It’s worth knowing from the off that Tswalu Kalahari is, above all else, a conservation project that welcomes guests. By booking a stay here, you’ll be financially helping to conserve land and support the health of the local community. It all means that as well as all the usual luxury camp accommodation and safari experiences, staying here gives you the chance of a holiday that will do more than create amazing memories for you.

Located at the southernmost edge of the Kalahari, you’ll have access to South Africa’s largest privately protected area. You’ll notice the terrain is dominated by distinctive red Kalahari sand punctuated by the impressive Korannaberg mountains. While much of the area is desert, many parts get a good watering from seasonal rains which create flourishing grasslands that attract diverse wildlife. Among them, cheetah and black-maned lions, both of which keep the local aardvark and meerkat populations on their toes.

Those meerkats are always popular with children, and youngsters of all ages are welcome to join their adults at Tswalu and on the private safari game drives. But, cards on the table, let’s address the elephant in the room, or rather the elephant not in the room. Because while on safari here, you’re unlikely to spot elephants. The rest of the big five, yes, there’s a good chance, just not the biggest of them all.

But that’s unlikely to spoil your Tswalu experience, especially for younger guests who, after viewing game on the reserve, will find games and entertainment aplenty to enjoy back at the accommodation, with horse riding, archery, and pizza-making listed among the activities.

The accommodation

The Tswalu Kalahari experience is limited to a maximum of 40 guests at any one time, spread across three camps, meaning there’s always a low guest-to-wildlife ratio and a low carbon footprint as a result. Let’s take a brief look at each:

The Motse

As the original Tswalu camp, there’s history in the 9 separate suites (or legae) in Motse, three of which are family-size suites accommodating four people across two ensuite bedrooms linked by a living room area. The six other suites are designed for two, each with one bedroom, making them ideal for couples or solo adventurers.

Wherever you stay, you’ll find space for study, a shaded deck area with a day bed for extremely relaxed viewing, an ensuite bathroom with tub and showers (there’s no bath in the kids’ ensuite). And you get to choose which refreshments go into your minibar.

The Motse camp is home to a communal lounge area with fireplace and library for relaxation, and dining areas inside and out for refreshment – including a traditional Boma. You have two swimming pools to choose between, plus a fitness centre, spa and shop where you can buy clothes, jewellery, works of art and safari souvenirs.

The Tarkuni Homestead

This five bedroom thatched house for up to 10 guests can be booked exclusively for your family or group of friends.

Enjoy five guest suites, each with a private viewing deck and bathroom with freestanding tub and shower.

When it’s time to come together as a family, meet in the large living and dining area that’s all yours for gatherings, conversation, games, you name it. And time to eat is still time to take it easy as your meals will be prepared in the homestead’s kitchen by your private chef.

Also in the house, a library area for quiet reflection, a games area for something a bit noisier, and a spa for relaxation. In fact, the entire homestead is geared up to help you relax, from the plunge pool to the small Boma. The sun-shading gazebo to the heart-warming fire pit where you can gather after dark to plan for tomorrow. As you’d expect, you get a private safari guide, tracker and vehicle to take you out for adventures in southern Kalahari.

The Loapi

Want to experience safari life under canvas, (with a bit of glass and steel)? Loapi - which means ‘space below the clouds’ - is home to six luxury tents, each spaced at least 50 metres apart on the grasslands, so your privacy is assured. As is your comfort, thanks to the house manager and chef who’ll look after you, and the quality of the accommodation – think glamping more than camping.

Four of the tents have one bedroom, the others two bedrooms and, as you’d expect from a conservation project, are designed with sustainability and eco-friendliness front of mind. There are day beds out on the deck, a plunge pool to relax in, a firepit to gather around, showers indoors and outside, a study area with wifi, a kitchen, bar, and areas inside and out where you can enjoy mealtimes.

Worth knowing

As Tswalu is a conservation project, don’t be surprised if you bump into a few scientific researchers on site during your say. And you may even get to watch the resident artist at work.