Tswalu Game Reserve

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve has the lowest ratio of beds to space in a privately protected area in South Africa. Choosing one of our
three camps is less about the obvious luxuries you’ve come to expect on safari – high thread-count sheets, fine wines, and
gourmet food – and more about the rare privilege of enjoying exclusive access to 114,000 hectares (282,000 acres) of private
wilderness on the southernmost edge of the Kalahari. From exhilarating predator-prey encounters to rare sightings of some of
the most elusive species in Africa, every safari is privately guided without any other guests or vehicles besides our own to dilute
your experience.

For a long-term conservation endeavor to remain viable takes much more than philanthropy and passion. By choosing Tswalu,
every guest becomes part of an inspiring conservation story backed by a 30-year legacy of protecting one of southern Africa’s last
remaining wild places while positively impacting those who call it home.

Your Tswalu adventure begins in one of our three safari camps, the Motse, Tarkuni homestead or one of Loapi’s luxury tented homes. This choice of accommodation, defined by understated luxury and an authentic sense of place, offers privileged access to a unique destination safari in South Africa’s largest privately owned reserve. Each camp is perfectly positioned to take in the reserve’s dramatic landscapes, characterized by savannah grasslands, red dunes and ancient mountains.

The Motse is where it all started. Nine spacious legae (Setswana for ‘home’) are private retreats for two or four guests, making these suites ideal for couples or small families. Tarkuni, a thatched homestead tucked into a secluded valley, accommodates up to 10 guests in five bedrooms. Designed for exclusive use, it’s perfect for large families or a party of friends. Evoking the pioneering spirit of camping, Loapi is a luxury tented camp with six, individual, tented safari homes for the ultimate private wilderness experience. At all three camps, a private safari vehicle, guide and tracker is guaranteed with each booking. Your guide and tracker will take excellent care of you for the duration of your stay, arranging every aspect of your safari at a pace that allows for an unhurried, immersive journey of discovery into the southern Kalahari’s rare and unusual treasures, from iconic wildlife to rock engravings.

A diverse range of wildlife is protected in South Africa’s largest private game reserve, including many rare and critically endangered species and five of the most elusive species in Africa. There are 85 mammals and 264 bird species at Tswalu, and many reptiles, insects and butterflies, offering opportunities for extraordinary sightings and encounters while on safari. Many of the animals on the reserve are dry savanna specialists, well adapted to the harsh conditions of the savanna biome with its extreme temperatures and scarcity of water in the winter months. Oryx, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, warthog and ostrich are common sightings as you navigate along the dune roads in search of Kalahari black-maned lion, desert black rhino and African wild dog. Look out for the massive community nests of sociable weavers, the iconic structures of the southern Kalahari. In the foothills of the Korannaberg you may encounter leopard, the rare Hartmann’s mountain zebra, reedbuck and klipspringer. Cape buffalo and large predators, including cheetah, hyena, and black-backed jackal, provide memorable sightings.