Tswalu Loapi
Tswalu Loapi Offers One Of The Most Exclusive Safari Experiences Possible, In The Tswalu Kalahari Reserve
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve is an extremely exclusive safari experience offering a very different ‘Kalahari Desert’ landscape to other South African safari regions. Tswalu Loapi is ideal for those who wish to maximise privacy and flexibility, with a series of private safari homes offering total exclusivity in this vast desert reserve. If you want to spend time on safari, as an individual, couple or small family group, without mixing with any other guests, this is the place to go! Each safari home has it’s own chef, butler and safari guide to guarantee 100% exclusivity. Loapi makes a fantastic combination with one of the more exclusive luxury lodges or private safari houses in the Kruger region private reserves, but is also easily accessible from Cape Town.
Loapi comprises six tented safari “homes” designed for guests who prefer complete privacy. The four one-bedroom and two two-bedroom tents have over 50 meters between each one to ensure complete privacy; and each tent is completely self-contained with its own living/dining area and kitchen (complete with chef). There are no communal guest areas at Loapi and all rooms come with the services of a private butler. The tents are very contemporary, all built on a raised wooden deck, with the central living “pavilion” made of glass and steel, while the spacious bedrooms adjoin under canvas. En Suite facilities include and indoor and outdoor shower (no bath). The two-bedroom units are identical to the one-bedroom units, but with the addition of a second en suite master bedroom adjoining the opposite side of the living area. Each suite comes with a deep, shaded deck with plenty of comfortable outdoor seating for relaxing; a private plunge pool; a fire pit; and a study with Wi-Fi. In room spa treatments are also available. Dining is completely flexible to suit and in addition to private dining in and around the private home, guests are invited to experience the Boscia Pop-up restaurant during their stay – featuring a seven course tasting menu with hyper-seasonal dishes (there are plans for a more permanent additional dining venue in mid 2026).
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming – Yes (private plunge pools with each house)
Habitat & Wildlife
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve was born in the early 1990s when a British entrepreneur purchased the vast tracts of arid farmland within the Northern Cape to live out a dream. Following his untimely death, the Oppenheimer family bought Tswalu in 1999 to create the largest privately owned reserve in South Africa, covering an enormous 100,000 hectares of dry Kalahari savannah. The reserve includes three distinct zones – the rocky Korranaberg Mountains in the east, the Kalahari plains and dune-ridge system in the central part of the reserve and the wild calcrete pans and thorn scrub habitat of the western part of the reserve. The reserve is split by a remote gravel road (public) running north to south, with 20,000 hectares of reserve found to the east of the road. To the west of the road, where the lodges are located, there are 80,000 hectares of wilderness. The reintroduction of many of the species of wildlife formerly indigenous to the region has allowed the reserve to develop as a fine wildlife destination. Today over 40 species of animals can be seen, with the key absentee being elephants. The reserve offers spectacular meerkat viewing, with three habituated meerkat families. There are also over 200 species of birds recorded.
Activities
Activities include private game viewing drives in open four wheel drive vehicles (mostly by day, but by night is also available), guided bush walks and horse riding (intermediate to advanced riders only). There are several archaeological sites and some ancient rock engravings, whilst the clear night skies allow for wonderful star-gazing with excellent views of the Milky Way and the solar system. On the Tswalu Reserve itself, several families of meerkats have been habituated to human presence, giving guests the chance to view and photograph these incredible creatures at close quarters. There are also two options for sleep outs: the first, “Naledi”, is included in your stay and comprises a simple sleep out deck under the stars; the second, “Malori” is set on a sand dune facing the rising sun, and has a spacious deck with open air bathroom and sitting/dining area, while the bedroom is under canvas (extra costs apply for Malori). Guests can also be introduced to the conservation and research work of the Tswalu Foundation (see below) and visit the health clinic and preschool established by Tswalu for their staff and neighbouring communities.
Seasons
Loapi is open year round.
Loapi accepts children of all ages and the two bedroom homes offer exclusive safari base for families with children of any age. With a private house and private guide and vehicle, you have complete flexibility to plan activities and meals to suit. Tswalu offers a Junior Ranger programme which includes archery, spoor identification and casting, and learning how to track animals. Tswalu offers a superbly enriching and exclusive safari adventure for families with children of any age.
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve is first and foremost an ambitious conservation project that strives to restore the natural environment, reestablish and protect biodiversity, and maintain the Kalahari ecosystem. For every guest that stays at Tswalu, 30% of each bednight is invested directly into conservation and local project funding.
The Tswalu Foundation was established to support ecological research on the reserve and attracts research teams from across the globe, stationed at the Dedeben Research Centre on the reserve.
Tswalu also provides a number of health and education services to the local community including staff and extended families and those in need in the remote, rural communities surrounding the property. A fully equipped and staffed health care centre provides services to staff and anyone in need within a 100km radius of the reserve; while Tshameka Preschool offers early education for staff children and their extended families.
Tswalu has been awarded Global Ecosphere Retreat status by The Long Run, achieving the organisation’s most advanced sustainability standard, showing tangible dedication to positive impact nature-based tourism, a commitment to sustainability best practices and significant contribution to the well-being of both people and planet.
