Tswalu The Motse
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve covers more than 1,200 square kilometres, or 120,000 hectares, on the edge of the Kalahari desert, making it one of the largest privately owned wildlife reserves in South Africa. Tswalu The Motse lies at the foot of the Korannaberg mountains facing westwards across the Kalahari. Tswalu Motse welcomes children of all ages and actively encourages them to participate fully in the safari experience.
Accommodation & Facilities
Motse means ‘village’ in Tswana and The Motse comprises nine authentic stone walled and thatch-roofed ‘legae’ (Tswana for ‘little house’). Each legae is elegantly appointed with indoor and outdoor showers, with views across the Kalahari plains, and private sundecks, creating a rustic feel without compromising its private and luxurious facilities. Three of the legae are family rooms accommodating four guests each in two separate en-suite bedrooms with the option to add a third children’s (0-17 years) bed in the expansive lounge.
Guests can enjoy meals in the dining room, or in the privacy of their own suite. The lodge has a large, heated, child-friendly pool, a walk-in wine cellar stocked with many fine South African wines, and a spa and gym, as well as a luxurious dining room, bar, lounge and library.
Tswalu has a family friendly sleep-out platform, the Naledi, where guests can sleep under the stars. The Naledi is close to the mountains, and offers those who opt to sleep here the chance to experience at close quarters the nocturnal sounds of the bush and the incredible swathe of stars in the desert night sky.
Eating & Sleeping
Children can have separate meal times at times to suit. There is a children’s menu and individual preferences can be accommodated with prior warning. Child minding services can easily be arranged at no extra cost.
Wildlife & Activities
Guests can take guided walks across the stunning, silent red dunes. Wildlife drives in open-sided safari vehicles allow guests excellent wildlife sightings, and can also stop at scenic spots to enjoy an impressive sunset or splendid bush dinner. Bird-watching, star-gazing, rhino tracking and exciting visits to the habituated meerkat dens of Tswalu are just some of the activities on offer. Horse riding gives guests the chance to become one with nature and to experience close encounters with wildlife. Tswalu has a helicopter that can take five guests on scenic flights around the reserve, as well as to other places of interest nearby, which adds a fantastic new dimension to exploring this magnificent part of the Kalahari. Please ask us for pricing details for helicopter flights.
Specifically for children …
On arrival, children receive a backpack which includes Tswalu’s Junior Ranger training guide. The guides are very child friendly and younger children are welcome to join wildlife drives. Tswalu offers a private vehicle, guide and tracker for every group so there is plenty of flexibility for families to go at their own pace.
An exciting programme of special activities for children includes:
• Archery and making bows and arrows.
• Spoor identification and casting.
• Children’s bush walks.
• Tracking wildlife on foot and with technology.
• Picnics, special children’s boma meals.
• Baking.
• Guided horse trails.
