Experience a new beginning at Tswalu Wildlife Reserve. This remote lodge, located in southern Kalahari, is actually a large conservation project. Tswalu is a part of The Long Run, a sustainability project that focuses on conservation, community, culture, and commerce.
Nature walks, animal tracking, stargazing, and horse riding are all offered to give guests a better view of the South African wilderness. Explore vast game habitats in private vehicles. The vision behind Tswalu is to leave the world better than they found it, and through eco-tourism, Tswalu is able to restore the natural habitat to its former glory.
With only 14 suites (suitable for 28 guests), Tswalu has one of the lowest footprints in South Africa. It is situated in the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, a privately owned Formal Protected Area that covers over 114,000 hectares of land. The reserve is set in the savannah biome, the largest in South Africa. Enter a new era of hope at Tswalu, where nature and humans can live in harmony.
The Oppenheimer family, owners of Tswalu looked to give the land a new beginning. The word Tswalu literally means “new beginning” in Setswana. Through conservation and education, the Oppenheimer family brought new life to the land. Once a collection of commercial livestock farms, this land was given to the Oppenheimers by a British businessman entrusting them to restore the land to its former glory.
The Oppenheimer family removed previously erected fences and structures and began to work on repairing the land. Tswalu has embarked on several large conservation projects, including reintroducing indigenous species and restoring the Kalahari. In 2014, Tswalu was designated a Formal Protected Area.
This labor of love has become a unique getaway for eco-tourists looking to experience the African Savannah. Sitting between the Kalahari ecotype and savannah, the rolling dunes offer unbeatable habitat diversity. Guests can embark on expeditions into the wilderness, experiencing nature the way it is meant to be. Learn everything there is to know about the Kalahari at this unique reserve. Read more about them here.
Lowest impact construction and operation
Highest level of energy efficiency
Pioneer in waste management
Aims to have a fully organic and chemical-free operation
Actively protects nature and community