Tswalu Motse is located in the remote southern Kalahari, a fascinating desert game reserve. Visiting Tswalu is a really special safari experience, with its interesting terrain and diverse wildlife. Although Tswalu is a fenced property surrounded by working farms, the reserve is enormous with only three properties on hundreds of thousands of acres: Motse, Tarkuni, and Loapi Tented Camp.
Access to Tswalu is by daily scheduled charter. Getting to Tswalu is expensive and time-consuming; hence, we recommend spending five days to fully relax and experience all that the property has to offer–from desert dunes to scrub forest, rock paintings, most wildlife species, and habituated meerkats. Horseback riding is fabulous here, as is star-gazing and birdwatching.
The accommodation is striking with generous use of natural materials that reflect the desert surroundings: stone, wood, thatch, reed, and desert hues abound.
Children older than six are welcome at Tswalu Motse and this is a perfect family vacation for everyone. Tarkuni Private Villa (the private home of the Oppenheimer family) can be rented out on an exclusive basis and happily accommodates children of all ages. There are five suites.
We love the desert experience. It adds a whole different aspect to your safari itinerary – completely distinct from the wilderness of the Kruger areas. Although Tswalu is a year-round destination, the desert during the summer months (December to March) gets very hot.
Luxury South Africa safari itineraries featuring Tswalu
- Itinerary
South Africa Luxury Retreats: Cape Town, Kruger, and the Kalahari
Cape Town and Two Premier Safari Destinations
Our favorite luxury accommodations in the Southern Kalahari
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