In Botswana’s eastern corner, nestled between rivers and borders, is Mashatu: a reserve so breathtaking, it will take your breath away… and then give it back, fuller. This is where Land of the Giants takes place.
Botswana (27 July 2025) – You’ll never truly understand why an elephant is meant to run free… until you’ve seen one, actually free.
I’ve been lucky in my life, lucky to travel, to see the world, to experience moments that challenge what you think you know and ultimately change perspectives. Sometimes, it takes one experience to undo another. Or to reframe it, entirely.
It was 2017 and I had just been invited to India for the very first time. It was a tourism board initiative, 30 of us from around the world: influencers, writers, bloggers and content creators. Each of us there to explore Kerala, a lush, tropical state hugging India’s southwestern coast… and to tell its story.
We were treated like royalty. And I don’t say that lightly. Every day was thoughtfully curated, every meal a celebration, every experience crafted to immerse us in the culture, history and spirit of the place. We stayed in five-star hotels and cruised through backwaters. We visited temples, tried unfamiliar foods and danced at weddings that weren’t our own. It was one of the most surreal, enriching trips I’ve ever been on.
But near the end of our itinerary, something shifted.
One afternoon had “elephant riding” on the schedule.
And that didn’t sit right with me.
I remember how the group gathered the night before, talking through our feelings. There was an unease in the air. Most of us weren’t comfortable with it. A few said they’d do it anyway “just to see”, or “just once”. And then I spoke. I spoke about home. I spoke about South Africa. About how I’d grown up seeing elephants in the wild. How they moved with quiet power and unhurried grace. How, when you watch them walk through the bush, you can feel the earth give way and still celebrate their presence.
I shared something I’ve learned through lived experience… that no elephant is meant to be ridden.
That before it carries a human on its back, it must be broken. Not taught. Broken. And that word means exactly what you think it means.
The next day, we arrived at the “experience”.
A holding space. All concrete. The elephants were chained at the ankles. They swayed as we approached. Not in rhythm. In distress.
Some elephants have been found to walk up to 50 kilometres a day in the wild. But here they are only allowed to move when someone lets them. Sometimes.
We all stood there. But no one in our group climbed onto their backs. Not even those who had been on the fence. I walked up to one of the elephants… I gently placed my hand on her face, looked her in the eye and apologised for her life.
As a group, we collectively told the organisers that we would not be promoting this activity. That we would not share it as a highlight of the trip.
Fast forward to 2025.
I found myself in Botswana, with a group of tourists, all on bicycles… in the middle of a game reserve watching elephants roam free.
Mashatu Game Reserve invited me to experience the annual “Land of the Giants” cycling safari… an event unlike anything I’ve ever done. A few days of adventure, riding through the reserve on mountain bikes, deep in the wild, close to nature and even closer to yourself.
Mashatu is… magic.
It sits in the eastern corner of Botswana, where the country meets South Africa and Zimbabwe. It’s part of the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, and if you’ve never been, I promise you, it will take your breath away and then gives it back… fuller. There’s something about that land. The soil is richer in colour. The sky feels bigger. The trees tower like ancient guards. And everywhere you look, there’s movement… giraffes reaching for the highest leaves, zebras kicking up dust, impala dancing through the veld and elephants – the giants – that are free.
It is beautiful. Fiercely so.
The ride itself was challenging. I was on an e-bike but I forgot to turn the “e” on, so it quickly became just a very heavy bike. That’s a story for another day.
The real story wasn’t the bike.
It was what I saw. And what I felt.
There were around 100 of us, 30 riders with 70 family and friends as our “cheerleaders”. We were placed in small, tight-knit groups, each guided at the front and back with a support vehicle nearby. Everything was done with immense care and respect for both the cyclists and the animals who call this land home. And while the riding was phenomenal, it was the moments in between that landed the hardest. Like the moment we cycled around a bend and found ourselves in the presence of a herd of elephants.
The guides signalled for silence. We stopped. No sudden movements. No voices. Just stillness.
The elephants didn’t move. They didn’t even look at us. They just were. Moving through the bush in their slow, steady rhythm.
Unbothered.
Majestic.
Free.
I stood there, one foot still on my pedal just in case I had to out-cycle an ellie… like can one out-cycle an elephant? Most probably not but that foot was still ready. And even though my foot was on the pedal and my heart was pounding, I don’t think it was out of fear. Maybe something closer to awe.
You see, I had seen elephants in the wild before. It’s the joy of living in Africa. But I looked at my teammates, who I could see, shared that same feeling. I saw the same look in their eyes.
We were all in awe.
Out of nowhere, I remembered that day in Kerala. I hadn’t thought about it in years. The chains. The concrete. That poor elephant, who was most probably still standing there, wishing for this kind of freedom.
Wishing to be here in Mashatu.
This was peace. This was right.
