Restoring the Kalahari through sustainable conservation, supported by nature-based tourism
Tswalu offers a true wilderness experience on the southernmost edge of the Kalahari, and privileged access to the largest privately protected area in South Africa. From the landmark Korannaberg mountains to the southern Kalahari’s typical arid savannah and iconic ochre dunes rippling away to the horizon, days on safari are unscripted and unhurried.
With guaranteed access to a private safari vehicle, our guests have the freedom and flexibility to explore the remote reaches of the reserve in their own time and at their own pace. Besides game drives, safari activities include habituated meerkat encounters, nature walks, tracking, horse riding, stargazing, star-bed experiences, and meeting visiting scientific researchers and resident artists.
Tswalu is first and foremost an ambitious conservation project, sustainably safeguarding vital habitat and the restoring biodiversity. Offering a private and exclusive safari experience for a maximum of 40 guests in one of three luxury safari camps, the ratio of guests to wilderness space is one of the lowest in South Africa. This low footprint, sustainable model of nature-based tourism is vital to supporting the conservation work that is at the heart of Tswalu’s purpose to leave the world better than how it was found.
Choosing Tswalu for your safari not only contributes significantly to our conservation vision but positively impacts our sustainability journey. Tswalu releases an annual impact statement, a tool developed in collaboration with our sustainability partner, The Long Run, to calculate the cost of conservation and the positive contribution to nature and people. By staying with us, guests help conserve 114,000 hectares and impact the lives of 282 residents. In 2021, this equated to a US$ 5.8 million investment in nature and people. In addition, nature-based tourism helped provide essential health care to approximately 1000 people through the Tswalu Health Care Centre, a free community service for anyone living within a 100-kilometre radius of the reserve.
SAFARI CAMPS
Your African adventure begins in one of three luxury safari camps, overlooking the wide, open spaces of the southern Kalahari. Whether you choose the Motse, Tarkuni or Loapi, luxury accommodation and generous South African hospitality set the scene for a deeply private wilderness experience. With the lowest guest footprint in South Africa, at Tswalu there is space to breathe out and reconnect with nature.
SAFARI EXPERIENCES
With wildlife conservation at its core, Tswalu offers privileged access to unique safari experiences in South Africa’s biggest privately protected wildlife reserve. A private safari vehicle, field guide and experienced tracker are guaranteed with every accommodation booking. With this comes the exclusivity to plan deeply immersive days on safari, both on and off the safari vehicle.
WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
From iconic Kalahari wildlife sightings of black-maned lions, cheetah, black rhino, oryx and wild dog to tracking the elusive, nocturnal creatures, such as pangolin, aardvark and brown hyena, extraordinary and unusual encounters add a thrilling dimension to game drives. Tswalu is also one of the only places in South Africa to experience habituated meerkats up close.
SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION
Tswalu’s sustainable conservation journey to restore the Kalahari is supported by a high-value, low-impact ecotourism model of nature-based tourism with community and culture at its core. Staying in one of our small, luxury safari camps contributes to the sustainability of the entire reserve as well as the Tswalu Foundation, which is dedicated to scientific research.
As South Africa’s biggest wildlife reserve, Tswalu is a bold conservation project supported by a sustainable model of ecotourism. Choosing to stay in one Tswalu’s small, luxury safari camps contributes to our vision to leave the world better than how we found it. As a member of The Long Run, Tswalu is committed to a continuous journey of sustainability guided by the four key benchmarks of conservation, community, culture and commerce.
The Long RunTswalu Kalahari is a member of Oppenheimer Generations, a diverse community of commercial ventures and not-for-profit organisations representing the global interests of the Nicky and Jonathan Oppenheimer family.
RECENT INSTAGRAM POSTS
There are so many reasons to love Tswalu! Stretching for 114,000 hectares (282,000 acres) across the southern Kalahari, our guests have privileged, exclusive access to space in abundance on the reserve. Plus, unlimited time on privately guided drives and walks to explore the rich biodiversity of this remote destination.
🔗 Find out what gives this slice of paradise the X factor in our latest story on the blog, `10 Reasons to love Tswalu` - follow the link in bio.
Image @ZhenyaSwan
#Tswalu
Whether new to photography or travelling with a new camera, nothing beats returning home with exceptional photos as a reminder of an extraordinary trip.
We recommend private tuition with specialist photographic guide Trevor Kleyn (pictured). Based full-time at Tswalu, Trevor is not only an experienced safari guide and natural teacher but knows the reserve like the back of his hand.
PS Booking a private photographic safari guarantees the use of our modified safari vehicle, designed with comfort, ease and practicality in mind.
🔗 Read more at the link in bio.
Image of @Trevor_Kleyn taken by @MarcusWestbergPhotography
#Tswalu
It was a summer to remember. Seasonal rains greened the southern Kalahari and sightings and photographic opportunities were off the charts.
As our guides always say, the best camera you have is the one in your hands.
Read our story to brush up on your photography know-how before your next trip, whether bringing a smartphone or a professional camera.
🗝️ Link in bio.
Black-backed jackal by @Trevor_Kleyn
#Tswalu
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve has been synonymous with pangolin research for over eight years. Assistant ecologist Dr Wendy Panaino (@wendz222) wrote her thesis on the thermal biology, diet, and behaviour of Temminck`s pangolins, and University of the Witwatersrand student @DanielRossouw20 has just wrapped up a year of research looking at the functional role that pangolins play in the environment. A new project is about to commence studying the habits of pangolin young.
