In April 1999 the Oppenheimers, a well-known mining family of South Africa, purchased Tswalu from the estate of the late Stephen Boler’s, a Manchester entrepreneur. Through the commitment of these visionary owners, Tswalu has become one of the largest private conservation projects in Africa.
Although much has changed in the years since Nicky Oppenheimer’s family acquired Tswalu, the overall goal has remained unchanged - “to restore the Kalahari to itself” and to make Tswalu one of the premier wildlife destinations in Africa. The area had previously been farmed with little regard for the environment, and as a result, the very essence of the authentic Africa it once was, had almost been destroyed. However, thanks to the restoration of land, the destruction of dams, removal of houses and fences and re-introduction of indigenous game including the rare desert black rhino, sable and roan antelope, lion and cheetah, it now resembles the real Africa that nature intended.
There is still much to be done, but the Oppenheimers’ commitment to excellence and the resolve to restore Tswalu’s land and its wildlife remains unchanged. Tswalu is a South Africa game reserve that is a work in progress, offering guests the opportunity to learn and get actively involved in our continuous conservation work.
The reserve extends the ethos of the Oppenheimer family’s other major conservation initiatives including the Diamond Route and at Waltham Place in the UK. The Diamond Route is one of many manifestations of the passion that De Beers and the Oppenheimer family have for South Africa’s environmental conversation. The route, which is a partnership project between De Beers, and E Oppenheimer & Son, provides guided public access to the properties owned by the companies for game viewing, bird watching, education and research. It also raises awareness and understanding among local communities about the role of the environment as a source of livelihood.
