This short 3-day Timbavati safari stays at Kambaku Safari Lodge, a family-friendly safari lodge in Timbavati Private Reserve, part of Greater Kruger. Ideal for a quick Big Five safari, this small-group tour includes exclusive game drives, optional guided bush walks and fewer vehicles than in Kruger National Park for a more personal safari experience.
On day one of this affordable 3-Day Timbavati Safari at Kambaku Safari Lodge, you will be collected from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Your shuttle heads east towards South Africa's premier game reserve, Kruger National Park. We travel to a popular bush pub near Greater Kruger Park, pausing to stretch our legs and admire the scenery along the way. From there, you are transferred to Kambaku Safari Lodge, in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
Arriving at the charming lodge, it's time for a tasty lunch. There is some free time to settle in - swim in the pool, take a nap or simply relax in the unspoilt natural setting. Later in the afternoon, we embark on our first exciting game drive in Timbavati Game Reserve, sharing unfenced boundaries with Kruger National Park. We take drinks along for sundowners in the untamed bush as we explore this exclusive Big Five game park and its incredible animal diversity. After the sun has set, we enjoy a night game drive using a spotlight to search for nocturnal wildlife that are beginning to emerge.
Arriving back at family-friendly Kambaku Safari Lodge, dinner is served in the lantern-lit boma around an open fire or in one of the covered lodge areas. Relax and unwind around the campfire, soaking up the sounds of nearby wildlife and marvelling at the star-studded African skies.
Today, our Timbavati Reserve safari gets an early start, rising at dawn for some tea and coffee with rusks (local tea biscuits) before venturing into Timbavati on a thrilling game drive. Take advantage of the early morning hours when the wildlife is most active. We spend about three hours game-viewing in the renowned Timbavati Reserve area of Greater Kruger, crossing a variety of habitats that host an incredible array of wild animals. If conditions are suitable, we may opt to do a guided bush walk this morning, by arrangement with your guide.
Returning to Kambaku Safari Lodge after our thrilling morning wildlife activity, we tuck into a hearty breakfast with hot and cold dishes, cereals, juices and fruit. The heat of the day is spent relaxing at the comfortable lodge, where you can take a refreshing dip in the swimming pool, relax in a shady spot or play board games and pool on the upper deck overlooking an active watering hole visited by wildlife.
After high tea at the lodge, head back into the game-rich bush in search of more of the wildlife found in Timbavati Game Reserve. Stop for sundowners in the tranquil wilderness as we watch the sun setting on this secluded area of the Greater Kruger Park. Enjoy another exhilarating night game drive en route back to the lodge. Freshen up and enjoy pre-dinner drinks and a delicious dinner before retiring to bed, or relaxing around the campfire for another peaceful evening under the stars.
On the last day of this budget Timbavati Lodge Safari, we set off on a final game viewing adventure early in the morning, setting off into Timbavati with your experienced guide for the last time. Return to the stylish lodge for a delicious breakfast. Then we leave Greater Kruger, heading back to the bush pub to meet our return shuttle to Johannesburg. The shuttle takes you to OR Tambo International Airport, where this small-group 3-Day Timbavati Safari at Kambaku Safari Lodge comes to a close.
Kambaku Safari Lodge is located deep in the Timbavati Game Reserve of Greater Kruger Park, surrounded by the untamed African bushveld. This small lodge accommodates up to 16 guests, offering an intimate and exclusive bush getaway. The lodge is comfortable and family-friendly, combining elements of simple luxury and relaxed homeliness to create a welcoming environment. Buildings have been carefully designed to blend with the natural setting and reduce the environmental impact. The lodge runs on solar power and upholds principles of environmental sustainability.
Exclusive access to the privately-owned Timbavati reserve ensures a leisurely and uncrowded game viewing experience - a genuine African safari adventure free from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Experienced rangers use their tracking skills to locate the Big Five of Africa and other wildlife on game drives and optional bush walks. There are junior ranger bush activities available for children.
The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is home to more than 40 mammal species, including Africa’s Big Five - lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant. The reserve is world famous for its legendary pale lions, which are very rare and endemic to the area.
Timbavati covers 53,392 hectares of savanna bushveld, hosting 360 bird species, nearly 80 reptile species, and more than 80 tree species. The private Timbavati Reserve forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park, sharing unfenced borders with Kruger National Park and neighbouring private reserves, which allows an impressive diversity of wildlife to roam freely between these conservation areas. In addition to the Big Five, you can expect to see cheetah, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, impala, waterbuck and warthog; as well as hyena and the critically endangered African wild dogs.
One of the main attractions of Timbavati Reserve is that it remains a less crowded safari destination featuring a limited number of lodges. Due to controlled access, there are fewer visitors and safari vehicles while game viewing, making for a more intimate and authentic safari atmosphere. Since 1962, the non-profit Timbavati Association has led the way in conservation, dedicated to maintaining species biodiversity in this wilderness area that has ensured that Timbavati has remained virtually unspoilt.
See our 4-Day Timbavati Safari at Kambaku Safari Lodge
See our 5-Day Timbavati Safari at Kambaku Safari Lodge
Shuttle departures are as follows:
Collection times on the first day:
Drop-off times on the last day:
Note: Collection and drop-off will be at the OR Tambo Bus Terminal Building. Transport to and from this pre-appointed location is not included in the tour price.
Please note that we offer convenient pre- and post-tour lodge accommodation for before and after your Kruger Safari, which can be added to your tour booking upon request. The 4-star lodge accommodation is located 10-15 minutes from the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. View pre- or post-safari lodge rates.
If you are looking for an excellent-value Kruger National Park safari, this 4-Day Kruger National Park Safari spends four days exclusively game-viewing within the Kruger National Park.
This tour does take children.
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