Our Stories

Tswalu is proud to announce that it has been awarded Global Ecosphere Retreat (GER) status by The Long Run, achieving the organisation’s most advanced sustainability standard.

Tswalu is the best private game reserve in South Africa for exclusive sightings of seven elusive species that are considered highly rare elsewhere in Africa. These elusive animals are the brown hyena, aardvark, pangolin, aardwolf, bat-eared fox, African wild cat,...

Ear-notching is one of the tools used to monitor and protect our rhinos. Carried out during South Africa’s cooler winter months, ear notching provides our guests with an exciting hands-on rhino conservation opportunity to experience these endangered animals up close.

Winter’s blue-skied days are a prime time to explore Tswalu’s richly layered ecosystem on privately guided drives and walks. Epic predator-prey encounters, daytime sightings of elusive species, and dune picnics add to winter’s appeal.

Tswalu is South Africa’s largest private game reserve, a place of iconic wildlife, vast landscapes and rich biodiversity. From hanging with habituated meerkats to dinner at Restaurant Klein JAN, expect the unexpected.

The undivided attention of Tswalu’s in-house photographic safari guide will take your wildlife pics to the next level, whether new to photography or travelling with a new camera - memories to last a lifetime.

The definition of a family vacation has evolved along with family structures. Whether shared with friends, family, or friends who feel like family, there is a Tswalu safari camp to match your adventure.

Tswalu’s remote location in the southern Kalahari provides the ultimate off-the-beaten-track escape at the height of summer. Exclusive access to this untrammelled wilderness sets the scene for a safari of unparalleled privacy and freedom.

Since opening, Loapi has established itself as a quietly luxurious, private retreat within the immensity of Tswalu’s exclusive-access wilderness. Gain an insider’s view of what it’s like to stay in one of these private tented homes.

Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen talks to us about finding inspiration in nature and community, and sharing the Klein JAN kitchen with Wolfgat’s Kobus van der Merwe for a once-off Kalahari-themed dinner.

The human disconnect from the healing power of nature has been a long time coming, made worse by our overwhelming reliance on technology. We need to carve out time in nature, suggests Marcus Westberg.

A destination in its own right, Tswalu is South Africa’s largest private reserve. To explore its dramatically scaled landscapes and fascinating fauna and flora demands a deep dive and longer stay.

Climbing Bushman Hill has many unexpected rewards, as travel writer Jane Broughton discovered on a winter’s day packed with petroglyphs, up-close kudu and Hartmann's mountain zebra sightings and a surprise element or two.

Adding both the Motse and Loapi to your Tswalu itinerary not only ensures a deeper understanding of this place of contrasts but also mitigates your carbon footprint and has a positive impact on sustainable conservation.

Photographer Marcus Westberg writes about our role in the natural world and the value of human intervention in nature, such as wildlife conservation management, so that wild places and creatures can be protected.

At Restaurant Klein JAN, head chef Etienne Wessels is telling the culinary story of the Kalahari with a modern, multi-course menu showcasing locally sourced ingredients.

The southern Kalahari’s wildlife diversity astounded Shirley Sword, a Tswalu guest who appreciated the time and space to track and observe so many unusual animals.

Did you know that Tswalu is one of Africa’s largest intact arid savannahs? Here are 10 facts about Tswalu, a wonderfully remote yet easily accessible safari destination.

Lucien Beaumont recently spent a few days on the reserve with guests. One of the highlights of their safari was a brown hyena sighting involving a pair of cheetahs and a stolen kill.

There are many reasons why some photos turn out great while others seem to lack a certain something. Photographer Marcus Westberg provides invaluable tips to take your safari images to the next level.

Tswalu is a place to appreciate that the smallest things may actually be the biggest, to be patient, stay calm and safari at your own pace!

In this delicious dish, springbok loin is teamed with an African staple, samp and beans, bringing together South Africa’s rich culinary heritage but with a modern twist.

Restaurant Klein JAN was recently named International Hidden Gem in the La Liste 2022 Awards, putting Tswalu Kalahari Reserve and the Northern Cape province of South Africa on the global culinary map.

The Motse's pastry chefs recently played around with new dessert ideas using these fresh, local pistachios. The result, pistachio frangipane tart, is served as a dessert with Chantilly cream.

The reward of getting to grips with the southern Kalahari’s profound sense of place is a reawakening of the senses and a longing to reconnect with nature and benefit from its healing power.

Tswalu has always been a year-round destination, each season offering unique and memorable sightings along with the freedom to explore the reserve’s vast reaches in complete privacy and at your own pace.

Bread baking is taken seriously in Tswalu’s kitchens, and around 10 different types of bread are produced daily, from breakfast through to dinner. Potbrood, baked in a cast-iron pot over the coals, is a boma dinner favourite.

In the Northern Cape town of Upington is the third-generation family business, Upington Slaghuis, or butchery, which supplies the kitchens of the Motse, Tarkuni and Restaurant Klein JAN with local, ethically sourced, quality meat.

