Loapi Tented Camp
Tswalu Kalahari Private Reserve
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Safari Lodge
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Fully Inclusive
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Personal Butler
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Personal Chef
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6 2-Bedroom Villas
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Up To 36 Guests
Immerse yourself in the pristine beauty of nature at Loapi Tented Camp, where six lavish exclusive use safari villas await you in the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve of South Africa. The plush accommodation promises guests a sleek wilderness experience within one of the biggest privately protected wildlife reserves in the country.
Loapi Tented Camp offers exclusive use of six individual tented safari homes, each operating as an intimate microcamp. A 50-meter distance between homes ensures complete tranquility and privacy for guests. Guests at Loapi Tented Camp are surrounded by spectacular views of the arid savannah and its unique wildlife, as the accommodation lies within a valley by the Korannaberg mountains. Enjoy the luxury of having your own private paradise to return to amidst the untamed wilderness, which you can return to after going on adventures to see some of Africa’s rarest creatures for yourself including giraffes, zebras and wildebeests. Loapi is revolutionizing the concept of private villas on safari thanks to the seasoned experts at Tswalu Kalahari and the team at Craft Travel couldn’t be more excited about it.
Why our Travel Designers like it…
“Loapi Tented Camp will be one of the most saught after exclusive-use safari lodges on the planet. And, beacuse it’s part of Tswalu, guests will be able to experience Klien JAN, which is one of my personal favorite resturants in the world.”
-Julia
Loapi
The Space Below the Clouds
Loapi, meaning ‘the space below the clouds’ in the Setswana language, is nestled in the open savannah grasslands of the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The reserve is home to a variety of wildlife, including lions, leopards, elephants, and rhinos. Guests will enjoy game drives, horseback riding, and hiking in the reserve. Loapi is also a great place to stargaze, as the skies are dark and clear.
The area boasts a sensationally varied landscape of desert-life savannas and African bush shrubs. While the site lies at the foot of the Korannaberg Mountains and offers glorious views over the nearby peaks, the local wildlife tends to steal the spotlight for those staying in the area on a luxury South Africa safari.
Tswalu is home to a spectacular array of creatures including lions, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, warthogs, ostriches and its two rarest species, pangonlins and meerkats. Loapi Tented Camp is a fantastic place to stay for anyone looking to set off on the best luxury safari vacation in South Africa. As one of the finest luxury safari accommodations in South Africa, below we’ve outlined some key details about Loapi Tented Camp for those of you planning a lavish trip to Tswalu Kalahari Reserve.
Key Features of Loapi Tented Camp
The accommodation itself consists of six exclusive use villas, four with one bedroom and two with two bedrooms. Each showcases a chic modern design of steel and glass pavilions. Airy bedrooms, private plunge pools and firepit are just some of the stand-out details of Loapi’s private homes. Just as you would expect from Tswalu, one of the top luxury safari lodges in South Africa, Loapi Tented Camp boasts a spectacular array of on-site facilities and amenities.
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A personal guide, tracker and safari vehicle will be on-hand for you to ensure unlimited access to Tswalu Kalahari Reserve. Uncover the majesty of the magnificent landscape while ticking off seeing one incredible animal after the next, including five of the most elusive species in Africa: the aardvark, pangolin, brown hyena, aardwolf and bat-eared fox.
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A private chef will prepare exquisite meals for you during your stay, allowing you the freedom to alter recipes and menus to your liking without having to lift a finger yourself. This leaves you fully able to relax and enjoy the high life on your luxury South African safari. Whatever your taste, your private chef will be happy to accommodate your requests.
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A personal butler will be on-hand to cater to your every need, ensuring that you can fully unwind and immerse yourself in the glorious nature that surrounds you. From arranging activities like in-room spa treatments to creating specialty drinks, your dedicated butler will be there to assist you to make your time more enjoyable.
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Each home boasts a private bar with a terrific collection of South African wines. During the evenings, you can make a dent in the collection by sampling those of your choosing by sitting down to a glass by the heat of the fire pit which is also a great place to stargaze, as the sky is incredibly clear in the Kalahari.
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The six homesteads feature their own private plunge pools where you can retreat for a refreshing dip amidst the extraordinary desert scenery. This can be a particularly rejuvenating experience after returning from a day of exploring the Tswalu landscape. The pools are heated, so you can enjoy them even in the cooler months.
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Klein JAN at Tswalu is a fine dining restaurant located in the heart of the South African Kalahari. A celebration of locally sourced cuisine and culture by South African chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen, who is also the chef and owner of Michelin-starred restaurant JAN in Nice, France.
Things to Do at Loapi Tented Camp
Setting off on this luxury safari in South Africa promises a wealth of adventures. We have listed a few on offer below.
