Tintswalo at Lapalala Wilderness

There are four luxury tents at Lapalala Wilderness, Tuareg and Himba – which are both king rooms which can be configured as twin rooms. And Zulu and Venda – which are family luxury tents, which can accommodate up to four people.

Both Tuareg and Himba are comfortable, spacious safari tents, with floor to ceiling windows on either side of the bed, and sliding doors at the front of the tent which let in bright natural light and fresh South African breezes. A large king-size bed sits in the centre of the room and is covered in crisp white bed linens, colourful scatter cushions, and draped with mosquito netting for a bug-free night’s sleep. The feature colour in Himba is burnt orange, with Tuareg featuring blue – and the eclectic mixture of furniture, fabrics, and art are styled accordingly.

Both tents come with an open plan ensuite bathroom which includes an indoor shower and bathtub, and unique outdoor showers and bathtubs – allowing guests to enjoy a unique soak in the heart of nature. Expansive deckings sit to the front of both tents, and offer sweeping views over the tree spotted grassy plains. But perhaps the pièce de résistance are the sparkling private plunge pools where guests can cool off with a refreshing dip while still keeping an eye out for meandering animals.

Zulu and Venda are the two family luxury tents at Lapalala Wilderness, perfect for families of four or groups of friends. Filled with authentic art, colourful fabrics, and surrounded by the sweeping views of the bushveld, these tents have an atmosphere of traditional African safari chic. In both these tents, there is a large king-size bed sat in the centre of the space, covered in crisp white bed linens and romantically draped with mosquito netting. The tent is filled with bright and natural light through floor to ceiling windows and sliding doors at the front of the tent.

The second bedroom includes two single beds which are dressed in crisp white bed linens and also draped in mosquito netting. The tent comes with a full bathroom which includes an inside shower, a bathtub, an outside shower and an outdoor bathtub with a view. The expansive decking offers the perfect place to unwind after a long day, watching the sunset tones fill the air, or guests can enjoy a dip in their private plunge pool to escape the heat of the afternoon or enjoy some family fun.

There are two superior luxury tents at Lapalala Wilderness which are called Maasai and Turkana. These offer unparalleled comfort, and are perfect for honeymooning couples or couples wanting a romantic getaway. Both rooms include an eclectic mixture of authentic African furniture and art, which add colour and style to the tents. Floor to ceiling windows line the walls and fill the space with natural light as well as offer views over the surrounding wilds which can be enjoyed from the comfort of the bed.

Large, cosy, King size beds sit in the centre of both tents and are covered in crisp bed linen, with patterned scatter cushions and bed runners, and are draped in mosquito netting for a bug-free nights sleep. Both tents come with their own ensuite bathroom which comes complete with an indoor bath with a view, and a unique outdoor shower. The tents come complete with their own private verandah where guests can relax at the end of the day, gazing over the horizon with a drink from the in-room minibar. Also to be found on the verandahs are private plunge pools, offering guests the perfect place to cool off in the heat of the afternoon without missing any views.

The two Xhosa suites offer premium luxury to guests, brick suites instead of tents, the interiors are similar to that of a luxury hotel, the only thing reminding guests of their location being authentic art and the views of the thick bushveld through floor to ceiling windows. Inside the suite, guests will find a plush king-size bed covered in cosy pillows and cushions and draped in mosquito netting. A sitting area includes cosy armchairs where guests can unwind on chillier evenings, while still being able to gaze out over the bushveld.

The bathrooms include an indoor bath and shower, and a private sparkling plunge pool can be found on the expansive decking. These rooms can be interconnected, creating the perfect suite for a family with older children who want their own privacy.

Guests can make their way to the dining room for mealtimes at Lapalala Wilderness, the food is delicious and freshly prepared with ingredients from their very own garden. For a more unique dining experience, Lapalala is known for its bush banqueting where meals can be taken in the bush underneath the wide sky, surrounded by the sounds, sights, and smells of the bush. Sundowners and bush drinks are also offered, allowing guests to enjoy a refreshing beer or smooth glass of wine in the centre of the wilderness.

