Private safari in the Kalahari wilderness
Tarkuni Homestead, a luxury safari lodge in the 114,000-hectare, privately-owned Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, is pure nirvana for nature lovers who value spontaneity and privacy.
Situated in the Northern Cape, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve is a world-class conservation haven of breathtaking natural beauty
Tucked into a valley below the Koranna Berg mountains, Tarkuni Homestead is a luxury safari lodge for families and small groups wanting to spend quality time together on their own terms.
Tarkuni Homestead is a bush hideaway that offers absolute freedom, tranquillity, and beauty. Around you are views to forever, through endless space and under cobalt skies.
Here, in a region known as the green Kalahari, you can completely escape the world and be immersed in authentic conservation and wildlife experiences found nowhere else.
Best of all, everything at Tarkuni Homestead – truly everything – is flexible and organised by your dedicated host according to your desires. The homestead also comes with a private safari vehicle, guide and tracker.
At this catered luxury accommodation, a private chef is on hand to take care of every dining detail.
For a group of couples seeking a romantic bush getaway, the five suites under one thatched roof offer community, while each spacious suite ensures privacy for everyone in residence.
There are nooks and cosy corners to dine, as well as a games room-library and a dedicated therapy room for relaxing massages.
A safari hideaway for all seasons
Throughout Tarkuni the soft hues of the Kalahari outside are echoed inside through decor.
Soft pink of the sand, pale green of the landscape after summer rain, tranquil cream and other neutrals give the interior a calm, welcoming energy that’s hard to explain and better to feel.
It’s light and airy for the hot summers, and there are cosy fireplaces for cold winter nights in the southern Kalahari. When you arrive, you’ll immediately feel comfortable and relaxed.
Wondering what wildlife you can expect to see? Wildlife at Tarkuni is rare and unusual. From Kalahari black-maned lions and endangered pangolin and black rhino, to aardvark, aardwolf and oryx live here naturally. There are also cheetah on the plains and leopard in the mountains.
You can interact with researchers too and learn about their projects, watch a colony of meerkats go about their daily lives, horse ride through the bush or walk in the mountains to find petroglyphs from the middle Stone Age.
Then there’s always the option of relaxing on your veranda and being hypnotised by the rock cascades and endless space before you in the Tarkuni valley.
Tarkuni means ‘a world apart’ and true to its name it’s exactly that. A beautiful world within the world, you could say – and a rare and precious space for sure.
What we love!
- The experience complete freedom and flexibility in everything you do, from activities to dining.
- The reserve is home to an astonishing array of unusual and rare wildlife, offering unforgettable sightings.
- Interiors feature smoothly sanded raw wood furnishings, blending authenticity with understated luxury.
- In some buildings, natural rock formations have been thoughtfully incorporated into the design, blurring the line between nature and architecture.
- Everywhere you look, there’s space—vast, open landscapes that stretch endlessly in every direction.
- A gourmet snack pantry, stocked with homemade treats, ensures you’re never far from something delicious.
- You can even fall asleep beneath the Kalahari stars, right on your veranda—an experience like no other.
- For fine dining, guests are invited to savour world-class cuisine at the acclaimed Restaurant Klein JAN.
What you need to know…
- The private plunge pool is raised for the view, but it is not covered.
- Winters can bring crisp, cold nights, while summer days are extremely hot—pack accordingly.
- The area is malaria-free.
- Wi-Fi is available should you wish to stay connected.
- Please inform the team in advance of any special dietary requirements so they can prepare for your arrival.
- Tswalu is accessible via daily private charter flights: 90 minutes from Johannesburg or 2 hours from Cape Town, landing directly at the reserve’s private airstrip.
- If Tarkuni Homestead is unavailable to book for your dates, browse our other South African safari hideaways.Â
Written by Keri Harvey
Edited by Dawn Kennedy