Tswalu Kalahari Reserve

Warthogs fighting in Tswalu Kalahari 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 100,000 hectares.

History

The Tswalu game reserve in the Kalahari Desert was created by Stephen Boler. He bought dozens of farms covering more than a thousand square kilometres to create a hunting reserve. His will specified that Nicky Oppenheimer should have first refusal on Tswalu, and the Oppenheimer family now owns and operates it.

Hunting was stopped by the Oppenheimers and man-made structures, farm buildings and fences were removed. New land was added to extend and protect habitats and territories. The grasses were allowed to grow. Indigenous game such as the critically endangered desert black rhino and black-maned Kalahari lions were introduced.

Tswalu Kalahari (lodge)

Tswalu Kalahari is a luxury private lodge^[1] in the reserve, a member of Relais & Châteaux. 24 guests can be accommodated in the Motse and the private Tarkuni has five suites.

Big Five game

The reserve has all the 'big five', with the exception of elephant.

Conservation

Tswalu Kalahari reserve is part of the Diamond Route.^[2] The conservation work of Nicky and Strilli Oppenheimer was recognized with the WWF-Lonmin Award from the World Wide Fund for Nature in 2007.^[3]

References

Media related to Tswalu Kalahari Reserve at Wikimedia Commons Coordinates: 27°14′35″S 22°24′18″E / 27.24306°S 22.40500°E / -27.24306; 22.40500