Head out on a traditional safari activity and explore the bush on a game drive. Travel around the bush in the comfort of a 4×4 safari vehicle and accompanied by guides who are knowledgeable and friendly, and who will be able to take you to some of the best viewing points in the area. Stop alongside a herd of zebras, or gaze at a tall giraffe through the treetops, it is a once in a lifetime experience to be able to view these animals in their natural habitat. Private safaris can be arranged for guests who have a specific experience they want to receive.

For guests who want to receive a more immersive experience, bush walks are offered from Tintswalo at Lapalala Wilderness. Make your way through the bush on foot, following a trained guide who will be able to impart their wisdom on the many species of flora which you will pass. This is a perfect activity to focus on the smaller ecosystems of the bush, such as the insect life and engage in some bird watching.

Within the Lapalala Wilderness Reserve 13 sites of historical interest have been identified, with one ancient rock painting example just a 20-minute drive from the lodge. Adventure here with a trained guide who will be able to tell you the meaning of the paintings and describe to you their significance. Guests can hike to and from the rock painting, which will take around 2 hours.

River cruises are available in the mornings, and afternoons for an extra charge – with each offering their perks. During the morning, glide along the gentle waters while looking to the river banks for animals grabbing a refreshing drink. During the afternoon while travelling the sparkling waters make sure you have your camera ready, as the golden tones of the sunset reflect off the waters to create some of the best photo opportunities of the day.

For an additional cost, follow a guide off the beaten track to some of the best and unknown fishing spots in the bush. Fly fishing and bass fishing is offered from Tintswalo at Lapalala Wilderness, and guests can catch any variety of species from Yellowfish, Sharptooth catfish, Southern mouthbrooders, and Canary largemouths.

For an additional charge, guests can make their way to the secure sleep-out deck. Relax in comfort, surrounded by the vast and wild night, and fall asleep to the gentle rustle of the bush underneath the wide starry sky.

Due to the location being in the middle of a private reserve, the night skies at Tintswalo are wide and unpolluted. After the sun goes down and the stars come up, guests can gaze endlessly at the night sky, looking out for constellations such as Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, and the Southern Cross.

There are many child-friendly activities to keep children entertained at Tintswalo Lapalala Wilderness. They can enjoy baking with the chefs, or learning how to track from the guides. Childminding can be arranged at an extra cost if adults wish to partake in a more strenuous walk or private bush picnic.

Head to the spa for a bit of self-care and indulge in a stress-relieving massage surrounded by the relaxing wilds of the Lapalala Reserve. Spend some time looking after your mind, body, and soul to really connect and be at one with nature.

Based in Hout Bay, the Amoyo Performing Arts Foundation helps children to see their potential and build up their confidence. The non-profit organisation aims to teach and mentor children from underprivileged communities within the local area to dream big, and to help the local children exceed their expectations of a disadvantaged future in their small community.

Tintswalo has been supporting this organisation for a few years by helping with transport and providing food and general logistical assistance.

Tintswalo at Lapalala Wilderness’ sister property, Tintswalo Safari Lodge, has been supporting local schools in the Manyeleti area by distributing maize-meal to 27 schools. Each of these schools has received ten 25kg bags of maize-meal in order to help poorer communities to feed their children. This effort has been especially important during the pandemic as families have been struggling financially.

By hosting virtual safaris and competition fundraisers along with two other lodges, Tintswalo has been able to raise the necessary funds to support this initiative. Each of the safari lodges donated a two-night trip as competition prizes, causing large numbers of people to donate.

Tintswalo has been supporting AfriOceans in their mission to protect the African Penguins at Shark Warrior Adventures, Seaforth Beach from the human visitors who may harass and distress the penguin colony. Seaforth Beach is located just outside of Simon’s Town and is home to approximately 150 endangered African Penguins who have broken away from the main colony at Boulders Beach on the Cape Peninsula in South Africa.

While the penguins at Boulders Beach fall under the protection of the Table National Park, the penguins at Seaforth Beach have no such protection and so AfriOceans has implemented a limit to the human interactions which have been negatively impacting the birds. This has included the construction of a barrier around the penguins favourite spots to prevent habitat damage, improving penguin viewing conditions for viewers, and increasing the penguin’s space to prevent trampling of the adjoining coastal dune area.