Loapi Tented Camp FAQs
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Game viewing is an integral part of the Loapi Tented Camp experience as the luxury safari lodge lies immersed in the wildlife of the landscape. Guests need not venture far to spot many of the area’s most incredible creatures, with shaded outdoor spaces by the accommodation specifically designed for such purposes.
However, you will also be able to set off on daily adventures exploring the vast landscape of Tswalu in all of its glory. Your personal guide and tracker will lead you to all of the best spots for seeing the reserve’s most fascinating creatures. Along with the usual suspects, you can see the likes of black-maned lions, cheetahs and wild dogs.
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Tswalu Kalahari is a private game reserve in South Africa that is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Some of the most common game animals that you can see on safari at Tswalu Kalahari include:
Oryx: The oryx is a large antelope that is well-adapted to the dry conditions of the Kalahari. They have long, straight horns and a distinctive black and white coat.
Wildebeest: The wildebeest is a large, migratory antelope that is found in many parts of Africa. They are known for their distinctive black and white stripes and their long, pointed horns.
Zebra: The zebra is a black and white striped mammal that is found in many parts of Africa. They are closely related to horses and donkeys, and they are herbivores that eat grass and other plants.
Giraffe: The giraffe is the tallest animal on Earth, and they are found in many parts of Africa. They have long necks and legs, and they are herbivores that eat leaves from trees.
Warthog: The warthog is a pig-like mammal that is found in many parts of Africa. They have long tusks and a distinctive wart-like growth on their head.
Ostrich: The ostrich is the largest bird in the world, and they are found in many parts of Africa. They are flightless birds, and they use their long legs to run at high speeds.
Kalahari black-maned lion: The Kalahari black-maned lion is a subspecies of lion that is found in the Kalahari Desert. They are known for their distinctive black manes, and they are the largest subspecies of lion in Africa.
Desert black rhino: The desert black rhino is a subspecies of rhinoceros that is found in the Kalahari Desert. They are the smallest subspecies of rhinoceros in Africa, and they are critically endangered.
African wild dog: The African wild dog is a large, social canine that is found in many parts of Africa. They are known for their distinctive black and white markings, and they are endangered.
Meerkat: The Kalahari meerkat is a small mongoose that is found in the Kalahari Desert. They are known for their distinctive black and white markings, and they are very social animals that live in groups of up to 30 individuals. Meerkats are carnivores, and they eat a variety of small animals, including insects, scorpions, and snakes. They are also known to scavenge for food, and they will often follow lions and other predators in order to eat the leftovers from their kills.
In addition to these common game animals, you may also be lucky enough to see some of the more elusive animals that live in the Kalahari, such as the cheetah, leopard, and pangolin.
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Yes, there is a Meerkat experience at Tswalu Kalahari. The Meerkat Experience is a guided tour that allows you to get up close and personal with these fascinating creatures. You will have the opportunity to watch them as they forage for food, groom each other, and play. You will also learn about their unique social structure and their adaptations to life in the Kalahari Desert.
While you will observe the Meerkats on foot at close distance, you will not be able to touch them or let them climb on you. If you are looking for a more hands-on Meerket experience, you will want to visit Jack’s Camp. Read our blog post about our latest trip comparing Jack’s Camp and Tswalu Motse for more detail.
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There is nothing quite as rejuvenating and refreshing for those on a luxury safari than returning to an in-room spa treatment. Let any stresses float far away in the privacy of your own suite as an experienced wellness therapist treats you to facials, massages and manicures.
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Keen photographers, regardless of their level of skill, will benefit from booking our fully equipped photographic safari vehicle. The modified Land Rover is ideal for one photographer but has enough space for a second guest. A rotating, lockable swivel seat, which allows for an uninterrupted 270-degree arc, is fitted with a stabilising arm and platform for taking sharp, steady images.
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Specialist photographic equipment is available to hire, with or without a photographic vehicle booking.
• 2 x 150–600mm Sigma Contemporary zoom lens
• f5 – 6.3 Dg/Os/Hsm
• Compatible with a Nikon SLR or Canon SLR body
• Lightweight, compact, superior long-reach image quality, variable aperture hyper-telephoto zoom lens
The rental cost is R500 a day, or part thereof (half or full day).
Note: that requests for other lenses can be arranged in advance.
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Guests can edit, crop and print their best images in the Photographic Studio located at the Motse. Editing is done in Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom on an Apple Mac, and printing is available up to A1 size on either paper or canvas.
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The newest addition to the Tswalu collection, Loapi Tented Camp is set to be one of the best luxury safari accommodations in South Africa. To get here, you will need to first fly to Cape Town International Airport or O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
Next, take a connecting flight to Upington Airport. This is the closest airport to Tswalu. From here, all it takes is a few hours in the car to get to Loapi Tented Camp. We can arrange all of this for you so you won’t need to worry about a thing.
