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Tswalu - The Motse

Our rating

9/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Huge private game-viewing reserve
- Outstanding services
- Spectacular views of savannah
- Family friendly

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Overview

The Motse, meaning ‘little village’, is comprised of nine individual legae, or ‘little houses’, set at the foot of the Korannaberg mountains in the southern Kalahari in South Africa’s largest private game reserve. This is the place to stay for those seeking the best sights over the savannah.

Six standard legae house two guests each, with three additional family legaes accommodating two adults and two children each in two bedrooms. The Motse legae overlook a watering hole in the savannah, such that guests can observe game such as sable and warthogs from their lodgings, whilst dining or enjoying the spa.

Each legae is spacious and immaculately furnished, with ensuite bathrooms containing indoor and outdoor showers, an open fireplace, a separate dressing and study area, and a covered sun-deck. The legae are built from Kalahari elements such as desert sand, red clay, stone, and traditional thatch. The main lodge contains two pools, an outdoor heated pool and an infinity pool offering unbroken views across the grasslands, a sanctuary spa and gym, a mezzanine library, satellite TV and an international wine cellar. Museum cases display rare artefacts from the area.

The service here is outstanding. There are a range of dining experiences on offer. Guests can dine in an open-air boma, on lantern-lit dunes, or under acacia shrubbery. Traditional Kalahari feasts are available, but any meal can be made on request along with access to an award-winning selection of wines. For an upmarket tented camp experience, a night in the Malori sleep-out deck directly under the ‘diamond sky’ is unrivalled.

The greatest attraction is the 250,000-hectare expanse of private Tsuwalu reserve for malaria-free game viewing. It is famous for its plains game, with over 70 species of mammals, including its two colonies of meerkats, sable and roan antelopes, and black-maned Kalahari lions. With experienced personal field guides and trackers going at one’s preferred pace, sightings of rare species such as the African wild dog, desert black rhino, aardvark, and pangolin are not uncommon.

Exclusivity and serenity is guaranteed with only a maximum of 30 guests at any one time in the Tsuwalu reserve, including its sister camp Tarkani. Aside from tailored game drives in open four-by-four vehicles are tailored to each group, the Kalahari can also be explored on guided hikes, including to ancient archaeological rock art sites, or on horseback safaris. Hot air balloon safaris are also for additional cost. Relaxation and wellbeing is also catered for with spa massages and yoga classes, which can be delivered in the privacy of one’s legae or in an outdoor tsala.

The Motse is ideal for children and families, with child-minding services available, a children’s menu, and activities such as the Children's Junior Ranger programme, where children are given a backpack of guides and tools and are taught archery, spoor identification, casting and tracking. The family suites each feature two bedrooms, leading to an expansive central living area and private terrace.

What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 534 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • Thank you, we had an absolute wonderful time, and everything was well-planned and as described. Carla was crying on the day of our departure from Ants Nest, she didn’t want to go home and for it all to end, and when I asked how much longer she would want to stay, she responded “four weeks”

    MissingLars B reviewing Best of South Africa for Families on 01 March 2024

  • It was certainly a holiday of a lifetime for us and we loved every minute!! The standard and location of each accommodation was excellent, as was the variety of each different accommodation type. Our schedule was perfect and we managed to achieve everything on our to-do task list. Your documents were also really helpful, as were the driving directions. We all thank you for making this such a wonderful holiday. Happy to leave a review publicly if you point me the right way. Best Steve

    MissingStephen H reviewing Classic Garden Route & Eastern Cape Safari on 01 September 2023

  • Hi Lisa, We had a fabulous time thank you. The accommodation and other ideation were all terrific - that’s so much for your help. The apartment in Cape Town was particularly good - we would never have found that: Boschendal was great as well and game lodge was superb. Thanks again, Alistair

    MissingAlistair A reviewing Cape Town, Garden Route and Kruger on 28 April 2023

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