Tarkuni, Tswalu

This stunning five suite homestead offers the option of exclusive use for a group of guests, or the accommodation of smaller individual groups. Two game viewing vehicles have been allocated to Tarkuni to keep the vehicle footprint minimal, and a maximum of two separate bookings will be accepted to ensure that each group has a dedicated vehicle, guide and tracker. The expansive living spaces including a vast veranda with a number of seating and dining areas, a pool and tsala. Indoors there is an airy sitting room with a double-sided fireplace that also heats the dining room and adjacent cellar. On the mezzanine level is a well-stocked library and games room. Upstairs, a stunning spa therapy suite offers guests the opportunity to indulge in the unique treatments of Tswalu’s award-winning safari spa experience. The new private suites include a spacious bedroom with king-size or twin beds, a luxurious bathroom with a bath and outdoor shower, and comfortable seating and study areas. Beds are dressed with exquisite cotton linen and romantic muslin nets. Sliding glass doors give guests vistas of the open savannah grasslands across to the Korannaberg Mountains. The suites embrace the natural outdoor experience with organic-shaped flowing outdoor decks off the bedrooms and the addition of natural Kalahari stone walls to add privacy and seclusion to each deck space. The sunny decks lead onto private terraces with outdoor star beds which can be made up for guests who would like to experience the thrill of sleeping under the stars. The colours and textures of the fabrics used throughout Tarkuni take their cue from the abundant hues of the surrounding natural palette. Natural fibres like stonewashed linens, hemp and cottons, have been selected to harmonise with the colours of the environment - the grasses, dunes and wildlife. In each suite and living space, artworks from the private collection of the Oppenheimer family have added a highly personal aesthetic to the villa. On the expansive main veranda spaces have been created for guests to relax on comfortable daybeds, occasional chairs, sofas and a hanging basket chair so that they can enjoy the views towards the waterhole, read a book, or doze off for the afternoon. A large fire-pit adds to the romantic southern Kalahari experience. Several indoor and outdoor dining areas provide opportunities for guests to dine privately or in groups. An outside boma creates a warm, inviting space around an open fire to feast on typically South Africa barbeque fare. On the veranda, a barbeque grill under cover and protected from the elements offers another outdoor dining option. A wine cellar has been built into the dining room wall, transforming the room into a complete wining and dining experience, with opportunities for wine tastings. Upstairs in the library, comfortable couches and a large square leather ottoman create a space that is conducive to conversation and a casual evening watching television or viewing the day’s game photographs on a smart TV with integrated media facilities. For the younger guests, this is an ideal space to play games while the adults linger at the dining table or around the boma fire.