Cheese, like any craft worth pursuing, is a commitment, but it can be an extremely rewarding one when approached with a patient enthusiasm.

I started making chocolates in 2015, but developed a new love for it when I started working at Tswalu.

At Tswalu, food is part of almost every experience – whether out on a game drive, having a picnic, enjoying lunch on your private veranda or dune dining under the stars.

Tarkuni offers the ultimate escape at any time of the year, providing opportunities to stop and appreciate the silence and the immense sense of space that defines Tswalu Kalahari.

South Africa’s melting pot of cultures finds perfect expression in these bobotie-filled spring rolls, a delicious twist on a traditional recipe that is always a popular choice when it appears on the Motse’s lunch menu.

Arriving in the Kalahari for the first time, it’s not uncommon to expect scarcity, but where life finds a challenge, it finds a way, and the Kalahari is anything but a barren wasteland. Quite the opposite. It is a place of cultural and culinary abundance!

Elevated above a valley with wraparound views, Naledi is for the true adventurer who yearns to sleep beneath the southern Kalahari’s brilliant blanket of stars in safety and seclusion.

While Tswalu guarantees a private vehicle and dedicated, experienced guiding team with every booking, those who are really serious about taking wildlife photos will appreciate the introduction of a fully equipped photographic safari vehicle and specialist guide.

Tswalu is one of the best places on the continent to see five of the most elusive species in Africa, namely aardvark, pangolin, brown hyena, aardwolf and bat-eared fox. Game drives here provide up-close sightings of species that prove highly elusive elsewhere.

Freedom to explore wide, open spaces has long drawn those seeking a deeply layered, immersive safari to these dramatic landscapes, from the ancient, quartzite Korannaberg mountains and savannah grasslands to the red sand dunes rippling away to the horizon.

Whether wandering over rocky hills, strolling through grassy plains, cresting a red sand dune or just waiting it out at a watering hole or pan while sipping on coffee, birding on foot is always a rewarding way to spend a morning on the reserve.

Veronique Venter has devoted the past four years to habituating meerkat families, spending many hours in their presence to build their trust, so that our guests can view them in their natural environment.

When one views Tswalu from a birding perspective, there would be few places comparable in the region. With a total list running in the region of 260 species there is plenty to be gained from spending a few solid hours at least trying to find some of the more iconic Kalahari species.

As part of its commitment towards greater sustainability, Tswalu Kalahari has applied and successfully been accepted as a fellow member of the internationally recognised conservation organisation, The Long Run

Are you interested in birding, but perhaps have no idea where to start? My interest in birding began when I started working as a field guide, and once I’d grasped their entertainment value I quickly became hooked. Learning bird calls...

The wide, open spaces of Tswalu Kalahari, South Africa’s largest, privately owned reserve, have long drawn travellers seeking a deeply layered, immersive safari.

David and Sarah Townsend first came on a family safari to Tswalu in 2008, when their daughter, India, was three years old and son, Theo, was just four months old.

With your own private vehicle, breath-taking landscapes, and diversity of wildlife, Tswalu offers both the novice and the experienced photographer the opportunity of a lifetime to capture some memorable moments

If you’ve never been on safari before, here are some useful tips on what to pack for your holiday at Tswalu.

Every night at Tswalu when guests retire to their suites, they will find a ‘good night’ box with a treat from The Motse kitchen and a printed folklore story to read before they turn in.

Last week Tswalu hosted a group of industry friends to an evening at Chef Jan Hendrik’s recently opened Innovation Studio in Cape Town. It was a wonderful evening with great food and wine and delightful company.

Chef Jan Hendrik’s Innovation Studio has opened its doors at 87 Kloof Street in Cape Town after many months of meticulous crafting and refinement.

The Tswalu Gallery, which opened on the private game reserve this week, is a beautiful space in the main building of the newly renovated Motse camp.

A great read by guest blogger James Bainbridge  from SafariBookings.com. A major draw of Tswalu Kalahari is that it is a malaria-free reserve; five other top reasons to visit are listed here.

Tswalu is, as we tell people, “big country” with boundaries beyond horizons. It provides a stunning backdrop to the dramatic changes that accompany each new season.  

The Tswalu Spa is an integral component of the overall guest experience. A combination of cool, tranquil spaces creates a quiet oasis in the Kalahari where guests can indulge in some well-deserved pampering and relaxation.

As the face of Tswalu, our logo is an important part of our brand, and impacts much of the perception our audience has of us. It’s also the first thing our guests see when they arrive at the Tswalu airstrip to begin their safari.

Tswalu a stargazer’s dream and all Tswalu guides are trained to guide guests across the night sky with a telescope, the naked eye or low magnification binoculars.

Says Marnus: “I am looking forward to working with Chef Jan Hendrik in defining the Tswalu culinary vision. We are focussing on a specific area of produce, working closely with local farmers, and we understand the unique challenges of the Kalahari region.