Game Viewing
Matobo Game Drives
The Matobo National Park, located in Zimbabwe, is a breathtaking destination teeming with natural beauty and wildlife – perfect for game drives. With its rugged granite hills, vast open plains, and ancient rock formations, it offers a diverse range of wildlife.
Game Viewing At Shashani
Early Morning Game Drives
There is nothing more invigorating and exciting than waking up in the African bush to the sounds and smells that it bestows upon us, encapsulating us in the essence of the African bush.
Clambering onto the open Safari vehicle and embarking on an early morning game drive as the sun is rising is a must-do on your bucket list. It is both humbling and freeing, and an immense privilege to see Nature start the day.
Imagine being on the safari vehicle with the sun kissing your face, the warm breeze against your skin, and staring out into the wilderness. It is revitalising for the soul and the perfect way to start your day at Shashani!!
The chitter-chatter of the animals that greets our ears is enthralling, and the sights that they allow us to see are so captivating that they will leave you wanting more. This time of day is when the animals are most active, before the heat of the African bush sets in, and they seek out that huge canopy of the acacia tree for a brief respite from the glorious African sun.
Encounter a variety of wildlife, including hyena, kudu, eland, and, of course, the famous elusive leopard, if you are privileged enough. The park is also home to numerous other species, including zebra, giraffe, sable, wildebeest, warthog, and impala.
Our game guides will take you on a journey with their tales of the bush and animals; suddenly, you are part of the ancient dance between nature and humanity. Our game drives usually start at around 6.00 am, depending on the season and sunrise time. The experience usually lasts 2 hours and includes refreshments along the dusty roads.
Shashani Game Viewing
Early Evening And Night Excursions
As dusk’s fading glow seeps through the African bush like a dimming stage light beam, and as darkness claims the last of the day, the game vehicle roars to life in anticipation of taking you on a thrilling night game drive excursion. The skies will treat you with their natural candles, and the moon will proudly beam to lead the way with ice-cold drinks in your hand.
Night drives are completely enveloping and different, with a tingling feeling in your belly as you anticipate what animals will grace us with their presence on their own terms.
Your ears will prick up to the various calling sounds ranging from beetles to the elusive leopard, and the wheels rolling along the dirt road in the pitch black of night. And now, ladies and gents, our adventure begins.
The headlights shine through the long grass, and so the nightlife comes to life; we are graced with seeing the aardwolf with his prominent mane and slender build staring back at us, making a clucking noise in response to being disturbed. Genet and serval cats are crepuscular, so sightings of them are highly likely, and their growls and hissing calls can be heard in the still of the night. As the sun sets, the jackal begins its hunt for food, consisting of small mammals and insects. Its yelps can often be heard as it is looking for shelter. The sound, a very distinctive loud wailing/howling, is quite eerie.
Springhares emerge at night and are known for their agility and speed, using their hind legs to propel themselves forward, which is impressive to witness. Again, their calls are rather unique; they grunt when they are excited or bleat when danger is near. Bush babies, also known as night apes or galagos, are nocturnal. Once the sun sets, off they go, leaping between trees to hunt for insects and other food, their gentle chatting and clicking sounds keeping them in communication with one another.
Now the majestic, elusive leopard is already out and about looking for its next meal; the sounds of growling belong to this incredible animal. Shashani is the backdrop of Matopos and has the highest population of leopards. Spotting this beautiful creature is a true privilege, and one should feel honoured at this rare sighting.
Our night game drive excursions usually start at around 8.00 pm, and the experience typically lasts 2 hours, including refreshments along the way. After this adrenaline experience, we head back to the lodge to sit around the fire pit, chatting and replaying the day’s events as we stare up at the striking sky and give thanks for what nature has allowed us to view.