he largest private reserve in South Africa, and one of the most exclusive, malaria-free Tswalu extends across 440 square miles of Kalahari scrubland below the Korannaberg Mountains to the northwest of the small town of Kuruman. Tswalu has a semi-desert climate typical of Northern Cape province, but it nevertheless supports a varied large mammal fauna including four of the Big Five.  

Discover Tswalu Game Reserve

Tswalu offers the ultimate in exclusive luxury safari experiences. Serviced by two impeccably stylish lodges with a combined maximum sleeping capacity of 28, it has possibly the lowest guest-to-land ratio of any private reserve in Southern Africa, which means you’ll see few if any other vehicles on game drives.  

A checklist of 80 mammals species includes all the Big Five except elephant. In addition to hosting the magnificent black-maned lions typical of the Kalahari, Tswalu is a good place to see cheetah, the endangered African wild dog, and dry-country specialists such as oryx, springbok, desert-adapted black rhino and Hartmann’s mountain zebra.  

In addition to guided game drives, optional activities include horseback excursions, walking safaris and helicopter outings. The unique meerkat experience involves visiting a habituated family of these endearing small carnivores at dusk or dawn.  

Night drives offer a possibility of encounters with rare nocturnal creatures such as brown hyena, aardwolf, bat-eared fox, pangolin and the bizarre ant-eating aardvark.  

The bird checklist of 280 species is strong on raptors and dry-country endemics such as pygmy falcon, pied babbler, crimson-breasted shrike and violet-eared waxbill.  

The complete absence of malaria makes Tswalu well-suited to families with young children and other visitors who don’t want to take prophylactic drugs.  

The rocky outcrops of Tswalu are adorned with mysterious prehistoric rock engravings attributed to the San hunter-gatherers who once inhabited the area.