Tswalu Redefines Sustainable Luxury Safaris
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve has been awarded Global Ecosphere Retreat (GER) status by The Long Run, a global organisation that supports purpose-driven tourism. This prestigious certification is recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Earning GER status is no small feat as properties must meet ninety-one strict criteria, submit annual reports, and undergo rigorous recertification every six years. Tswalu is now one of only twelve properties worldwide that have met these rigorous standards.
The Long Run is a global community of over seventy partners, properties, and travel experts committed to making the world a better place through responsible, nature-based tourism. Tswalu became a member of The Long Run in 2020 and will use its GER status to continue its commitment to delivering impactful luxury safari experiences. To ensure the validity of their GER status Tswalu will receive a mid-term review after three years to ensure ongoing compliance with sustainability practices.
The Long Run’s members focus on using tourism to benefit conservation, community, culture, and commerce, often referred to as the 4Cs. These frameworks have helped leading eco-lodges and conservation projects worldwide implement sustainability strategies and continually improve their practices to ensure the longevity of their net-positive impact.
About the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve
Tswalu is known as Africa’s largest private game reserve and is located on the southernmost edge of the Kalahari Desert at the foot of the Korannaberg Mountains. The reserve is a unique ecological transition zone between the Kalahari, the arid savannah, and its sprawling red dunes. The dunes are not only a highlight for visitors but they also contribute to Tswalu’s remarkable biodiversity, creating a landscape that supports a wide variety of wildlife alongside a jaw-dropping scenery.
Tswalu is more than a safari destination, it is a progressive and ambitious conservation project dedicated to protecting the Kalahari ecosystem and the communities that call it home.
Luxury Safari Eco-Lodges in the Heart of the Kalahari
Guest lodges are located within the largest privately protected conservation area in South Africa providing breathtaking immersion in pristine wilderness with a rich variety of habitats and species.
If you are looking for a mind-blowing Kalahari adventure with extraordinary luxury look no further than Tswalu Motse and Tswalu Tarkuni. Motse is located at the foot of the Korannaberg Mountains. This luxury safari lodge offers an exclusive and intimate experience in the heart of the Kalahari Desert. Tswalu offers one of Africa’s most luxurious star beds, providing a unique and immersive way to experience the vast Kalahari Desert by sleeping under the stars in elegant outdoor accommodations. Guests can also enjoy nine sumptuous suites, known as ‘legae’ (small houses), including two family suites ideal for those travelling with children.”
Guests looking for extreme luxury with a quirky edge might also like the smaller Tswalu Tarkuni camp which features five suites. This private homestead is designed for exclusive use, accommodating up to ten guests within five suites. It is situated in a secluded valley below the Korannaberg mountains, providing an intimate and private setting for the ultimate luxury stay.
Thanks to the numerous Tswalu ecotourism conservation initiatives visitors have helped make an enormous contribution to the repopulation of highly endangered species in the area such as the black-maned Kalahari lions, cheetah, wild dog, desert black rhino, and white rhino. This has also ensured unrivalled game-viewing for those who visit this precious area.
Nature-Based Safari Experiences
Tswalu’s nature-based tourism approach means guests who stay here help to conserve over one hundred hectares of natural outstanding beauty as well as positively impact the lives of the residents who live here. Nature-based tourism helps provide essential health care to residents through the Tswalu Health Care Centre, a free community service for anyone living within a 100-kilometre radius of the reserve.
The reserve is dedicated to research-based conservation, cultural preservation, and the development of a remote, under-resourced region of South Africa. Thanks to successful conservation initiatives ecological restoration is helping to safeguard the diverse habitats found in the Kalahari, with each guest visit helping to support the reserves’ ongoing restoration and protection projects.
Enjoy the Freedom to Explore with Private Safari Guides
When you stay at Tswalu a private guide, vehicle and an experienced tracker are guaranteed with every room. The exclusive experience of these safari tours ensures guests have a bespoke and unhurried experience with the freedom and flexibility to explore the reserve at their own pace. Tswalu boasts one of the lowest ratios of guests to wilderness space in South Africa, making it a truly personal experience.
Game drives are offered daily however guests can also enjoy a range of other safari experiences including, guided nature walks, stargazing, tracking, horse riding, meerkat encounters and visits to local scientific researchers and resident artists. Nature walks also enable visitors to access remote areas that are unattainable by vehicle. Alternatively, the natural presence of horses on the land means safari on horseback can ensure guests get even closer to wildlife without disturbing them. These varied options for safari experiences provide guests with unique opportunities to get intimate experiences with wildlife that might not be possible in other safari locations.
Kalahari Game-Viewing
The arid habitat of the savannah ensures a different game-viewing experience at Tswalu than anywhere else in the Kalahari, with many animals adapting to the extreme conditions which often include wildly varied temperatures and unreliable water sources.
It is estimated over eighty mammals inhabit the reserve including highly sought-after species such as the black-maned Kalahari lions, black rhinos, cheetahs and the oryx. Tswalu is also known for sightings of elusive nocturnal animals such as the bat-eared fox and aardwolves. Tswalu is one of the only places in South Africa to experience habituated meerkats up close, a highlight for visitors. Meerkat sightings offer a rare and intimate glimpse into the lives of these fascinating creatures without disturbing their natural behaviour.
Visit the Tswalu Kalahari
Tswalu can be visited throughout the year however the recommended months are from May to October for those who prefer cooler weather and optimal game-viewing, especially smaller, rare animals. During this period the landscape may be less picturesque however it makes for better stargazing. November through March can be ideal for birdwatching and vibrant landscapes for photography lovers.
For more information on Tswalu please speak with one of our Africa specialists. Our team at the Luxury Safari Company are passionate about crafting luxury safari experiences that are bespoke for you.
