TSWALU FOUNDATION

TSWALU FOUNDATION

The Tswalu Foundation stemmed from the Oppenheimer family’s vision to provide a means of both encouraging and facilitating environmental research at Tswalu. In 2009, this vision became a reality when the Tswalu Foundation was created. Today, it is a world leader in the field of environmental research within the southern Kalahari and attracts research teams from Africa and beyond. Today, the Tswalu Foundation actively supports various environmental research projects, with a special focus on biodiversity and regenerative land management projects. For Tswalu’s guests, having access to subject experts working at the cutting edge of environmental research adds a rich overlay to their safari.

Research teams at Tswalu are based at Dedeben Research Centre, which can accommodate up to 21 visitors. Set in a beautiful and safe location, the centre lies within the folds of the Korannaberg hills and is within easy striking distance of the reserve’s main staff complex with its workshop, fuel depot, health care clinic and other logistical support facilities. Thanks to its central location, Dedeben offers convenient access to the wide range of habitats across the reserve, from rolling dune fields to rocky hills and calcrete pans, offering great scope for collecting data.

Dedeben has an interesting history. The complex of repurposed buildings dates back to to the late 1880s when a remote outpost of the Cape Mounted Rifles was built on this site. At the time of its inception, the outpost was the most northerly police station in the old Gordonia province of South Africa, and camels were used for mounted patrols. The original buildings on the site were replaced in the early 1970s, creating more modern facilities that remained active until its closure in 1990. Dedeben stood empty and derelict until taken over by Tswalu in 2000, when the main office block became a primary health care centre and the station houses were used for staff accommodation. With the increased interest in research on Tswalu and the formation of the Tswalu Foundation, Dedeben was repurposed once again. Its current use as a ‘home away from home’ for visiting researchers and as a base for the Tswalu Foundation will continue to be valued for years to come.

Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation (OGRC) is a funder and partner of the Tswalu Foundation, enabling research teams from across the globe to conduct long-term studies on the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve. OGRC is focused on catalysing targeted research and harnessing dialogue between research and practice to create real impact in African landscapes. The work of OGRC and its many partners aims to support human wellbeing, protect important landscapes, and develop better human-nature relationships for the benefit of the African continent. The annual Oppenheimer Research Conference is recognised globally as a platform for showcasing and discussing natural and environmental sciences, conservation, and sustainable development in Africa.