LOCATION
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve offers exclusive luxury accommodation
and is located near Upington and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier
Park in the Northern Cape. Tswalu is the flagship of
the Diamond Route.
ABOUT TSWALU KALAHARI RESERVE
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve means "new beginning" in
the Tswana language and lies at the foot of the Korannaberg
Mountains in the Northern Cape Province. There is
no malaria in this area.
It is the largest privately owned reserve in South
Africa at over 100 000 hectares and offers a unique
opportunity to experience what is possibly South Africa's
last great wilderness, the diversity of its wildlife
and birdlife, the sweeping Kalahari landscape and crimson
African sunsets.
When the Oppenheimer family acquired Tswalu, their
goal was "to restore the Kalahari to itself" and
to make Tswalu one of the premier wildlife destinations
in Africa, with conservation as its priority. Today,
conservation projects range from butterflies to mole-rats
and black rhino research. The rare sable and roan antelope
are also bred on Tswalu.
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve takes its place as part of
the Diamond Route which links together all the conservation
initiatives of De Beers and the Oppenheimer family.
Across the Diamond Route, visitors and researchers
alike can gain access to some of South Africa's
most precious ecologies, to learn about their wildlife
and to understand how conservation works. Each property
also raises awareness among local communities of the
role of the environment in creating livelihoods and
opportunities.
ACCOMMODATION
The Motse - An Island of Calm
Our main property, the Motse, accommodates no more
than 20 people at a time and nestles at the foot
of the Korannaberg mountains, facing westwards across
the grasslands of the Kalahari.
Motse means "village" in Tswana and our village
consists of just eight spacious and secluded "legae"
(another Tswana word, for "little house")
or suites. These legae are built of local stone, rich
red clay and traditional Kalahari thatch.
Each exclusive luxury suite comprises amongst other:
- a spacious bedroom with an open fireplace
- a sumptuous en-suite bathroom with both indoor and outdoor shower
- a separate dressing area and study area
- private sun deck overlooks a waterhole and the changing game it attracts
- broadband Wi-Fi Access
- direct dial telephone
Two legae have been designed especially for families
and each offers 2 separate bedroom suites with their
own en-suite bathrooms, separated by an expansive living
room again leading on to a shady, private terrace.
These legae are each over 170 square metres in size
and create the perfect environment for any family group.
Main House is a spectacular space in which to meet and facilities and
services includes:
- elevated decks and elegant lounges
- an infinity pool (outdoors heated swimming pool) with an endless view over the savannahs
- sanctuary spa & gym
- mezzanine library, equipped with satellite TV (the Motse also has full broadband Wi-Fi access throughout)
and its museum cases display rare artefacts from the area
- walk-in wine cellar stocked with South African wines
- Tswalu Foundation Gift Shop
Tarkuni - A World Apart
Set amidst two rolling mountain ranges, Tarkuni
is the Oppenheimer family’s own personal home here at Tswalu
and the ultimate private sanctuary.
Tarkuni is an exceptional choice for families or groups of great
friends. Its five luxurious suites, each with a magnificent en-suite
bathroom, accommodate a maximum of 10 guests.
The home has its own dedicated team including a host and private
chef to ensure a completely personal service. A private game viewing
vehicle, personal field guide and tracker ensure an equally bespoke
safari experience.
Facilities and features include 2 lounges with open fireplaces,
outdoor swimming pool with tranquil poolside
deck and indoor & outdoor
walk-in showers. CUISINE
Tswalu is proud to be a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux
and to meet its exacting standards. But here you will
enjoy food you will never see anywhere else in the world.
As our menus change, so do our venues. Sundowners are
followed by dune dinners and spectacular
sunsets. Tswalu's
Kalahari Feast is a modern reworking of
the traditional "boma" braai.
Breakfasts may take place with panoramic views of the
waterhole where our Southern Pride of black-maned lions
may also start their day.
At any time, you may choose a romantic supper in the
privacy of your own deck, with a vintage wine and a telescope
to gaze at a thousand stars.
RATES
For the latest Rates & Enquiries – click
here
ACTIVITIES
Activities at Tswalu include the following:
- Game-viewing opportunities are unparalleled
at Tswalu and guided walks traverse the red dune
field
- Game drives in open-sided safari vehicles traverse
the vast Kalahari wilderness and stop at scenic
spots for guests to enjoy sundowners or dinner under the
stars
- Game drives will be completely tailored to
your own interests
- Bird watching
- Star gazing
- Invigorating visits to habituated meerkat
dens
- Black rhino tracking
- Horseback Trails, accompanied
by a qualified and experienced field guide
- Visits
to archaeological sites and viewing rock engravings
in and around the reserve
- Unlimited photographic
possibilities
- Hot-air balloon trips over this vast
wilderness can be booked in advance
Our expert Field Guides have been specially trained
in Kalahari wildlife and each contributes personally
to the constant programme of research and conservation
on our reserve.
WILDLIFE, BIRDLIFE & NATURE
Over 400 plant species have been identified here at Tswalu together
with, 90 mammal species and 38 species of reptile. Every living thing
has adapted ingeniously to this unique environment.
More than 230 bird species being recorded at Tswalu and includes
many raptors.
The diversity of life here is spectacular and Tswalu offers sightings
of some of Southern Africa's rarest and most extraordinary wildlife.
In particular, our population of desert black rhino (Diceros bicornis
bicornis) now represents one third of South Africa's remaining
population. Kalahari lions, with their celebrated black manes, are
huge and gorgeous. Frequent cheetah sightings are possible in the
open savannah and meerkats, with their enchanting antics, can be viewed
at close range.
Tswalu's 90 species of mammals include rare antelope such as
roan, sable and tsessebe. Giraffe browse upon thorny acacias. Burchell's
zebra wander across the grasslands whilst the rarer Hartmann's
mountain zebra scale the Korannaberg. In the dunes, the sharpest eyes
might spot a desert pygmy mouse. And in the evening, the Kalahari
comes alive with more elusive creatures such as aardvark, aardwolf,
bat-eared foxes and brown hyaena.
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