Tswalu Private Reserve in South Africa

What is Tswalu?
It is a private reserve that protects over 120,000 hectares of land for plants and animals native to the area.

Where is Tswalu?
South Africa. It is the largest private reserve in the country. It is about 675 kilometers (about 420 miles) east of Johannesburg. It is in an area known colloquially as the Green Kalahari.

How do I get to Tswalu?
You fly. When you book a stay at Tswalu, Adventure Life will coordinate with the lodge to get you seats on their direct charter flights from Johannesburg or Cape Town. In fact, we will even schedule a driver and vehicle to pick you up from your hotel and take you to the charter hangar (which is quite lovely, by the way).

Why go to Tswalu?
To complement your safari experience. Tswalu would be an exceptional addition to your Southern Africa safari. It pairs extremely well with visits to the Greater Kruger area and Botswana. Tswalu, in the far southern portion of the Kalahari Desert, offers a dramatically different ecosystem from Kruger and Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Plus, it gives you one of the best chances to see the Elusive Five on safari.

What are the Elusive Five?
The aardwolf, the pangolin, the brown hyena, the aardvark, and the bat-eared fox. You may not think of them as glamorous animals, but they are rarely seen and it is a very special treat to spot one. At Tswalu, you can arrange with your guide to go out late one evening for a spotlight safari drive, as the elusive five are normally nocturnal.

How long should I stay at Tswalu?
I would suggest a minimum of three days to get the full experience—four is even better. We can discuss extending this, dependiing on your availability and where else you will be visiting while in Southern Africa.

Will I be comfortable at Tswalu?
Extremely! Tswalu is a luxury safari destination. It has three lodge options: Motse, Loapi, and Tarkuni. Motse is a full fledged safari lodge with well-appointed chalets, a massive and comfortable main lodge with swimming pool, decks to view the watering hole, a library, restaurant, and a full wine cellar. Guests are welcome to browse in the wine cellar and take a bottle back to their table to have opened with their dinner. All three locations have air conditioning, incredible views, and a little something special. Plus, each group will have a private vehicle with their own guide and tracker. Loapi is a collection of individual units (one or two bedrooms) with private chefs and butlers. Tarkuni is a private villa for groups up to 10.

What can I see and do at Tswalu?
Game viewing is, of course, the big activity. The reserve has black and white rhino, lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffe, buffalo, and meerkats, plus a host of ungulates (like the lovely oryx). And don’t forget the Elusive Five during a night drive. You can also do walking safaris, where you follow the tracker on foot in search of animals such as the wild dogs or cheetahs, or approach a meerkat mob. 

There is also a sleepout if you decide to rough it for a night (the views are incredible). And for experienced riders, Tswalu has a horse stable. In addition, there is a photography studio to work on your photos, a gym, an incredible dining experience at Klein Jan, and a chance to just enjoy the incredible surroundings of the green Kalahari.

Anything else to know about Tswalu?
Just that your stay here helps not only protect this area of Southern Africa’s magnificent landscape and its animals, but you’ll also be contributing to the well being of the locals in the area. Anyone living within a 100-kilometer radius of Tswalu is allowed to visit the Tswalu clinic for free primary health care. You are helping protect this vital habitat and aiding the residents of the area.