Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, which stretches 114 000ha across the southern Kalahari, opened its new Loapi tented camp this month.
The camp comprises six private safari homes, each an exclusive-use, independently run micro-camp.
With views across arid savannah grasslands, the six homes are tucked into the contours of the Korannaberg mountains and can accommodate two or four guests.
The four one-bedroom homes and two two-bedroom homes are 300sqm and 400sqm respectively, and are ideal for those desiring complete privacy on safari.
They are at least 50 metres apart to ensure privacy and solitude and each has a private team that include a homathi (butler) and chef, a private vehicle, and an experienced guide and tracker.
"The overarching design philosophy was that the new camp needed to be as low impact as possible, to reflect Tswalu's ongoing commitment to sustainability and the owners’ vision of regeneration of the environment," said Sally Tsiliyiannis of GAPP Architects, the company that designed the camp.
The modular design, combining canvas, steel, and glass, was primarily manufactured off-site to minimise the environmental impact and protect the iconic shepherd’s trees.
“The main design intent was that, should it ever be required, it would be possible to take the built structure apart and cart it away, leaving the environment exactly as it was found,” Tsiliyiannis added.
The living and dining areas have an open-plan kitchen, fully stocked pantry and bar.
Deep, shaded decks feature day beds for relaxation, a water-wise plunge pool, and a fire pit for sundowners and early-morning coffee.
The bedrooms connect guests to the sights and sounds of nature while providing comfort and insulation from the Kalahari's extreme temperatures.
The tented design incorporates overhangs, providing ample shade and reducing the need for excessive energy consumption.
The camp features further minimal-impact, eco-friendly design solutions, including solar power and water recycling technology, energy-efficient air-conditioning, and solar-powered pool pumps.
“Embracing a true wilderness experience, Loapi speaks to a much-needed change of pace for unscripted time in nature, with space to breathe out, be present, and reconnect with what truly matters. Inspired by the nomadic spirit of camping, the tented homes offer complete freedom to explore the reserve’s vastness and diversity at your own pace, knowing that everything is being taken care of behind the scenes,” said Marketing and Public Relations Director for Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, Russell Binks.
Guests can also spend all day tracking the desert black rhino or brown hyena, visit nearby pans where resident black-maned lion prides converge, or take a picnic breakfast to the top of Bushman Hill where Hartmann’s mountain zebra and greater kudu are often spotted.
