Tswalu Loapi Tented Camp

Tswalu Loapi Tented Camp evokes a carefree, nomadic spirit of camping and a return to a true wilderness experience that is both private and exclusive. With only six Private Tented Homes set within Bruwer Valley, guests cant enjoy elevated, uninterrupted views across the grassy plains to distant hills in the valley beyond. From one end to the other, the camp appears to float above the landscape in a conscious departure from the organic, grounded permanence of the Motse.

Loapi means, 'the space below the clouds' in Setswana, signalling a change of pace inspired by a new mood of calm and carefree safaris. The light, modular design under canvas ensures a continuous connection to the environment, in tune with nature's rhythms. In embracing this true wilderness experience, guests have complete freedom to do whatever they want.

Each tent, also called 'homes', has a dedicated homathi, or butler, and a private chef. With a private vehicle, guide and tracker always at the ready, guests can choose to spend all day tracking some of the elusive species, visit nearby pans where resident lion prides converge, or take a picnic breakfast to the top of Bushman Hill where Hartmann's mountain zebra and kudu are often spotted. Most of all, Loapi provides the luxury of space and time to do nothing more than relax on the deck and gaze at the view, relishing the solitude and silence.

About the Kalahari Nature Reserve

The Tswalu Kalahari Reserve is a privately owned game reserve in the Northern Cape, South Africa. It is South Africa's largest private game reserve, covering an area of over 111,000 hectares.

There are countless San Engraving sites at Tswalu that testify to the importance of earlier inhabitants that regarded the green Kalahari. During the 20^th century, the link between people and their surroundings were disrupted by attempts at cattle farming and hunting.

Tswalu is a labour of love for the Oppenheimer family, who took responsibility for this remarkable reserve in 1998 – continuing the vision of the late Stephen Boler, from Manchester in the United Kingdom, whose dream it was to return this land which had been farmed, to its former state. Since then, their commitment to conservation has seen indigenous species re-introduced, and real strides made towards the restoration of the Kalahari, and the undoing of years of neglect.

In its new incarnation as a private nature reserve and conservation success story, Tswalu is bringing this ultimate ambition a little closer each day: To leave the world better than how it was found. One of the very few mountain ranges in the southern Kalahari – the Korannaberg – casts a benevolent shadow over the rolling dunes and expansive grasslands of Tswalu. Tswalu also receives more rainfall than many other parts of the Kalahari.

In the shelter of the mountains, you can encounter Tswalu’s 240 bird and 80 mammal species, including Hartmann’s mountain zebra and wild dog. To date, more butterfly species have been recorded here than in the entire British Isles. By way of confounding stereotypes, Tswalu is even home to three species of amphibian.