Tswalu The Motse Lodge

• Largest private game reserve in South Africa
• Game-viewing in the Kalahari Desert
• Visits to the meerkats
• Malaria-free game reserve
• Very child-friendly with children's activities & special treats

Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve in the Kalahari grasslands of the Northern Cape is the largest private game reserve in South Africa and the historical home of the Bushmen (San) people. The emphasis here is on exclusivity, which is why the entire reserve can accommodate no more than 30 people at a time. This spectacular malaria-free reserve offers a wealth of experiences - explore Tswalu Game Reserve by 4x4, on horseback or on foot. There's a sense of contentment that comes from being surrounded by so much space, the colours and textures, the myriad sounds and vast silences of the wilderness. You're sharing the environment just with springbok, buffalo, lion, kudu, bat-eared fox, hyena, meerkat and aardwolf. Wildebeest, cheetah, the majestic Roan and Sable Antelope can also be seen.

Accommodation

The Motse Lodge offers six luxuriously appointed 'legae' (suites) and three family suites. The curved stone and sand walls of the lodge are enclosed by a thatched roof, providing shade and sculptural beauty. Each suite overlooks a waterhole and has a spacious bedroom with open fireplace, lounge, sumptuous en suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor shower and a large dressing and study area. Additional facilities include telephone, wifi access, minibar and private sun deck. The lodge also has a library, swimming pool, gym, spa and wifi connectivity as you would expect at a five star game lodge.

Activities

Activities are many and various include game drive and walks. Tswalu is unique in offering each group of guests their own vehicle, guide and tracker. Given that Tswalu is over 100 000 hectares in size, this means that you will not see another vehicle on your game drive and that your game drives can be completely tailored to your interests. The ever popular bush walks focus on the kalahari vegetation, bush medicines, and hunting skills of the San people, as well as visiting the meerkat colonies to watch these engaging mammals start their day. Sundowners on the lantern-lit dunes or bush dining at Lekgaba Lookout completes the experience at Tswalu.

Other activities include horse-riding safaris, star-gazing, visiting rock paintings, enjoying a night out at the Tswalu Molori sleep-out or relaxing in the Tswalu Spa.

Family safaris at Tswalu Game Reserve

Tswalu Game Reserve welcomes children of all ages at both The Motse and Tarkuni Lodge. The staff at Tswalu do everything possible to make sure not only mum and dad have a wonderful stay but that the children remember it as their best holiday ever! Special touches include a kid’s menu, earlier mealtimes for younger children, a children's game drive (if there are more than four children at the lodge), visiting the stables and going horse-riding, even rolling down a sand dune!

Almost unique in South Africa, Tswalu is happy to allow children of any age on a game drive as all activities are privately arranged and so you don't have to worry about your children and others guests...

There is a Junior Ranger Programme which offers a range of activities to suit children of all ages. Older kids can try their hand at archery, learn how to identify spoor and track game on foot, for example. In between activities the pool is always an attraction and younger kids can decorate cup cakes or even cook their own bush dinner in the special children’s boma. The Kalahari is free of malaria so that’s an added bonus at Tswalu.

Family accommodation at Motse - Tswalu is a very family-friendly option. There are two specially designed family suites which can accommodate larger families or families with teenagers at attractive rates. The family suites have two bedrooms, each with their own en-suite bathrooms, separated by an expansive living room which leads onto a shady private terrace. Younger children can also share with parents in a standard suite.

Every party has their own game vehicle and ranger. And thus kids of any age are able to join in on game drives. Though naturally your ranger will use their discretion as to proximity to sightings.