Yes, I cried in that moment. I’m an easy crier. But also, this wasn’t easy. This was more complicated. More layered. It was sadness for animals that are used. It was knowing that this group of tourists from around the world were seeing an elephant as it should be seen. Free. It was a gratitude so big it hurt. For this moment. For those elephants. And for these tourists, who would now forever remember that elephants are meant to be free.
And sometimes, you need to be reminded.
Over the days that followed, my team and I got to see impalas (obviously – the McDonald’s of the bush), giraffes, zebras, baboons, warthogs, lions and everything in between… including a crocodile sleeping next to the race village. And we really bonded. We spent days cycling in the wild, but we also spent countless hours laughing over lunches, clinking glasses over sundowners and breaking bread over long catch-up dinners. Strangers who became friends, who became family. Bound together by the dirt under our fingernails, the sun on our shoulders and the unfiltered beauty around us.
The Land of the Giants isn’t just a ride. I think I would rather call it a recalibration. It pulls you back to the things that matter. It’s the kind of experience that humbles you. That roots you. That changes you. That reminds you what the “wild” is meant to be. And what freedom truly means. And you get to experience this all, up close and personal, on a bike.
This entire experience was like food for the soul.
Mashatu – Land of the Giants happens annually… and I can 100% recommend.
A little bit more about Mashatu
Mashatu is the epitome of all that defines wilderness areas in Africa. A hidden gem situated in Botswana, Mashatu Game Reserve consists of 42,000 hectares (104,000 acres) of privately owned land in the conserved wilderness area known as the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. The reserve lies in the remote eastern corner of Botswana where the great Limpopo and Shashe Rivers converge, where Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe come together. This exceptionally diverse landscape includes wide open plains, grassland, riverine forests, rocky hills, marshland and majestic sandstone ridges (which we got to experience on a bicycle). A canvas painted with moments of connection. The gaze of a lion, the playful dance of elephants, the lyrical melody of birds… each encounter leaves an indelible mark.
I had the absolute privilege of staying at one of the “newer” lodges in Mashatu… Euphorbia and it was something else entirely. Like, proper five-star vibes. Tucked away high on a ridge, this eco-luxury villa experience is exclusive, intimate and ridiculously beautiful.
Floor-to-ceiling glass, natural stone finishes, private decks overlooking the vast wilderness, plunge pools, firepits and those small thoughtful touches that make it feel both grounding and luxurious. It’s like nature and design had a lovechild… and they called it Euphorbia. Every sunrise felt like a cinematic moment. Every night, stars poured across the sky (and leopards roamed beneath us in the valley). It’s wild, but it’s peaceful. And it’s now a core memory for me. One that I need to visit again.
But Mashatu doesn’t only offer Euphorbia.
It’s designed to welcome everyone, no matter what kind of adventure you’re after.
Mashatu Lodge is the heart of the reserve… a warm, family-friendly lodge with spacious suites, a beautiful pool area, shaded courtyards and excellent shared dining experiences. If it’s your first time on safari, this is an ideal base. Comfortable, relaxed and effortlessly easy.
Mashatu Tent Camp offers something more immersive, the kind of bush experience that makes you feel properly connected to your surroundings. The tents are elevated and very well equipped (it’s not roughing it, don’t stress), but you’ll fall asleep to the sounds of the wild and wake up to birdsong and distant roars. It’s peaceful, raw, and beautiful.
Tuli Safari Lodge is just across the Limpopo River on the South African side, but still part of the Greater Mashatu experience. It blends classic safari elegance with a modern edge. With lovely gardens, old trees, and that charming lodge feel, it’s great for those who want a softer landing into the bush without losing the magic.
No matter where you stay… whether you’re sipping Amarula under the stars at Tent Camp, soaking in the views from Euphorbia, or taking a midday dip at the Lodge, Mashatu wraps itself around your soul in the best way.
More about “Land of the Giants”
Land of the Giants is an annual multi-day cycling safari through Mashatu Game Reserve and it’s honestly magic.
You ride through wild, untouched landscapes in small guided groups, pedalling past giraffes, zebras, impalas and elephants. It’s not a race; it’s an experience. Each day includes riding, bush brunches, sundowners and star-filled dinners. Families and friends come along too, making the whole thing feel like a big, dusty, joyful adventure with heart.
And it’s happening again next year (and bookings are open now).
From the 1st to the 7th of May 2026, riders from across the world will gather for the Land of the Giants (LOTG) cycling event – hosted by Stephen Lansdown, Mashatu’s majority owner and passionate conservationist.
A multi-day safari riding experience through the heart of Mashatu, the event raises critical funds for conservation, with a goal of BWP 1 million for the Tuli Conservation Trust, supporting anti-poaching initiatives.
Bookings & Enquiries:
Contact Lala Seragi, Event Manager – lala@mashatu.com | WhatsApp: +267 73 074 215.
*Riding elephants is prevalent all around the world, even in Southern Africa. For more information about elephant riding and efforts to end it, click here.
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