Botswana Tuli Block Tour

September 13, 2022 | Boys’ College

During the August holiday some of our students, accompanied by Mr Courtney Watson and Mr Jonathan Dale had an amazing trip to the Tuli Block in Botswana. The experience took the group to unfenced wilderness where elephants freely walked through their camps, spectacular sightings, and unmatched African sunsets.

A wonderful report from Reece Williams (Grade 11) captures this trip. Photo credits – Mr Courtney Watson

This holiday I had the pleasure of going on a school trip to the Tuli Block in Botswana. It was an amazing experience which I will remember forever. A special thanks goes out to Mr Watson and Mr Dale for making it possible as well as all the staff at Tuli Wilderness who were great hosts.

Upon arrival at Tuli Wilderness we piled into game vehicles which took us on barely drivable roads to the first camp. Wild it certainly was and as if to prove this on our way to the camp we encountered two lions. This first sighting was an exciting introduction to the trip but that was not even the best part of the day. After arriving at Mohave Camp we got settled into our rooms and were treated to some great food accompanied by stories around a campfire. This allowed us to get to know all the people on the camp and it was good to mix with likeminded St Stithians pupils from all grades. Later that night I was woken up with a loud noise right next to our rooms. It turns out it was a herd of elephants close enough to our hut that if not for the flynet windows I would be able to touch them. To be that close to these massive, majestic creatures was a thrill. After the herd peacefully departed, I fell asleep and that concluded an awesome first day.

On the second day our group was taken to the second camp: Eagle View Starlight Camp. This camp comprised a single building consisting of a viewing deck overlooking Eagle’s Rock and the game path which went down to the Motloutse River. The rest was open wilderness and tents. This was my favorite camp as it felt as if you were at one with the bush with nothing but wilderness surrounding you. We often saw herds of elephants pass through the open plain in front of the camp and one night they passed within ten meters of where we sat. Our best sighting of the trip arguably took place here. We were heading back to camp after a long game drive where we hadn’t seen much. The sun was settling down on the horizon, bathing the dusty plains in a golden glow. We were quieter than usual lulled by the drone of the engine and heat of the day. Lazily we noticed two vultures perched in a tree and decided to investigate. As we approached the birds one of the boys sat up and hissed urgently for our vehicle to stop! Soon the adrenalin kicked in for all of us as we came upon a lion kill only 20 meters off the road. They had brought down an eland and the pride (some cubs included) were filling their bellies. Witnessing these lions at a kill and the natural, fun vibe of Eagle’s View made this camp my favorite.

On our return to Mohave Camp we saw a herd of elephants come to drink at the waterhole. Seeing them interact in front of the common camp area, a few meters away from us was another first for me and the photos I took will remind me of this moment for years to come. Initially we didn’t see much at Mohave after the lion kill other than a couple Bat Eared foxes and Kori Bustards but this wasn’t the only game on our minds that day. It was the 13th of August and the day of the second rugby match where the Springboks would face off against the All Blacks. Naturally we had to find a way to watch it and with our best schoolboy enthusiasm and energy we devised a plan. We decided that we would hike to the top of the only hill around as we believed this would provide the best connection. Mr Dale hot-spotted us and the game was duly streamed onto Josh’s laptop. This was another highlight of the trip. We had a real sense of “Africanicity”, watching the rugby on top of a random hill in Botswana, surrounded by the mournful hyena cries and trumpets of elephants in the distance. It was one of those unforgettable times where you feel lucky to be surrounded by friends, and in a special place, doing something you enjoy. The experience wasn’t perfect though as the Springboks lost. Despite some disappointment, our moods were lifted by the sighting of a lion in the camp which elevated our appreciation of the adventure we were having once more.

On the last day of the trip, we took a trip to the Limpopo River where we watched in awe as the semi desert turned into a lush forest fed by the fast-flowing water. We watched with a mixture of sadness and gratitude as the sun set casting its final flamboyant red and orange hues on our holiday. The Tuli Block Tour was a great adventure - one which gave us a much-needed break from school, parents and the Joburg routine. It helped us make new friends and have a great time with our old ones. The food was delicious: we were amazed at what could be produced on a campfire. The guides were excellent - never missing a chance to tell us some cool facts about the bush. This trip was an incredible experience that I can wholeheartedly recommend. It made me realize I don’t want to live anywhere else in the world.