Cape Town, Franschhoek and the Sabi Sand in ten nights
Three nights above the Atlantic in Cape Town, three among the vineyards of Franschhoek, then four in the Sabi Sand for leopard. Little jet lag from the UK and a good first safari for couples.
Tswalu Motse
Nine suites in 118,000 hectares of red dunes and grassland, with a private vehicle, guide and tracker for every booking.
Why we love it
Tswalu is the largest privately protected area in South Africa, and only three small camps share it. Motse, the main camp, has nine legae (Setswana for home) facing a waterhole below the Korannaberg mountains, where oryx, springbok and giraffe come down to drink. Every booking comes with its own vehicle, guide and tracker, so the day runs to your pace rather than a timetable.
This is a safari for people who have seen lions in the Kruger and want something stranger. Habituated meerkats, black-maned Kalahari lions, desert black rhino and night drives for aardvark, pangolin and brown hyena are the currency here, along with horse riding and walks to rock engravings. A night at Malori, the tented star bed out on the plains, is the nearest thing to a fly camp in South Africa and one we would always add.
The reserve is malaria-free and welcomes children of all ages, which makes it one of the easiest family safaris in Africa. It is not the place for a Big Five tick list, since there are no elephants, and summer days are very hot. Plan at least four nights: the camp itself recommends it, and the charter flight from Johannesburg or Cape Town is a commitment.
Rooms and villas
Legae
Private suites for two with a shaded veranda for dining and game viewing, part of the nine legae spread out around the main camp at Motse.
Family legae
Three legae with a main bedroom and a twin bedroom, each with its own bathroom and outdoor shower, around a living room with a wood-burning stove.
Malori star bed
A tented sleep-out on the reserve for a night under canvas, close to the sounds of the Kalahari after dark, which can be added to a stay at Motse.
Dining
Meals follow the seasons and the southern Kalahari, with free-range meat, farm eggs, local cheese, honey and vegetables from small producers in the region. There is no seafood by choice. Guests staying two nights or more are given a dinner at Boscia House as part of their stay.
Wellness
Motse has an air-conditioned gym with Technogym equipment, free weights and a mat area for yoga or pilates, and spa treatments can be added. Two swimming pools are shared by guests at the camp.
Children and families
Children of all ages are welcome, on game drives too, and the reserve is malaria-free. Three family legae, a Junior Ranger programme with archery and tracking, and meals made to order for small children make it easy.
The facts
| Reserve size | 118,000 hectares |
|---|---|
| Getting there | Scheduled charter from Johannesburg (about 90 minutes) or Cape Town (about 2 hours) |
| Guiding | Private vehicle, guide and tracker with every booking |
| Children | All ages welcome |
| Malaria | Malaria-free |
| Suggested stay | At least four nights |
Where it is
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, Northern Cape, South Africa
Nearby
A few of the things we plan for guests in South Africa.
Leopards in the Sabi Sand
The Sabi Sand shares an unfenced border with Kruger, so animals move freely, but vehicles are few and guides can drive off-road. Leopards here are unusually relaxed around vehicles. Morning and evening drives last three to four hours, with a bush breakfast or sundowners. Three or four nights is ideal.
Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula
Take the cableway or hike up Platteklip Gorge early, before the tablecloth of cloud rolls in. Then drive the peninsula via Chapman's Peak to Cape Point and the penguins at Boulders Beach. The fynbos here belongs to the Cape Floral Region, one of the richest plant kingdoms on Earth.
Estates and lunches in the Winelands
An hour from Cape Town, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch sit beneath granite mountains, with Cape Dutch homesteads and restaurants among the vines. A driver lets you taste properly. Harvest runs from about February to March; autumn colours follow in April and May.
Journeys in South Africa
Ask about Tswalu Motse
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check availability, suggest the right room and send a price.