Villa Markisa
Tswalu offers a vision of hope that brings together conservation, research and an unrivalled safari experience. Everything we do is centred around our creed: To leave our world better than how we found it.
No two Tswalu experiences are the same. That’s because the way you see and touch this magical place will be shaped by your particular interests and will happen at your own pace. Tswalu is a generous landscape and as the sun rises above the Korannaberg mountains each morning, new opportunities to learn, play and explore come to life.
Once the Oppenheimer family home at Tswalu, Tarkuni Homestead offers a natural, home from home bush camp feel with understated elegance and, a sense of luxury, relaxation and tranquility. With your own private chef and guide, guests experience comfort and an incredible sense of space in their own secluded piece of the Kalahari. Spend a night under the stars at the new Star Bed experiences - Malori and Naledi!
Ideal for smaller groups, from family parties to close friends, Tarkuni is an exclusive homestead which can accommodate up to 10 guests in 5 individual suites.
The private suites include a spacious bedroom with king-size or twin beds, a luxurious bathroom with a bath and outdoor shower, and comfortable seating and study areas. The suites embrace the natural outdoor experience with organic-shaped flowing outdoor decks off the bedrooms and the addition of natural Kalahari stone walls to add privacy and seclusion to each deck space. The sunny decks lead onto private terraces with day beds which can be made up as evening star-beds for guests who would like to experience the thrill of sleeping under the vast Kalahari skies.
Discover Tswalu's Star Beds
Sleeping under the stars is as old as time but will undoubtedly add an exciting dimension to a safari at Tswalu. Tswalu has two sleep-out experiences, Malori and Naledi.
The Malori sleep-out is under canvas and situated in the middle of the reserve. The more adventurous have the option of spending a night at Naledi, a back-to-nature star bed in the Korannaberg mountains.
Malori sleep-out looks out onto a breathtaking view of the reserve and night sky. It is about soaking up the silence, tuning into the sounds of nature and counting shooting stars. The tent comes with comfortable beds, a spacious deck for starlight dining and an open-air bathroom. This additional offering at Tsawlu is great for families or couples that need a little protection under canvas between them and the stars.
The more adventurous will no doubt love the simple Naledi sleep-out experience. Naledi (meaning "star" in Tswana) is literal for this sleep-out as the experience requires you to sleep under the stars, out in the open! Camping stretchers with warm, luxurious blankets and linen, picnic-style food and warming mugs of hot chocolate are all one needs to fully immerse in this raw and unfiltered "camping" experience. It is experiences like these that make for transformational travel for both children and adults. 
Private Game Drives in open-sided, canopied vehicles
Tswalu Field Guides have been specially trained in Kalahari wildlife and each contributes personally to the constant programme of research and conservation on the reserve.
In addition to this, Tswalu is over 100 000 hectares in size. This means that you will not see another vehicle on your game drive. It also means that game drives can be completely tailored to the guests' interests.
As well as discovering many rare and endangered species for the first time, every guest leaves with a deep appreciation of the beauty of this entire eco-system.
Bush Walks
Guided bush walks are encouraged at Tswalu. We want people to get even closer to the land. To touch the unique vegetation (and learn about some plants’ extraordinary properties). To inspect nests and burrows. To examine the smallest insect.
A morning can begin by walking to a meerkat colony and watching these engaging mammals warm themselves in the sunshine before they scamper off to forage.
Night walks are now also possible, offering the chance of exceptional sightings such as aardvark, aardwolf, porcupine or brown hyena at even closer range.
Encounters with Meerkat colonies
Spend time viewing these enchanting animals at close range.
Horseback Safaris for all ages
Tswalu has a variety of horses ranging from 14.2HH to 17.1HH. The breeds include Boerperd cross, Quarter Horse cross, Thoroughbred, Shire, Appaloosa cross, Arab cross and Saddler cross breeds. An experienced horse guide and backup rider accompany all rides, equipped with radio and comprehensive first aid kit. We accommodate from first time riders to experienced equestrians. We also accommodate children on the rides. Younger and nervous children, depending on riding experience, may be put on lead ropes. The weight limit is 100kg. We use Trail saddles, but also have a few English saddles available for those guests that prefer them.
Stargazing under the Kalahari’s “diamond skies”
Certainly one of the best places to stargaze in South Africa.
Exploring extraordinary archaeological sites
Pack a picnic and explore the Korannaberg hills where the San rock art dates back 380,000 years.
Tswalu Kalahari Spa
Tswalu's award-winning spa offers a welcome lounge, two beautiful therapy suites with adjacent sensation showers with a private garden. In keeping with Tswalu’s philosophy, the spa is crafted from natural materials with reed ceilings and dry-stone walls in the indoor and outdoor showers.
Tswalu Helicopter Experiences
See Tswalu from above with the Agusta Westland 119, a versatile single-engine helicopter ideally suited to VIP transport. Based at Tswalu, the Augusta is available for private helicopter flips on Tswalu, excursions to nearby points of interest and historical landmarks, and a shuttle service to Upington airport.
Junior Ranger's Programme
Children are welcome at Tswalu and the reserve is well equipped to cater for them. Tswalu believes that they too can be part of the conservation vision.
The youngsters will be introduced to the Junior Ranger programme and given a backpack with guides and tools to help them learn about the Kalahari. During their stay they will make their own bow and arrow for archery, learn how to identify spoor, and track game on foot.
In between game walks and drives there are activities at The Motse specially designed to occupy the kids while mom and dad relax. Tswalu’s stables will create a special “pony camp” for any child who shares their passion for horses. There is no malaria in this part of the Kalahari and the pool is a big attraction. They can chat to the rangers, decorate cup cakes and even cook their own bush dinner in the special children’s boma. A separate children’s menu caters for their individual tastes.
Babysitters can be arranged for younger children if parents want time alone.
Community
As well as being an incredible community of flora and fauna, Tswalu is also an extended human family of people from the Kalahari and beyond. We find strength in our diversity, and because we all share the same vision for the future of Tswalu, we can combine our energies and passion to make Tswalu’s vision a reality.
The Tswalu community consists of our staff members and their families, researchers, visiting doctors that support the healthcare centre, visiting artists in residence, and each of our guests, alongside a wider community of neighbours, conservationists and everyone who cares about the restoration of the Kalahari.
The Tswalu Foundation
The Tswalu Foundation exists primarily to support ecological research at Tswalu. Through accumulating a growing body of quality output on the fauna, flora and the unique habitat of the southern Kalahari we have been able to make informed conservation management decisions to better support our shared vision.
This information has been made freely available to our neighbours and other interested parties so that, as we seek to add to our shared understanding of this rich and diverse landscape, they too can care for their land in the best long-term interests of the wildlife and people of the Kalahari.
During your stay at Tswalu, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with researchers studying both iconic and more obscure species and witness scientific conservation in progress.
For more informaiton about Tswalu Tarkuni click HERE.
Click HERE to view videos of Tswalu Tarkuni.
