Description
Tswalu Private Game Reserve
Tswalu Private Game Reserve occupies 250,000 acres of pristine wilderness within the green Kalahari – the area provides dramatic scenery of red dunes and magnificent sunrises. With mountains which change in colour from second to minute as the sun lights the different faces of the rolling hills. Red sand dunes dotted with small shrubs and grass roll for miles in every direction.
The Kalahari desert is famed as being home to some of the most endangered species in the world, and the conservation efforts at Tswalu as custodians of this reserve provide unrivalled space for them to thrive. Tswalu is a success story when it comes to the repopulation of endangered species in their rightful habitats. From Cheetah, Black Maned Kalahari Lion, Brown Hyena, Mountain Zebra, Wild Dog, Pangolin, Aardvark, to Black Rhino all thrive in a vast area. An anti-poaching team patrol the ground and air by helicopter daily, keeping poachers at bay. Whist staying at Tswalu guests are able to spend time with a researcher or the anti-poaching team, making it a truly immersive experience.
Each room is provided it’s own guide and vehicle, the vast size of the reserve ensures you will rarely find another vehicle or person ensuring unique experiences. The vastness of the reserve also contributes to a unique style of guiding which relies heavily on tracking of animal spoor. The expertise of the guides and trackers in interpreting the spoor and being able to identify the animals is remarkable. Incredible sightings are purely down to their skill.
Read our Country Information on advice for travel to South Africa.
Tswalu is in a historically significant area for ancient rock art that was painted thousands of years ago. To read more about this fascinating art read the Introductory Guide to Engraved Rock Art at Tswalu.
Looking for luxury in the dense African bush for your safari? Explore Londolozi Pioneer Camp. If you have heard of Singita then explore their luxurious camps in the Sabi Sands. Singita Ebony, Sweni, Boulders, Castleton and Lebombo.
How to Get There
Fly In
Tswalu operates a daily scheduled service direct to the reserve’s own airstrip. Departures from BOTH Cape Town International Airport and Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International.
From Cape Town
Departures from Execujet Aviation at Cape Town International Airport, flights depart at 07H50 arriving at Tswalu private airstrip at 10H00.
From Tswalu to Cape Town, flights depart Tswalu at 14H50 arriving Cape Town 17H00.
From Johannesburg
Departures from Fireblade Aviation, flights depart Johannesburg at 13H00 arriving Tswalu at 14H30.
From Tswalu to Johannesburg, flights depart Tswalu 10H20 arriving Johannesburg at 12H00.
Luggage allowance is 20kg / 44 pounds per person (including hand and cargo luggage) in soft-sided bags on Tswalu scheduled flights. Extra seats may be purchased, at standard rates, should guests wish to travel with excess luggage (will allow for 50kg / 110 pounds in soft sided bag per seat).
Alternatively, guests can store luggage at the respective hangar until their return from Tswalu at no charge.
By Road
RECOMMENDED ROUTE FROM JOHANNESBURG
(approximately 650 km)
• Travel to Kuruman via Vryburg (N14)
• At Kuruman follow the signs to Hotazel (R31)
• Approximately 60 km from Kuruman, cross over the railway bridge at Hotazel;
• Approximately 15 km further on (before Blackrock) there will be a turnoff and signage to the left indicating “Van Zylsrus/ Kgalagadi
Transfrontier Park” on a tar road. Turn at the sign;
• After approximately 44 km you will see a gravel road to the left with Tswalu Kalahari Reserve signage (this point is marked “Sonstraal” on maps and GPS). Turn left at the junction and proceed with caution along the gravel road;
• Travel approximately 6 km and you will see a gate on either side of the road. Here, The Motse guests will be met by a Tswalu vehicle and escorted further.
RECOMMENDED ROUTE FROM KIMBERLEY
(approximately 375 km)
• From Kimberley Airport travel on the R31 for 35 km to Barkley West;
• From Barkley West travel 96 km to Danielskuil. Be aware of a turn to the right en-route to Danielskuil;
• From Danielskuil travel 71 km to Kuruman;
• In Kuruman proceed through town following the signs to Hotazel (R31);
RECOMMENDED ROUTE FROM UPINGTON
(approximately 350 km, with 10 km on gravel)
• If you are concerned about gravel roads and poor road conditions (especially through the mountain pass) proceed beyond Olifantshoek towards Kathu/Sishen.
• Approximately 210 km out of Upington, with the mine on your left, turn left onto the R380 towards Deben and Sishen Airport;
• Proceed through the next two 4-way intersections;
• After the second intersection (Kathu Mall on right and Sishen mine on left left) continue for approximately 19 km (past the airfield on the right)
• Look for sign that shows “R380 HOTAZEL”. Turn right onto this road and proceed for 42 km to the next T-junction. Please note that this tar road has potholes in places;
• At the T-junction turn left towards Blackrock and continue for approximately 1 km. You will see signage that indicates “Vanzylsrus/ Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park”
• Turn left and continue as described above for the Johannesburg route.
For assistance with fly in or road access to Tswalu get in touch with us.
Included/Excluded
Included:
• Private game viewing vehicle with a dedicated guide and tracker for all bookings
• Walking safaris
• Nature walks, including traditional plant use interpretation
• Habituated meerkats
• Horse riding
• Bird watching
• Some of the oldest bushman rock engravings in Africa
• A visit to our community clinic and pre-school
• The Tswalu Foundation research projects
• Involvement in all wildlife project work currently on the property
• Accommodation
• All meals including a variety of dining experiences from boma dinners to dune picnics
• All beverages and full selection from our award-winning wine-list
• In-suite tea and coffee making facilities
• In-suite private bar and gourmet pantry
• Laundry and valet services
• Wireless internet access & National telephone calls
• Children’s Junior Ranger programme and baby-sitting
Excluded:
• Transfers to / from Tswalu
• Gift shop purchases
• Spa treatments
• International telephone calls
• Tswalu Foundation donations
• Gratuities (guideline of R1000 per vehicle per day: R350 guide/R350 tracker/R300 general staff)
Other activities at additional cost:
• Book a night under the Kalahari night sky at the Malori sleep-out deck
• Helicopter flips to learn more about Tswalu’s conservation efforts and enjoy a private picnic on the peaks of the mountains
• Spa treatments
