With the largest private game reserve in South Africa and a restaurant people fly across the country to try, Tswalu offers a safari experience like no other.
For those who seek the extraordinary in travel, a safari has long been a timeless adventure, leaving an indelible mark on those fortunate enough to embark on one. But for those who crave the extraordinary within the extraordinary, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve offers a journey that transcends the typical safari. Set in the vast and captivating southern Kalahari Desert, Tswalu is South Africa’s largest private game reserve, spanning over 118,000 hectares of protected wilderness. With its dramatic red-sand landscapes, rare wildlife encounters and a level of exclusivity that defines luxury adventure, Tswalu is more than a destination, it is a revelation.
Here, nature and nurture converge in perfect harmony. The reserve is home to three distinct safari camps: Loapi, Tarkuni and The Motse, each offering its own unique experience. Loapi provides an intimate connection with the ever-changing beauty of the Kalahari. This exclusive camp features six private safari homes with sweeping views of Tswalu’s arid savannah and the distant Korannaberg Mountains, creating a sense of solitude and vastness. Each home is thoughtfully designed with a blend of canvas, glass and steel to harmonise with the natural surroundings. Every home is overseen by a dedicated homathi (house manager) and chef, offering personalised service, while a private safari vehicle, guide and tracker ensure a bespoke wilderness adventure.
Tucked away in a secluded valley, Tarkuni is Tswalu’s private homestead, accommodating up to 10 guests in five luxurious suites under one roof, ideal for families or groups of friends travelling together. As with Loapi, a dedicated team, including a private chef, ensures a fully tailored experience, while the homestead’s thoughtful design features a spacious lounge, dining room, library and spa treatment room. Guests can unwind on the shaded veranda, take a dip in the pool or relax by the fire pit and gazebo, embracing the camp’s serene, eco-friendly ambience while awaiting their next safari excursion into the Kalahari wilderness.
The Motse, Tswalu’s original safari camp, offers uninterrupted views of the reserve and a sophisticated but homely design reflecting the Kalahari’s natural beauty. Welcoming guests of all ages, Motse has both one- and two-bedroom legae (suites)—six of them for two guests, and three for families of up to four people. In the latter, two bedrooms are linked by a living room.
At Tswalu, the approach to safaris is to provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience, tailored to each guest’s preferences. With no set schedules, your adventure unfolds at your own pace. Whether it’s tracking black-maned Kalahari lions, spotting magnificent giraffes or embarking on a guided bush walk, every experience is on your terms. The reserve’s exclusivity ensures that sightings are unhurried, and the only vehicles you’ll encounter are your own. With extensive expertise, Tswalu’s guides and trackers excel at finding wildlife, ensuring your safari experience is nothing short of incredible.
For gourmands, Tswalu offers a true gem in the form of Klein JAN, the culinary brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen. The setting is as unforgettable as the cuisine: a thoughtfully restored, centuryold farmhouse where every detail tells a story of the Kalahari’s unique terroir. An indoor waterfall behind the front door highlights the scarcity of precious water in the desert, leading down into the underground restaurant through the atmospheric root cellar.
Dining at Klein JAN is a journey through the flavours of South Africa, where local produce and heritage Northern Cape recipes are elevated into something truly remarkable. The multi-course experience is both innovative and deeply rooted in tradition, with seasonal ingredients perfectly paired with South Africa’s finest wines. Guests are guided through different areas of the farmhouse, symbolising the journey they are on, with storytelling at the heart of the occasion. While some restaurants are regarded as worth a trip in themselves, Klein JAN is worth crossing the globe for —and many gourmands do.
Beyond the safari and dining, Tswalu is deeply committed to conservation. The reserve operates as a not-for-profit entity, with all revenue reinvested into conservation and community projects. This ethos ensures that every visit contributes to preserving the unique Kalahari ecosystem and supporting the local Tswana communities.
Tswalu is not merely a place to visit, it is a place to connect, reflect and transform. Spending time away from civilisation, encountering wildlife and unwinding against the stunning backdrop of a landscape less travelled enriches us as humans. It is an invitation to sample the wild from which we originated, in ultimate comfort, where every sunrise brings new possibilities and every sunset is a private show. For those who understand that true luxury lies in exclusivity, authenticity and impact, Tswalu offers an experience like no other.