Spending time in the field with researchers working on one of the numerous projects supported by the Tswalu Foundation is an experience that will not only enrich your safari but lend perspective to our 30-year legacy of restoring the fragile Kalahari ecosystem through research-based conservation.
🗝️ At the link in bio, read more about pangolin research supported by the Tswalu Foundation.
Image by @Trevor_Kleyn
#Tswalu
Can we take a moment to appreciate this clever little copycat? Up-close sightings of the Southern Pride cubs have been a highlight of safaris this summer.
Our photographic guide, Trevor Kleyn, had a front-row seat to many of the best wildlife encounters of the summer season, when the `green Kalahari` comes into its own.
Tswalu is a year-round destination and each season brings fresh photographic opportunities. As we like to advise, whenever you are free to travel is the best time to go!
🗝️ If you feel inspired to polish your photography skills before your next trip, read our latest story - link in bio.
Video @Trevor_Kleyn
#Tswalu
When it comes to family travel, a safari is hard to beat - especially for multigenerational family time.
We are thrilled to be recognised as a family-friendly and sustainable safari destination by @afarmedia. Tswalu is also malaria-free, which makes it ideal for the very young and the elderly.
@afarmedia chose Tswalu Kalahari Reserve as one of the 15 Family-friendly Hotels they love the most across the globe.
“Private guides and vehicles allow families to choose their own adventure, whether that means seeking cheetahs one evening or visiting with a habituated meerkat mob on another morning.”
Excerpt from @afarmedia `The World`s 15 Best Family-friendly Hotels and Resorts`
🗝️ To read the full review, follow the link in bio.
#Tswalu
Image by @_smthphotos_
Action-packed wild dog sightings have been a highlight for many of our guests in recent days. Even in camp. The pack of 15 wild dogs descended on the waterhole right in front of the Motse - a real `armchair safari` moment of the very best kind.
Wild dogs are notorious for appearing as suddenly as they vanish, covering vast distances in a day. For those lucky enough to be on the Motse’s verandah when the dogs stopped to take a drink from the waterhole, it was a case of being in the right place at the right time. The unexpected, often brief nature of wild dog sightings is what makes them memorable.
Image @MarcusWestbergPhotography
#Tswalu
To up your photography game, we recommend private photographic tuition with specialist guide Trevor Kleyn. Whether new to photography or travelling with a new camera, nothing beats returning home with exceptional photos as a reminder of epic days on safari. Booking a private photographic safari guarantees the use of our modified safari vehicle.
🔗 Read more about the advantages of booking a photographic safari at the link in bio.
Image @MarcusWestbergPhotography
#Tswalu
Loapi Tented Camp has been selected as one of AFAR’s Best New Hotels of 2024!
It`s a coveted spot on a tightly edited list from @AFARmedia that celebrates the year’s most important openings and renovations around the world - just 31.
Selection was based on each property`s outstanding location, design, service, and commitment to community and sustainability.
The Loapi experience was designed to encompass everything that guests are yearning for – space, time and a deep connection to the environment and one another.
This award not only acknowledges the dedication and passion of the entire Tswalu Kalahari Reserve team but also highlights the value of regenerative conservation and nature-based tourism to leave the world better than how we found it.
Find out about our current Exclusive Offers by contacting your preferred travel planner or following the link in bio.
There has never been a better time to escape to the Kalahari.
#Tswalu
#AFARBestNewHotels
#TravelDeeper
When these wild dogs aren`t playing, they`re such posers!
With parts of the reserve carpeted in devil`s thorn, the photographic opportunities have been unparalleled.
Images @MarcusWestbergPhotography
#Tswalu
Our guests are always delighted to get up close and personal with meerkats. You only need a smartphone to capture enchanting moments in nature just like this. After all, the best camera you have is the one in your hands.
Image @LaurandNicolas
#Tswalu
You won’t find any bunnies at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, not even today. Instead, keep your eyes peeled for their bigger, stronger, longer limbed cousins, scrub hares. Hares also have bigger ears.
And we think they are just as cute 🐰
Image @barry_peiser
#tswalu
We are so excited to have photographer Marcus Westberg back at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve. When not taking photos of epic wildlife sightings, Marcus goes behind the scenes to document conservation work and the scientific research supported by the Tswalu Foundation.
Taking better photos is something we all dream of doing, whether on safari or at home. Marcus maintains that the best camera you have is the one in your hands.
🔗 For invaluable tips from an expert on how to take your best pics yet, head to the link in bio.
Images @MarcusWestbergPhotography
#Tswalu
Loapi Tented Camp is the ultimate private wilderness retreat, offering privileged access to Tswalu`s epic landscapes and exclusive wildlife sightings. Here, time seems to stand still.
🔗 At the link in bio discover the quiet luxury and comfort that awaits you in one of these private tented safari homes.
Image @ZhenyaSwan
#Tswalu
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve is vast. You can head out in a different direction every day and drive for hours without seeing another vehicle. Nothing beats a day trip to one of the natural pans that attracts plenty of wildlife. Like everything we do at Tswalu, this is a privately guided experience enjoyed at a relaxed pace - plenty of time to observe the comings and goings, take epic photos, and sit down to a picnic lunch. With a view like this, what could be better?
Image @AndrewMorganPhoto
#Tswalu
