Home » Uncategorized » Botswana’s Mashatu to Launch Luxurious New Lala Limpopo Sleepout Hide this October
Saturday, August 17, 2024
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This October, Mashatu in Botswana’s Northern Tuli Game Reserve unveils the luxurious Lala Limpopo Sleepout Hide, offering a unique wildlife photography experience.
Mashatu, located in Botswana’s Northern Tuli Game Reserve, is set to introduce a luxurious overnight photographic hideaway, the Lala Limpopo Sleepout Hide, slated to open in October. This innovative project, developed in collaboration with C4 Photo Safaris and co-founder, professional photographer Shem Compion, offers a unique experience by seamlessly integrating the hide into the natural landscape. This design ensures an unobtrusive environment where photography enthusiasts and wildlife lovers can observe animals in complete seclusion from dusk until dawn.
The waterhole, formerly known as Pete’s Pond, has long been a hotspot for wildlife activity, attracting Mashatu’s elephant herds, along with various other animals and birds. This new hide offers a thrilling opportunity to witness these creatures up close, sometimes just meters away, with eye-level views from the hide’s windows. The introduction of innovative, non-intrusive lighting around the waterhole will enhance both daytime and nocturnal photography experiences. The hide is equipped with sensors to alert guests to nighttime activity and a comprehensive control panel to adjust lighting settings, including side, front, and back lighting, as well as color temperature and angle.
Photographers are encouraged to bring a full range of lenses, from wide-angle to ultra-zoom, such as 16-35mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm, and up to a 500/600mm lens. Close-up shots of elephants can be captured with wide-angle lenses, while a 400mm lens is ideal for detailed images like an elephant’s trunk spraying water or a leopard portrait. For night and low-light conditions, fast lenses with low f-stop values are recommended.
The Lala Limpopo Sleepout Hide, which accommodates up to four photographers or guests, is available for exclusive booking. The hide features a small kitchen, a lounge/dining area, a full bathroom with shower facilities, and a separate bedroom for a tour leader, Mashatu ranger, or C4 guide, who will be on hand for safety, advice, and photography tips. Guests can also edit their photos between sessions and enjoy a small outdoor courtyard at the rear entrance, perfect for soaking up the sun without disturbing the wildlife.
The Lala Limpopo Sleepout Hide is set to raise the standard for wildlife photography, following in the footsteps of Mashatu’s other renowned underground hide, Matebole. Matebole has gained global recognition in photography circles, with Greg du Toit’s “Essence of Elephants” portrait winning Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2013. The new Lala Limpopo hide aims to surpass this benchmark, offering an unparalleled sleepout safari suite experience.
An opening special of 50% off will be available for October and November 2024, allowing eager photographers to be among the first to experience this unique offering. The hide will then close from December 2024 to February 2025 during the rainy season, reopening on March 1, 2025. The rates are set at $450 per person sharing per night, $650 for a private room, or $1,600 to book the entire hide for exclusive use.
Lala Limpopo can be booked as an additional activity for guests staying at any of Mashatu’s camps, including Euphorbia Mashatu, Kolokolo Safari Home, Mashatu Lodge, Tuli Safari Lodge Mashatu, Mashatu Tent Camp, and Shalimpo Safari Home.
