SAFARI

Tswalu has become well known for its privately guided safaris that provide exclusive access to South Africa’s biggest privately protected space and sustainably run conservation project. Tswalu reserve lies in a unique transition zone between the true Kalahari ecotype and arid savannah. Rolling red dunes are divided by the landmark Korannaberg mountains, contributing to greater habitat diversity than anywhere else in the Kalahari. Diverse habitats give rise to varied game viewing – over 80 species of mammals alone. The typical arid savannah further differentiates game viewing at Tswalu from elsewhere in the Kalahari. Many of the unusual or rare animal species are well adapted to the Kalahari’s ‘feast or famine’ conditions, extreme temperature variations and unreliable access to water.

Immersive, interpretative game drives and nature walks with a dedicated safari guide and experienced tracker provide limitless opportunities to discover the Kalahari ecosystem’s unique characteristics and the adaptations and resilience of the plants and animals that find protection here. An advantage of having a private safari vehicle, guide and tracker is the freedom to head out in a different direction every day to enjoy unhurried game drives and photographic opportunities without bumping into other vehicles or having to share special sightings with other guests. Tswalu’s rolling savannah grasslands and ochre dunes create iconic backdrops for those perfect shots – a journey of giraffes, a magnificent male kudu silhouetted against the setting sun, or a lone leopard surveying the horizon from a rocky outcrop of the Korannaberg mountains.

Tracking rare or elusive animals is a bucket-list safari experience here. Most of our guests choose Tswalu not just to see a pride of Kalahari black-maned lions or a herd of buffalo but to have privileged access to some of Africa’s rare and endangered species, such as the brown hyena, desert black rhino or cheetah. Tswalu is also one of the best places in the whole of Africa to see five shy, nocturnal species that often prove elusive elsewhere, namely the ground pangolin, brown hyena, aardwolf, aardvark and the bat-eared fox. Spotting less common antelope is another treat awaiting our guests, including that Kalahari icon, the oryx (or gemsbok), as well as eland, red hartebeest, roan, tsessebe, sable, and springbok.

All life forms in the Kalahari are affected by the presence or absence of water, which dictates the abundance or scarcity of food sources. Sightings are usually hard earned, due to the sheer size of the reserve and the limited number of safari vehicles traversing these expanses. Many animals have large territories, while leopard and mountain zebra find shelter in the foothills and valleys of the Korannaberg mountains. The value of a dedicated, experienced tracker and guide who have come to know the reserve and anticipate the movement and whereabouts of animals becomes very relevant here, compared to smaller reserves or private concessions in other parts of South Africa. Sometimes, though, it is just about being in the right place at the right time. Surrendering yourself to the unknown is part of the adventure of discovering the southern Kalahari.

SAFARI EXPERIENCES

No two Tswalu safari experiences are the same. That’s because the way you see and touch this magical place will be shaped by your particular interests and will happen at your own pace. Tswalu is a generous landscape and as the sun rises above the Korannaberg mountains each morning, new opportunities to learn, play and explore come to life.