A Typical Day on a Matshwane Safari

You will wake up to the warmth of the morning sun at the dawn of a new day. Your wake-up call will be between 5am and 6 am - a gentle call of “koko” (knock knock in Setswana) at the entrance of your tent. A camp hand will fill your wash basin with steaming hot water. You can then sit around the camp fire and enjoy freshly made tea or coffee.

A light breakfast will be served before the early morning game drive, consisting of tea, plunger coffee, juice, rusks, fruit, cereal, toast and jams. The best times of day to enjoy game viewing are in the early morning and late afternoon because most animals retreat to the shade to rest during the heat of the day.

Having spent the morning exploring the surrounding wilderness in search of Botswana’s elusive treasures, you will return to camp for lunch under the shade of a Marula or other large tree. Lunch will consist of salads, freshly baked bread, cold meats, and pickles. Just as the animals retreat to escape the heat of mid-day, so will you. This will be your time to enjoy reading, chatting, relaxing or taking a siesta.



Later in the afternoon you will head out into the wilderness once more as the animals wake from their day’s slumber and gather at the watering holes to quench their thirst. As the sun sets on the horizon, with refreshments in hand, you will marvel at the sheer splendour of an African sunset.

On your return to camp, you can enjoy a hot shower under the starry night sky and gather around the warmth of the campfire with your friends/ family to relive the day’s events and excitement. You will then enjoy a two-course dinner served with South African wines against the magical backdrop of the African night sky. For dinner you could sample such delights as Chicken Tangine or Lamb Potjie followed by Banana Mekoros with Chocolate or Sticky Toffee Pudding with cream. Retreating to the comfort of your tent after enjoying a nightcap around the campfire, you will fall asleep to the calls of the African wild. Good night…

On moving days, the guide and the camp hand will pack down the camp and then you will travel to the next campsite, where they will set up the camp for you in a new location. When travelling between campsites, the route usually winds through the parks and reserves and is therefore an extension of your daily game drives. A picnic lunch can be enjoyed en-route.