The low ratio of guests to space at Tswalu offers two of the greatest travel luxuries - time and space. Your adventure begins in one of two sustainably designed camps, the Motse, with nine contemporary legae (Tswana for ‘dwelling’), or Tarkuni, an exclusive-use homestead for 10, reopened this year after a thoughtful renovation in tune with nature. Tswalu’s guarantee of a private vehicle, guide and tracker provides complete freedom to traverse South Africa’s biggest privately owned reserve. The wide, open spaces, so typical of the southern Kalahari’s dramatic beauty, await exploration both on and off the vehicle. Actively tracking iconic Kalahari species, like a pride of black-maned lions or a brown hyena, adds to the interactive thrill of game viewing, as do sightings of elusive creatures, like pangolin and aardvark. With the opening of Restaurant Klein JAN, in collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen, the culinary traditions and ingredients of the Northern Cape have become the unexpected heroes of an imaginative menu deeply rooted in this under-explored region. By choosing Tswalu, our guests not only become part of a bigger sustainability story but contribute towards the conservation of the southern Kalahari’s biodiversity.

CONSERVATION STORY

Tswalu Kalahari is the largest privately protected conservation area in South Africa. The Kalahari’s vast expanse extends into the far reaches of the Northern Cape province. This is where Tswalu is located, on the southernmost edge of the Kalahari where the true Kalahari ecotype transitions into arid savannah.

NEW BEGINNING

The name Tswalu means ‘rebirth’ or ‘new beginning’ in Setswana, encapsulating a bold vision to restore the biodiversity of this deep-rooted, ancient land, a place defined by extremes and stark contrasts where survival is influenced by the absence or presence of water. The reserve safeguards a significant chunk of the Kalahari ecosystem, ensuring that vital habitat is preserved and biodiversity can once again flourish for the benefit of both planet and people.

BIODIVERSITY AND HABITAT RESTORATION

Tswalu has been a labour of love for the Oppenheimer family since assuming responsibility for this significant swathe of the southern Kalahari in 1999. In so doing, they undertook to expand the vision of the previous owner, the late Stephen Boler, which was to return overgrazed, farmed land to its original state. Since then, their commitment to conservation has seen indigenous species re-introduced, real strides made towards the restoration of the Kalahari, and the undoing of years of neglect. In its new incarnation as a private nature reserve, formally protected area and conservation success story, the entire Tswalu community is working towards bringing this ultimate ambition a little closer each day: To leave the world better than how it was found.

Continuing the conservation work that is at the heart of this ambitious restoration project has never been more important. By choosing to stay in one of Tswalu’s luxury camps, our guests become part of this noble endeavour to conserve one of southern Africa’s most enigmatic wilderness areas for future generations.

Tswalu 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. Read more about Oppenheimer Generations.

OUR SUSTAINABILITY PARTNER

Tswalu strives to conserve the Kalahari ecosystem, restore its biodiversity and protect vital habitat while preserving and promoting cultural and historical heritage in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner. As part of this sustainability vision, Tswalu is a proud Fellow Member of The Long Run. Endorsed by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), The Long Run is a conservation organisation that holds privately protected areas, like Tswalu, to account when it comes to sustainable and regenerative practices. By joining this movement, Tswalu has committed to a continuous journey of improvement towards achieving a holistic balance between Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce – the 4Cs of sustainability. Choosing to stay in one of Tswalu’s camps directly contributes to this journey and our vision. Read more about Tswalu’s affiliation with The Long Run.