Thali Thali: A Reset in Nature’s Embrace 

Driving through the gates of Thali Thali, my eyes take in the familiar scene of West Coast Savannah dotted with springbok, wildebeest and zebra. I feel an instant emotional reset as my mind instinctively releases the stresses of city living and tunes in to the restorative powers of nature.

In the distance, the giant Eucalyptus tree denotes the heartbeat of Thali Thali, where its enormous canopy shades the restaurant, reception, pool, play area, and lapa, and where I know warm smiles and excellent coffee await me.

My West Coast welcome includes hugs and a chat, and coffee becomes a hearty breakfast, savoured on the deck outside, accompanied by birdsong and the unique, peppery scent of fynbos. What a way to start a day.

Where is this West Coast Wonder?

Thali Thali is on the West Coast Way Foodie Route, and I found more information about Thali Thali on both the West Coast Way website and the Thali Thali website.

Located 130km from Cape Town on the R27, Thali Thali offers guests three star accommodation immersed in nature on the 1460 hectare reserve. Visitors can choose to stay in the four-bedroom Farmhouse, beautifully restored and reminiscent of a visit to your grandmother’s home, or in B&B Glamping Units surrounded by fynbos. Alternatively, they can opt for self-catering chalets situated near the pool, play area, and restaurant.

Camping in Comfort

As I settled in to my B&B Glamping Units I realised that this is a huge and stylish upgrade from traditional camping. While maintaining the illusion of sleeping under canvas, the glamping tents are spacious units equipped with a double bed, a full bathroom, a couch, a coffee table, and a counter for a microwave and kettle. Glass sliding doors open onto a covered deck equipped with a four-seater table and sublime views, ideal for crisp sundowners or a cup of steaming coffee at first light.

No shivering in a sleeping bag as flapping canvas keeps you awake. These tents have solid walls. The wall panel heater took the chill off the night air, and the electric blanket transformed my bed into a toasty nest.  I fell asleep to the sounds of birds chirping on the roof and the rustle of leaves in the breeze and woke up to the dawn chorus and a glorious stillness, signifying no wind. 

Thali Thali Safari, the West Coast Wildlife

A highlight of a visit to Thali Thali is the game drive. On a traditional safari, I am so focused on the Big 5 that I always regret not having time to pay attention to the magnificent antelope and plains game, which are wild and interesting in their own right. 

At Thali Thali, the six giraffe, zebra,  and antelope herds are the main attraction and stars of the show. Keen birders will enjoy the numerous species here, which include South Africa’s national bird, the blue crane. 

Coffee in hand, gear on the floor and a camera on my lap, I’m riding shotgun next to the ranger on the powerful Toyota Landcruiser, a strategic move as the windshield screens me from the nippy wind, and I have space to stand up to take photos. Heading inland along a narrow, sandy track we spot some springbok and a herd of wildebeest. The springboks took off, pronking about three meters into the air as they retreated and then vanished into the bush. The wildebeest stopped grazing and just stared at us for ages, as though in a trance. Then they seemed to snap out of it and embarked on their characteristic trait of randomly running around like crazy creatures. This behaviour is comical to watch, but serves multiple purposes. It develops muscle and fitness for running which is their main protection against predators. It also teaches them how to co-ordinate and work together as a herd, which promotes social cohesion and reinforces strength in numbers.

Continuing up to an elevated ridge we came across the giraffe. We stopped, switched off the engine and marveled at these curious creatures going about their business just a few meters from us. Totally chilled, they loped around, stopping to splay their legs and bend their necks to select the juiciest leaves from the fynbos. The young one stuck close to its mum, but a mature male came close enough for us to see his long blue tongue.

Reluctantly leaving the giraffe we continued down after spotting a herd of eland on the move in the distance. Unfortunately, they had vanished into the thickets by the time we got there, but we did see a little duiker running alongside our vehicle. 

Heading back towards the lodge we made our way to the West Coast Savannah and had to slow down for “traffic”. An emu cut in front of us and then stayed on the track for about a kilometer before veering off into the grasslands.

The herd of zebras was engrossed in a social grooming session, rubbing against one another, nuzzling necks, and occasionally striking poses for us.

Feasting at Thali Thali

The farmhouse and chalets feature fully equipped kitchens, while the B&B Glamping Glamping Units offer an outdoor braai (BBQ). However, I recommend making at least one visit to the restaurant, as food is definitely a love language at Thali Thali. The main area features seating for larger groups, as well as cozy nooks for a more intimate experience. The covered deck has several large, round tables adorned with bright yellow sunflowers, creating a light and airy vibe. This leads out to a balcony with a V-shaped corner couch with large, squishy cushions, and a bar-style counter and stools facing out onto the plains.

The menu is varied and caters to children, snackers, and those with a serious appetite, offering everything from crisp salads and ribs to steak and gourmet burgers, as well as chicken schnitzel, pasta dishes, eisbein, calamari, or good old fish and chips. Portions are generous, beautifully plated and always freshly prepared. Local specialities include skilpaadjies, oxtail, tongue, tripe, venison and braaied meat.

Day visitors are welcome at the restaurant, but booking in advance is recommended as it is a firm favourite with locals.

The Sunday Special

To truly taste the West Coast, visit Thali Thali for their potjiekos buffet on the last Sunday of each month. The home baked breads and platters are legendary, and the food adventure begins with the tantalizing aromas wafting from the potjie pots. While scrolling through Facebook and Instagram, I stumbled upon the delightful medley of Sunday Cuisine featured on the account of @thalithali. 

Booking is essential, and groups can request a tailor made menu for the ultimate West Coast flavour sensation, accompanied by the best local wines, cold beers, and decadent cocktails. 

Find Thali Thali Game Lodge on the West Coast Way Foodie and Tractor Routes.

Distance from Cape Town: 117km
Where: R27
Open 7 days a week | Free entry
R300pp for 90 min Game Drive (Booking essential in high season) R150 pp for children (5-12 years); Free Under 5 years
R150pp for Archery Lesson (Booking essential in high season) Bow hire R150 pp
Contact: +27 (0)82 372 8637   [email protected]    www.thalithali.co.za

Written by Di Brown
Di is a pint sized travel writer, photograph snapper, and drone flyer earning her wings on the West Coast Way.

West Coast Way is Your Route To Nature

West Coast Way is your ultimate gateway to experiencing the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Cape West Coast of South Africa. As a premium tourism brand, we offer six uniquely themed trip plans that promise an unforgettable journey: Cape, Culture, Foodie, Tractor, Berg, and Wild.

Discover over 101 incredible things to see and do with West Coast Way: Savour the delights of wine, craft beer, olives, and Rooibos tea tastings. Indulge in authentic Weskus cuisine and the traditional braaivleis (barbecue). Feel the thrill of swinging into Citrusdal on a zipline or challenge yourself with Cederberg bouldering. Rejuvenate in natural warm pools and embark on serene cruises across lagoons and rivers. Explore the diverse landscapes of nature reserves and a National Park, or embark on exciting game drives. Hone your skills in archery and angling, or amp up the excitement with sandboarding and quad-biking. Enjoy horse riding, immerse yourself in the unique San culture, and experience the vibrant Riel dancing. For water sports enthusiasts, kite- and windsurfing, surfing, and kayaking trips await. Go beach hopping, learn about bees and whales, and delight in birdwatching in a twitcher’s paradise – all within South Africa’s renowned wildflower reserve. For more information on the best places to visit on the West Coast, road tripping routes, hikes, tours, and trails, explore westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777.  Follow us on  on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn @WestCoastWaySA.