Rhino populations have been decimated due to Africa’s poaching crisis and the high demand for rhino horns. To combat this terrible situation, Tintswalo’s safari lodge has been working to ‘raise awareness about the poaching epidemic and provide funding and support for a variety of urgently-needed anti-poaching interventions in the Manyeleti Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park and the South African Wildlife College (SAWC).’

Tintswalo Safari Lodge has also been working to support field rangers by providing training and equipment to prevent the hunting of rhinos, giving financial support so that aircraft can be used to patrol protected areas and monitor rhino populations, and aiding with the K-9 Anti-Poaching Project which provides free tracking dogs who can track and locate poachers much faster than human rangers.

Tintswalo has been working and engaging with local communities by raising conservation and environmental awareness through a series of educational campaigns, training workshops and environmental campaigns around the Lapalala Wilderness Reserve. By partnering with the Endangered Wildlife Trust, they have been monitoring the last roaming wild dog pack in South Africa and working to educate local communities in harmonious ways of solving human and wildlife conflict.

Whilst much of their energy previously came from solar power, in 2018 Lapalala up-cycled an old solar plant, from a nearby lodge that was updating their grid. With the help of this new solar plant, the whole of the lodge’s energy needs can be supplied via solar panels. Taking this green-thinking one step further, Lapalala also educates the staff and the guests on energy usage, to create a more mindful and informative consumption of energy.

In order to reduce waste, Lapalala gives every guest a reusable water bottle when they arrive, which can be refilled from water stations connected to the in-house water filtering system. These bottles cut down on plastic usage, especially single-use plastics, and guests can also take them home with them at the end of their stay. Cornstarch bags are used instead of plastic bags, and only glass straws are used.

Although the focus here is on up-cycling and reusing, some items such as metal, glass and plastic cannot always be reused. In these cases, the materials are sorted and sent to recycling plants to keep the waste out of landfills. One of the initiatives which is implemented at Lapalala is zero waste coffee boxes. To reduce energy, guests let staff know when they would like their morning coffee or tea, and staff will deliver a jug of hot water at that time. Nothing from your morning cup of tea or coffee will be thrown away, with no plastic spoons, no sugar sachets, and loose leaf tea from the gardens which can be composted after use, and filter coffee which can also be composted.

All the amenities used at Tintswalo Lapalala are eco-friendly and supplied by a well-known brand called Africology. These products also do not test on animals and are made from naturally occurring ingredients such as Marula, Aloe and Rooibos. Even the bug spray supplied in the rooms is eco-friendly. Instead of purchasing mosquito sprays which are made with harsh and damaging chemicals, Tintswalo Lapalala makes their own spray, made in-house with essential oils and purchase a critter spray called Bio-Way, which does not harm the insects or any birds/animals who may ingest the bug. All gift shops at Tintswalo lodges only purchase locally crafted goods which help to maintain employment levels in the local communities.

As much waste as possible from the kitchen at Lapalala gets added to their compost pile. Not only this, but any seeds from fruit or vegetables are kept and planted in their garden, so they can ensure the constant supply of fresh fruit and vegetables. They only purchase free-range eggs as part of their effort to provide only organic food to their guests.

Their vegetable garden is as eco-friendly as possible, with their own food waste being used as compost instead of buying it, and water being sprayed for a set timer which has been tested to know how much water is needed for the plants, thus minimising water wastage. Grown in this garden is a variety of food, from vegetables and fruit, to microgreens and edible flowers.

To remain off the grid, gas stoves and geysers are used as an alternative, these energies are longer lasting than energy from the grid, thus making it a more eco-friendly option. As they are located in a private reserve, Tintswalo does not allow any vehicles to drive on the reserve, meaning the only vehicles are their own – reducing the amount of pollution in the immediate vicinity of the lodge. To help offset their carbon footprint, guests are encouraged to plant a Spekboom whilst they are staying at Lapalala, which is an indigenous African plant with many benefits, from its hardiness (weatherproof and not needing a lot of water) and improving the quality of the air.