Tswalu Kalahari Reserve: South Africa’s largest private safari

At a Glance

South Africa’s largest private reserve offers rare wildlife and immersive eco-conscious safari luxury.
Each guest enjoys private guides, vehicles, and solar-powered luxury in exclusive tented or villa suites.
Revenue funds wildlife reintroduction, San heritage protection, and global conservation research initiatives.

For travelers seeking immersive solitude, untamed wilderness, and a safari experience unlike any other, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve offers a compelling invitation into the heart of South Africa’s vast Green Kalahari.

Spanning 1,200 square kilometres of semi-arid savannah, red dunes, and ancient mountain ranges, Tswalu is the largest privately protected conservation area in South Africa—a place where luxury, restoration, and purpose intersect.

Tswalu Kalahari, a member of Oppenheimer Generations, with a diverse community of commercial ventures and not-for-profit organisations representing the global interests of the Nicky and Jonathan Oppenheimer family with a net worth of $12.7 billion

As part of the broader Oppenheimer Generations legacy, Tswalu is more than a safari destination. It is a 25-year conservation project rooted in ecological regeneration, indigenous species reintroduction, and low-impact tourism. The reserve offers three ultra-private safari camps, each designed to elevate the guest experience while supporting a conservation-first ethos.

Privileged seclusion in the southern Kalahari

Located in South Africa’s remote Northern Cape province, near the small towns of Van Zylsrus and Hotazel, Tswalu, South Africa’s largest private game reserve, Tswalu Kalahari, sits at the ecological crossroads between desert and savannah. Despite its seclusion, it’s easily accessible via daily scheduled charter flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town, which land directly at the reserve’s private airstrip.

Guests are drawn to Tswalu not only for its spectacular terrain but for its remarkably low guest footprint. Covering 1200 square kilometres (over 460 square miles) with over 292,000 acres of protected land and just three safari camps—Loapi, Motse, and Tarkuni—the reserve offers unmatched privacy and space. Each guest or party enjoys the exclusive use of a dedicated safari vehicle, guide, and San tracker, allowing for slow, personalized exploration of one of Africa’s last remaining semi-arid wildernesses.

Restorative luxury in design-forward safari camps

Shore Africa chronicled Tswalu’s three camps offering distinct expressions of comfort, designed with an authentic sense of place and quiet elegance:

Motse: Featuring nine spacious legae (Setswana for “home”), Motse offers contemporary, light-filled suites with panoramic views of the Kalahari’s sweeping grasslands. Ideal for couples and small families, Motse balances privacy with intimacy.
Tarkuni: Once the Oppenheimer family’s private retreat, this five-bedroom exclusive-use villa is nestled in a secluded valley and is perfect for multi-generational groups or friends seeking a private wilderness escape.
Loapi: The newest addition to the reserve, Loapi (“below the clouds”) consists of six ultra-luxury tented homes spread across the landscape. Designed for complete independence and architectural harmony with the land, each home comes with a private butler-chef team and full-service safari crew.

All accommodations are powered by solar energy, use natural materials, and integrate sustainable design principles—reflecting the reserve’s deep commitment to conservation beyond just wildlife.

A living conservation legacy

Originally established by British entrepreneur Stephen Boler as a conservation estate in the 1990s, Tswalu was transformed after its acquisition by Nicky and Jonathan Oppenheimer in 1999.

Hunting was immediately banned, and the land was repurposed for long-term ecological restoration.

Over time, more than 40 degraded farms were consolidated into a single protected biome, with native species—including black rhinos, wild dogs, cheetahs, roan antelope, and pangolins—reintroduced.

Tswalu’s ethos is captured in its guiding vision: “To restore the Kalahari to itself.” Every guest’s stay directly contributes to funding this mission.

Through the Tswalu Foundation and its Dedeben Research Centre, the reserve also serves as a platform for scientific research, hosting ecologists, climate scientists, archaeologists, and sociologists from around the world. Studies on pangolin behavior, butterfly ecosystems, fire ecology, and vulture safety inform not only local management but wider conservation strategies across southern Africa.

Deep cultural roots and ancient stories

Tswalu is as much a cultural sanctuary as it is a natural one. The land holds some of the oldest San rock engravings in Africa, telling the stories of the Khomani San people—hunter-gatherers who once roamed freely across the Kalahari. Guests are invited to walk among these ancient artworks, guided by trackers whose knowledge is both inherited and applied.

The Tracker Academy, based at Tswalu, trains local San youth in professional wildlife tracking—offering livelihoods rooted in ancestral skills while supporting the reserve’s conservation objectives.

Wildlife encounters beyond the ordinary

With over 80 mammal species and 240 bird species, Tswalu offers rare and intimate wildlife experiences. Morning and evening game drives—conducted at a personalized pace—often reveal:

Black-maned lions resting in the dunes
Elusive aardvarks and aardwolves emerging at dusk
Cheetahs hunting across the open plains
Pangolins foraging under moonlight
Meerkat colonies curiously observing their human visitors

The terrain itself is a spectacle: red Kalahari sands, salt pans, dry riverbeds, and camelthorn acacia forests—all dramatically backdropped by the Korannaberg Mountains, which draw moisture into the desert and create pockets of verdant life.

Wellness through wildness

While there is no traditional spa at Tswalu, the experience is inherently rejuvenating. Days begin with the call of sociable weavers and end with dinners under the stars. Between drives, guests can relax in private plunge pools, dine al fresco with ingredients sourced from the reserve’s own permaculture gardens, or explore on horseback and guided bushwalks.

Tswalu is also malaria-free, making it an ideal destination for families with children. At Motse, children under 12 stay free, and family-friendly activities are thoughtfully integrated into the safari experience.

A meaningful festive escape

For those seeking a truly transformative festive holiday, Tswalu offers a one-of-a-kind setting. Whether it’s a Christmas breakfast on the dunes or a New Year’s Eve under the southern stars, the reserve curates seasonal experiences that are intimate, authentic, and immersed in nature. With limited guest capacity, holidays at Tswalu are designed to be personal and profound rather than programmed.

The reserve’s climate-conscious model, community engagement, and reverence for heritage make it not just a luxury destination—but a rare and restorative way to experience Africa.