Tswalu Kalahari: private game reserve offers elegant luxury

hhe Green Kalahari is a surprisingly colour-drenched destination − there are blue skies, pink and crimson sunsets, green grass and red dunes. The interiors of both the luxury accommodation camps at the Tswalu Kalahari private game reserve take inspiration from the serene beauty of the surrounding landscape and its bright accents. 

Tswalu Kalahari, owned by the Oppenheimer family, is home to a variety of wildlife, including cheetah, buffalo, meerkats, giraffe and black-maned lions, as well as many rarer species such as pangolin, aardvark, aardwolf and mountain zebra.  

You can experience the pristine natural world that surrounds the unrestrained elegance of the 2 exceptional camps – The Motse and Tarkuni – on horseback, on foot, or in a 4x4 game-viewing vehicle, and your soul is sure to be be touched by its beauty. 

The Oppenheimer family defines the feel as ‘barefoot luxury’, at once contemporary and timeless. The Motse (motse means ‘village’ in Setswana, the language of the local Tswana people) lies in the lap of the Korannaberg mountains, overlooking a sweep of grassy savannah. 

There are nine 'legaes' ('little houses'  in Setswana), built from local stone and red earth. Each has an open fireplace, a luxurious en-suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers, a large dressing area, study and broadband Wi-Fi access. They are private and gorgeous. 

Up at the main house, you’ll find an infinity pool with views to a distant horizon. Mercifully cool in summer, it is heated in winter. There is a museum of intriguing artefacts, elevated decks, a library with satellite TV, and an award-winning spa and gym. 

Tarkuni, which was once the Oppenheimers’ private residence at Tswalu, has recently been refurbished and now offers 5 luxurious suites, each with its own bathroom and a deck that opens onto a private terrace with a star bed. A lounge, games room, boma, spa therapy suite, vast veranda and a pool complete the luxury at Tarkuni, where guests will be looked after by a dedicated host and private chef. You’ll also have your own game-drive vehicle, field guide and tracker for an exclusive wildlife experience. 

But The Motse and Tarkuni only begin to convey the magic of Tswalu Kalahari private game reserve. The Oppenheimer family is passionate about conservation and wildlife, and they have devised dozens of ways for you to enjoy it too. 

These include horseback safaris, black rhino tracking, a meerkat bonding experience, gourmet picnics in the bush, a special trip to look for the elusive rare pangolin and aardvark, a private five-course meal on your own deck, and an excursion to see the ancient rock art of the San. Or spend a night at the Malori sleep-out deck with its panoramic views and nothing between you and the Kalahari night sky. 

That’s apart from the normal game drives where you could see black-maned lions, wild dogs, cheetah, and other rare animals like tsessebe, sable and roan antelope, and Hartmann’s mountain zebra. 

Whatever else you do, take time to lie on your back and gaze at the stars. There are very few places in the world where you’ll see such a bright sky.