Born in the wild
The inspiration for Tankwa came during a restless night spent on a wilderness trail in the heart of the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve. Founder Josh Cox found himself lying on a thin hiking mat, hips aching, and unable to rest. In that sleep-deprived moment, the idea struck Josh – a foam outdoor mat that cannot be punctured and gives you comfort and support where you need it: your hips and shoulders.
A better way
Traditional options like inflatable mattresses for camping and self-inflating mats for hiking fall short in terms of comfort and durability. A single thorn can render these options useless. The thin, hard foam mat option provides almost no comfort at all.
Josh set out on the journey to solve this problem and Tankwa is the result.
A name with meaning
Tankwa draws its name from the Tankwa Karoo, a breathtakingly wild and barren landscape in South Africa. Josh was inspired by a trip to the Tankwa Karoo with his wife where they had booked to stay in a cottage. As evening approached, they decided to pull the mattress off the bed, setting it up outside to sleep under the stars. This experience perfectly embodies the essence of Tankwa – enjoying both the untamed beauty of the wilderness and the simple luxury of a good night's rest.
Unrivalled Quality
Our mats are hand-crafted using the very best materials, including the toughest buckles and zips and water-resistant RipTech fabric. Our rooftop tent mattresses are made from a durable 'moisture management' fabric and the fitted sheets are the finest (100%) cotton twill. Our obsession with quality ensures that Tankwa mats are made to last.
one of a kind
We have created the perfect blend of support and comfort with our unique dual-foam structure.
Our mats also feature a taper from the torso to the leg section, allowing them to be rolled up into a compact size. This patent-pending design removes the hassle of having to lug around bulky gear.
Our rooftop tent mattresses feature the same comfortable dual-foam core used in all our mats.
Rugged comfort
Tankwa mats are built tough, just like the people of South Africa. We take pride in our roots and all our mats are made in Cape Town. In doing so we aim to contribute to the local economy by creating much-needed jobs that improve lives.
When you choose Tankwa, you're not just investing in a product – you're supporting a community-driven brand that values thoughtful design, expert craftsmanship and long-lasting quality.
