade networks. The NTGR will form the heart of the proposed Shashe/Limpopo TransFrontier Conservation Area (TFCA), its signatories– Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa– agreeing to cooperate to conserve and manage shared natural resources.
Rich in biodiversity, the proposed TFCA will cover approximately 4,872 square kilometres and will be one of the largest wildlife conservation areas in southern Africa.
ACTIVITIES
- Game drives
- Hot air balloon
- Horse-back safari
- Walking or cycling safari
- Family safari
- Animal tracking
- Predator drives
- Ivory drive
- Mountain bike safari
- Stargazing
- Bird watching
- Cultural tourism
- Community tourism
- Basket weaving
- Arts and crafts
- Historical sites
- Health spa
- Hyena research project
