Tswalu Tarkuni

premier Camp | Southern Kalahari, South Africa

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Set amid two rolling mountain ranges, Tswalu Tarkuni is an oasis of serenity with beguiling views on every side. The private homestead offers five luxurious en suite bedrooms, each with its own private deck and star bed, and boasts a vast open-plan lounge and dining room, an intimate mezzanine library, and a spa therapy suite. A covered deck leads to a private 'sala' daybed and swimming pool, all providing an exclusive experience.

The Lodge

Location: Southern Kalahari, South Africa
Number of Rooms: 5

Located in a secluded valley below the Korannaberg mountains, Tswalu Tarkuni is a private homestead offering luxury accommodation for multi-generational families or groups of friends, accommodating up to 10 guests in five suites, all under one roof. An old, gnarled shepherd’s tree creates a focal point at the entrance, welcoming guests to their private safari home where a dedicated team, including a private chef and safari guide, takes care of everything. This exclusive-use, thatched homestead, redesigned to be sustainable and earth friendly, includes a graciously proportioned lounge and dining room, as well as an upstairs library and spa treatment room. A deep, shaded veranda, plunge pool, sundowner fire pit, small boma and a gazebo for massages or afternoon naps all lend themselves to easy, relaxed days in camp.

Facilities & Amenities

En suite bathroom with tub and shower
Shampoo, conditioner, soap and lotion
Hair dryer
Air conditioning
Room fan
220v charging outlets
Electronic safe
Tea/coffee, snack pantry and full bar
Wine cellar
Private chef
Private dining room & lounge
Private plunge pool
Central fireplace
Spa treatments (extra cost)
Malori and Naledi sleepouts (extra cost)
Wi-Fi available
Laundry included
All drinks included
Credit cards accepted

Wildlife Viewing & Activities

Tswalu is a unique wildlife viewing area, with about 80 mammal species and over 240 species of birds. There are resident black-maned Kalahari lions, cheetah on the open savanna, a noteworthy population of desert black rhino, white rhino, and rare antelopes and plains wildlife such as roan, sable, tsessebe and Hartmann’s mountain zebra. Other Kalahari species include gemsbok, springbok, eland, and red hartebeest. Brown hyena can sometimes be seen. Aardvark and aardwolf are great sightings, and possibly one of the most enjoyable encounters is seeing the semi-habituated meerkats. In addition to day and night wildlife drives and nature walks, horseback riding is available to all levels on the reserve in both western and English saddle, and all equipment is provided for you. The stunning Malori sleepout deck comprises a king sized bed on a platform in the middle of the quiet desert, covered by a thatched canopy but open to the desert smells and sounds – it is the ultimate nature experience during your stay. The Malori sleepout is best booked in advance and does incur an additional cost.

The Southern Kalahari has varying concentrations and species of wildlife, and the below chart helps to illustrate major wildlife sightings often experienced in the area. Some unique sub-species you may encounter are Hartmann’s mountain zebra, brown hyena, roan antelope, red hartebeest, and a number of other mammals, like aardvark, aardwolf, pangolin and meerkats, a variety of birds and reptiles.

Country	Park/Reserve	Black Rhino	Buffalo	Cheetah	Eland	Gemsbok / Oryx	Giraffe	Hyena	Leopard	Lion	Sable Antelope	White Rhino	Wild Dog	Zebra
South Africa	Southern Kalahari

Usually viewed

Frequently viewed

Occasionally viewed

Sporadically viewed

Rarely to never viewed

Climate

Month	Max	Min	Rainfall
January	94° F	65° F	1.06 in
	34° C	18° C	27 mm
February	90° F	65° F	1.69 in
	32° C	18° C	43 mm
March	86° F	59° F	1.5 in
	30° C	15° C	38 mm
April	81° F	52° F	0.43 in
	27° C	11° C	11 mm
May	75° F	41° F	0.04 in
	23° C	5° C	1 mm
June	68° F	36° F	0.0 in
	20° C	2° C	0 mm
July	68° F	35° F	0.0 in
	20° C	1° C	0 mm
August	72° F	39° F	0.0 in
	22° C	3° C	0 mm
September	79° F	46° F	0.0 in
	26° C	7° C	0 mm
October	84° F	53° F	0.2 in
	28° C	11° C	5 mm
November	88° F	60° F	0.39 in
	31° C	15° C	10 mm
December	92° F	62° F	0.87 in
	33° C	16° C	22 mm

Conservation

Recipients of the World Wildlife Fund Lonmin Award for environmental conservation, Nicky and Strilli Oppenheimer, owners of Tswalu, are conservation champions in South Africa. The Oppenheimers' mission has always been “to restore the Kalahari to itself.” Upon taking over the property, hunting was stopped, man-made structures were removed, land was added to the reserve and regenerated, and indigenous wildlife was able to return. The Tswalu Foundation, since 2008, has supported research in species and ecology of the Kalahari system, as well as granting funds for social and community projects. There is a primary clinic and crèche at Tswalu to provide healthcare and educational services in this isolated area. Special programs at the clinic address HIV/AIDS and proper nutrition, and it’s open not only to staff but also to people from surrounding areas. There is both a school for children and an adult literacy program, and the literacy rate has increased under this program by over 58% in the last decade. Visits to see these efforts and facilities are available to guests of Tswalu.