Experiences in Tswalu Kalahari

Explore the Tswalu Kalahari on horseback

Being on horseback allows you to get close to animals like the endangered roan and sable antelope or the usually skittish Hartmann’s mountain zebra without disturbing them. Beginners and advanced riders alike can ride across the grassy plains and red dunes, drink in the beauty of the Kalahari landscape and enjoy its stillness.

Sleep under the Tswalu Kalahari stars

Sleep under a canopy of stars in the dry Kalahari air where no light pollution dims their brilliance. The raised sleep-out platform, called Malori or 'dreamer', has a thatched overhang and weather-proof blinds. Here, in a safe environment, you can immerse yourself in the Kalahari and feel the romance of its night skies.

Search for elusive species in Tswalu Kalahari

The arid Kalahari is one of the best places to see the secretive aardvark and pangolin, sightings highly sought-after even by Big Five aficionados. Both animals are nocturnal so your guide will try to find them on an early evening safari. Stay alert and you might spot other wildlife too.

Visit the rock art sites in Tswalu

Rock engravings are found in many parts of southern Africa and are often associated with mountains and hilltops, as well as springs or places where water collects in depressions in the rock. Most engravings are difficult to date directly and may be tens of thousands, or just a couple of hundred years old. At Tswalu, and surrounding areas, there are several wonderful sites where rock engravings may be seen, and all of these are strongly associated with water.

Go on a guided walk in Tswalu

Birders will be eager to discover many of the bird species of the southern Kalahari while at Tswalu. Birding is best done on foot. Setting out in the early morning on a walking safari coincides with the onset of the dawn chorus. Listening to bird calls is always a useful tool to locate different birds.

Visit to Tswalu’s habituated meerkats

Guests have the opportunity to get within a few metres of one of three habituated family groups to watch them pop in and out of their burrows, stand sentry, groom and play with each other, soak up the sunshine, and forage in the sand for tasty morsels. The families are referred to as the Mokala, Gosa and Rockstar groups.

Enjoy a private vehicle safari in Tswalu Kalahari

A private vehicle safari allows for unlimited time at sightings, which may include some of the elusive species that find sanctuary here, such as aardvark, pangolin, bat-eared fox, brown hyena, and aardwolf. Other iconic Kalahari species include the black-maned Kalahari lion, the desert black rhino, wild dog, oryx and cheetah. At any time of the year, there are special sightings and transformations to the landscape influenced by seasonal changes and the absence or abundance of water. Spending time at one of the habituated meerkat colonies is often a highlight of a Tswalu safari.

Tswalu Kalahari

What to do in Tswalu Kalahari