Jan
Green seasonWildlife: Summer rains can transform the Kalahari into green shrubs and grasses.
Summer rain can quickly green the Kalahari.
Loapi
Kalahari, South Africa · Private reserve
Lodge describes itself as: Luxury. Self-declared by the lodge, not an official grade.Tented camp
Ultra-luxury · How we rate: Explore Africa level, based on the typical lowest nightly rate per person sharing: Value under A$400, Mid-range A$400 to A$899, Luxury A$900 to A$1,799, Ultra-luxury A$1,800 or more.
How we rate
Explore Africa level, based on the typical lowest nightly rate per person sharing: Value under A$400, Mid-range A$400 to A$899, Luxury A$900 to A$1,799, Ultra-luxury A$1,800 or more.
Photo: Andrew Morgan · Tswalu · Source ↗
All inclusive (AI)
Private 4x4 vehicle with guide and tracker, All meals, snacks and drinks including fine South African wines and 12 more
6 tents
One-bedroom safari home, Two-bedroom safari home
All ages welcome
Family rooms available
By air or road
Wi-Fi in rooms
From about A$4,830
per person / night, sharing
Overview
About Loapi
Loapi is a small collection of six exclusive-use safari homes in Tswalu’s Bruwer Valley. Four homes have one bedroom and two have two bedrooms, with private kitchens, studies, decks, plunge pools and fire pits. Each stay has its own homathi, chef, safari vehicle, guide and tracker, so days can follow the interests of one couple, family or group. Rates include meals, snacks, drinks, guided activities and laundry. The homes have no shared guest areas, making Loapi a private base for exploring the southern Kalahari’s wide grasslands and mountain backdrop.
“For travellers who want a self-contained safari home rather than a shared lodge, Loapi pairs flexible private guiding with generous outdoor space and Kalahari views.”
Best for
FamiliesGroupsLuxury seekersPhotographers
Known for
What you can expect to see
LionRhinoBuffaloGiraffeZebraHyena
Private safaris from Loapi explore Bruwer Valley’s rhino, lion, buffalo, zebra, giraffe and elusive-species habitat.
Your stay
What's included
Board: All inclusive (AI)
Special offer: Stay four nights and receive 50% off the first night, valid until 31 December 2026.
Included
- Private 4x4 vehicle with guide and tracker
- All meals, snacks and drinks including fine South African wines
- Game drives
- Nature walks
- Rock art walks
- Animal tracking
- Birding
- Stargazing
- Meerkat encounter
- Horse riding
- Child-minding
- Tswalu Junior Ranger programme
- Laundry
- In-room spa treatments
Not included
- Gratuities
Travel to and from Tswalu and gratuities are not included.
Optional extras (at a cost)
Private photographic-guide tuition, gallery purchases, the Malori sleep-out, spa treatments and donations to the Tswalu Foundation cost extra.
Facilities
Comforts and facilities
At the property
- Swimming pool
- Fire pit
In your room
- Wi-Fi in your room
- Private plunge pool
- Private deck
- In-room WiFi
Rooms
Where you sleep
- One-bedroom safari home4 at camp · sleeps 2 adults and 2 children · Interactive kitchen, Private study, Private deck, Fire pit, Private plunge pool, Indoor shower, Outdoor shower
- Two-bedroom safari home2 at camp · sleeps 4 adults and 3 children · Interactive kitchen, Private study, Private deck, Fire pit, Private plunge pool, Indoor shower, Outdoor shower
Getting there
How you'll arrive
- How you arrive
- By air or road
- Transfers
- Tswalu provides road-arrival directions from Johannesburg, Kimberley and Upington.
- Luggage
- 20 kg per person in soft bags
Good to know
Before you book
- Check-in
- From 14:00
- Check-out
- By 12:00
- Children
- All ages welcome. Family rooms available
- Single travellers
- A single supplement applies
- Malaria
- Malaria-free area
- Minimum stay
- 2 nights
Before you travel
Australian Government travel advice
South Africa
Level 2: Exercise a high degree of caution
Last updated
Read the full advice on Smartraveller for South Africa (opens in a new tab)
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Smartraveller (smartraveller.gov.au), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Summarised and shortened by Explore Africa; read the full advice on Smartraveller.
When to go
Best time to visit
- January: Green season
- February: Green season
- March: Green season
- April: Green season
- May: Green season
- June: Good
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Good
- October: Good
- November: Green season
- December: Green season
- Good
- Green season
Month-by-month notes
Feb
Green seasonWildlife: Summer rains can transform the Kalahari into green shrubs and grasses.
Mar
Green seasonWildlife: Summer rains can transform the Kalahari into green shrubs and grasses.
Apr
Green seasonWildlife: Autumn is the greenest time of year in the southern Kalahari.
Autumn is the greenest time of year.
May
Green seasonWildlife: Autumn is the greenest time of year in the southern Kalahari.
Jun
GoodWildlife: Dry winter conditions make it a wonderful time to look for elusive species.
Dry winter conditions favour searches for elusive species.
Jul
GoodWildlife: Dry winter conditions make it a wonderful time to look for elusive species.
Aug
GoodWildlife: Dry winter conditions make it a wonderful time to look for elusive species.
Sep
GoodWildlife: Spring brings pleasantly mild days and cooler evenings.
Spring days are mild, with cooler evenings.
Oct
GoodWildlife: Spring brings pleasantly mild days and cooler evenings.
Nov
Green seasonWildlife: Summer rains can transform the Kalahari into green shrubs and grasses.
Summer rain can quickly green the Kalahari.
Dec
Green seasonWildlife: Summer rains can transform the Kalahari into green shrubs and grasses.
How we judge each month
- Dry season, best game viewingAmong this property's strongest months for conditions, access and key experiences.
- GoodVery favourable conditions for this property and its key experiences.A generally good time to stay, with some normal seasonal compromises.
- Green seasonWorkable for specific priorities, with notable seasonal compromises.The property operates, but seasonal conditions bring substantial trade-offs.
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Nearby
Other stays nearby
Details checked November 2026. Rates and availability are confirmed by the lodge when you contact them.