Free to step out of the game vehicle, you’re invited to experience Tswalu’s spellbinding terrain in ways that summon the senses: on foot, from the saddle, and under the veil of night. Soulful, secluded, and grounded in conservation, Tswalu is the desert safari you didn't know you were dreaming of.
A Tswalu safari can be experienced year-round, and each season brings its own delights.
Summer is the southern Kalahari’s longest and most transformative season, stretching from November through March. Days are hot, nights are balmy, and afternoons can bear witness to dramatic thunderstorms. Rain can be an unwelcome sight for travelers but at Tswalu, it’s miraculous. Watch as the veld erupts in florals and grasses are swiftly painted green again. Wildlife responds in kind. In summer, new life is everywhere and migratory birds arrive to share in the abundance.
By contrast, the winter months (June, July, and August) at Tswalu are typically dry and clear-skied—ideal conditions for stargazing. On crisp mornings, linger a little longer in bed, just like the meerkats. Set out once the sun has cleared the Korannaberg mountains with cozy hot water bottles waiting on your seat and the savory promise of a packed picnic hamper. Milder winter months are reserved for darting, notching, and microchipping young rhinos—an opportunity for an extraordinary, hands-on conservation experience. It’s also a time when daytime sightings of pangolin are more common.
The shoulder seasons are short in the southern Kalahari. In September to October (spring), temperatures begin to rise with the lengthening days. Evenings still carry a chill, so dress in layers. Spring brings a softer side to the “Green Kalahari,” as thorny shrubs burst into bloom and evenings are soundtracked by a chorus of barking geckos.
In fall (April and May), milder days and cooler evenings see the summer rains taper off. The landscape still lingers in shades of green, it’s rutting season, and tortoise and reptile sightings wane as critters slip into hibernation.
Best
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
January - December
Good
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
January - December
Unique wildlife viewing in a sublime desert setting.
Home to the “Elusive Five”: brown hyena, aardvark, aardwolf, bat-eared fox, and pangolin.
Wild dining such as picnic breakfasts in the Korannaberg foothills or lantern-lit dune barbecues.
The comedic and unscripted antics of a meerkat colony at sunrise.
Sunset horseback safaris.
Walking safaris along ochre-tinted trails.
Malori star bed experience.
Researcher-guided pangolin tours.
Night game drives.
Expert-led photographic safaris.
San rock engravings.
A visit to Tswalu Kalahari Reserve puts you within easy reach of many other beautiful and fascinating parts of Africa.
Kruger National Park is South Africa’s flagship safari destination. A leopard stronghold, it’s one of the best places to spot these elegant cats. With healthy wildlife populations and so many mixed species, every game drive in Kruger has thrilling potential.
On a malaria-free Madikwe safari you’re assured all the hallmarks of a premier safari destination: a crowd-free wilderness, Big Five encounters, and arresting landscapes.
Botswana‘s Chobe National Park and the Savute area are renowned for great herds of elephant that come to drink and play along the sandy riverbanks of the Chobe River.
Victoria Falls, the seventh wonder of the world, is located across the Falls from Livingstone, its sister town in Zambia. Activities abound and range from super active – bungee jumping, canoeing, whitewater rafting, to the more serene – river safaris, fishing and sunset cruises on the Zambezi River.
We value depth over breadth. While we have broadened our map, our intimate expertise runs deep—from understanding each locale's hidden rhythms to cultivating relationships with exceptional guides.
Seasoned travelers know that places change, authentic experiences migrate. We'll listen to your hopes and passions, but push back when we know something will better resonate with you.
Traveling to wild places asks something of us— a quality of attention and presence. From behind-the-scenes logistics to bespoke culinary experiences, our team has thought of everything.
There will undoubtedly be extraordinary unscripted moments: hippos emerging at sunset, the impossible blue of Arctic ice. We know that meaningful memories often live in personalized details.