A love letter from the southern Kalahari

To go on safari is transformative. To venture off the beaten track on a slower, more intentional journey is to experience heart-stopping game drives and up-close wildlife encounters while also having the luxury of time to delve into the soul of a place. When you slow down, it’s easier to be present and fully in the moment – to feel your spirit awaken and ‘yield’ to nature’s beckoning.

Tswalu is a place that deserves to be experienced at a slower, more immersive pace. A remote, restored wilderness with a 25-year legacy of successfully conserving vital space for many rare and endangered species (most notably, desert black rhinos), the reserve spans almost 1200 square kilometres on the southernmost edge of the Kalahari. As our guest, you have exclusive, privileged access to it all.

From the air, the landscape appears uniform and arid, a vast canvas of undulating red dunes stretched out below you. Once you’ve landed and stepped off the aircraft, you begin to appreciate the diverse topography and terrain and notice the richness in the sparseness.

Carving through the reserve from north to south are the Korannaberg mountains. Eroded over aeons of time, the mountains contribute to greater habitat diversity than anywhere else in the Kalahari. From bushveld scattered with camel thorn and shepherd’s trees to deep-red dunes and sweeping arid savannah grasslands, Tswalu’s remarkable habitat diversity supports a rich and fascinating web of life.

Life above ground is matched by a subterranean labyrinth of burrows and tunnels providing respite from extreme temperatures for many creatures. To a first-time visitor, it can be challenging to unravel the complexities, contradictions and adaptations that characterise this fragile yet resilient ecosystem.

We know every moment of your safari is precious, which is why we have always taken a highly individualised approach to guiding. A complimentary private vehicle and the undivided attention of a dedicated guide and tracker make all the difference in a reserve this large, giving you the flexibility and freedom to personalise every aspect of your stay. From exploring the dunes on horseback to guided walks to see protected rock art sites, every activity is a chance to connect deeply with nature.

In summer, the rumble of distant thunder and billowing, pale-pink clouds reflecting the red sand promise rain. In the Kalahari, rain tends to be as elusive as the many creatures that move under cover of darkness or burrow deep below the sand. When those first fat raindrops hit dry earth and the unmistakable smell of petrichor fills the air, you can almost hear the land whisper a sigh of relief. Rain quenches parched landscapes, replenishes natural pans and transforms swathes of the reserve with a profusion of new grasses, bulbs, herbs and wildflowers.

Winter’s bone-dry, clear-skied days and nights are just as seductive, whether photographing the big, blue expanse against golden grasses rippling away to the horizon or wrapped up against the chill to marvel at the stars after dark.

Safari life has a reputation for being rigorous, but it does not need to be defined by cramming as much as possible into your waking hours or pursuing big-ticket wildlife sightings only. While Tswalu offers plenty of photographic highlights of unique Kalahari animals as well as intense predator-prey encounters, moments of solitude are just as important. Whether stopping for a picnic breakfast, sitting with a cheetah and her cubs or settling into a sofa with binoculars and a book, Tswalu offers the most sought-after commodities in a frantically paced world – privacy, space and the luxury of time to exhale and savour the moment.

START YOUR JOURNEY

There’s never been a better time to start planning your next trip. We always recommend a minimum of four nights at Tswalu to allow you to enjoy the many signature activities included in your stay. Contact your preferred travel advisor or get in touch with Tswalu Reservations