This 4-day Timbavati safari is the best-value option in our Timbavati lodge collection, giving you more time for Big Five game drives, including night drives, optional bush walks, and leisure time at the family-friendly Kambaku Safari Lodge in Greater Kruger.
This 4-Day Timbavati Safari at Kambaku Safari Lodge begins with collection from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Your shuttle travels to the Greater Kruger, South Africa's leading wildlife destination. We drive to a bush pub near Greater Kruger, stopping to stretch and admire the scenery along the way. Then you are transferred from the bush pub to Kambaku Safari Lodge, located in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve of Greater Kruger National Park. This affordable safari lodge in Greater Kruger Park offers an intimate, exclusive African bush experience in a comfortable and charming setting.
Lunch is served upon arrival, followed by free time to relax and settle in at the lodge. Later in the afternoon, we embark on our first exciting game drive in the renowned Timbavati Private Game Reserve, known for its outstanding game viewing. While out on our game drive, we stop for sundowners in the exclusive Big Five game reserve.
After our rewarding game drive, we return to Kambaku Safari Lodge in time for dinner, which is served in the lantern-lit boma around an open fire (weather permitting), and unwind to the sounds of wildlife under a star-studded sky.
This morning, we are up before sunrise and have tea or coffee with fruit and rusks (tea biscuits). Then we head into Timbavati on a morning game drive or bush walk, taking advantage of the early morning hours when wildlife is most active. You may also opt for a Timbavati bush walk as part of the morning drives if conditions are suitable. Bush walks give you the chance to gain insight into the plants, animals and smaller details of this Big Five wilderness area.
We spend about three hours game viewing in the vast Timbavati Reserve of Greater Kruger, exploring various habitats and encountering a diversity of wild animals. Returning to the lodge after our exhilarating morning game drive or walk, we tuck into a hearty breakfast. The hottest part of the day is spent at the comfortable Kambaku Safari Lodge, where you can enjoy a cool dip in the pool, take a nap or play board games and pool on the upper deck while watching out for wildlife at the nearby watering hole.
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. As evening descends, we stop for sundowners out in this remote part of Greater Kruger National Park. Day two of this affordable Kruger Lodge Safari ends with a thrilling night game drive back to the lodge, where we have dinner and another evening around the campfire.
Day three of our Greater Kruger safari is spent enjoying the same easy safari rhythm and more game viewing in this top South African game reserve. The lodge has access to the Timbavati Game Reserve. This is only available to guests at the private lodges in this part of the Greater Kruger Park. Exclusive access to the privately owned wildlife area ensures a leisurely and uncrowded game viewing experience - a genuine African safari adventure away from the hustle and bustle of daily life! Enjoy your morning and afternoon game-viewing activities in search of more encounters with the Big 5 animals - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino - and the host of other animals to be found in the Kruger region. Between these thrilling activities, enjoy downtime at Kambaku Safari Lodge and last night under the stars.
On the last day of this excellent-value Timbavati Game Reserve safari, we enjoy a final morning game drive in search of wildlife action, keeping an eye out for any animals and birds that we have missed so far.
After our final drive in Timbavati Greater Kruger Private Reserve, breakfast is served, followed by some time to pack. Then we say goodbye to the friendly lodge staff at Kambaku Safari Lodge and leave Timbavati behind, returning to the bush pub, where we are met by the shuttle. From the pub, we travel back to Johannesburg city. You will be dropped off at the OR Tambo Airport, bringing your 4-Day Timbavati Safari at Kambaku Safari Lodge to an end.
Kambaku Safari Lodge is located in the heart of the famous Timbavati Private Game Reserve in Greater Kruger Park, surrounded by the wild African bush. Kambaku Safari Lodge takes its name from the Tsonga word for “welcome”.This intimate lodge accommodates up to 16 guests at a time, offering simple luxury in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. This family-friendly and affordable lodge has been carefully designed to blend with the natural surroundings and minimise its environmental impact. The lodge uses solar power and operates sustainably.
Exclusive access to the Timbavati ensures a leisurely and uncrowded game viewing experience - a genuine African safari adventure free from the stresses of modern life. The experienced, expert guides are skilled at finding the Big Five of Africa and other wildlife on game drives in Greater Kruger. The lodge offers activities for children, who can earn a Junior Ranger certificate before the end of their stay.
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve hosts over 40 species of mammals, including the Big Five - lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant. Timbavati is also world-famous for the unique, but elusive, white lions endemic to the area.
The Timbavati Reserve covers 53,392 hectares of bushveld, home to over 360 bird species, nearly 80 reptile species, and more than 80 tree species. The private Timbavati Reserve forms part of the Greater Kruger Park, sharing unfenced borders with Kruger National Park and neighbouring private reserves, such as Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Sharing unfenced boundaries with Kruger Park and surrounding reserves enables an impressive array of wildlife to roam freely between these wildlife areas. In addition to the Big Five, Timbavati Reserve is inhabited by cheetah, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, impala, waterbuck and warthog; as well as hyena and the critically endangered African wild dogs.
One of the major perks of game viewing in Timbavati Reserve is that it is less crowded than many other parks, as access is allowed to only a handful of lodges. This means there are fewer safari vehicles in this part of the Greater Kruger Park. Since 1962, the non-profit Timbavati Association has led the way in conservation efforts and maintained species diversity in this wilderness area, ensuring that Timbavati has been kept virtually pristine.
See our more complete 5-Day Timbavati Safari at Kambaku Safari Lodge
Collection times on the first day:
Drop-off times on the last day:
Note: Collection and drop-off are at the OR Tambo Bus Terminal Building. Transport to and from this designated 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 Timbavati Lodge 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.
All Johannesburg Departures | All Kruger National Park Tours |
5-day all-inclusive Timbavati safari at Kambaku Safari Lodge with Big Five game drives, bush walks and more time in Greater Kruger.
More on this 5 Day Budget Lodge Safari
The 4 Day Kruger National Park Safari is a comfortable, yet cheap Kruger Lodge Safari. Explore Kruger Park, South Africa, with expert safari guides in a small group.
More on this 4 Day Budget Lodge Safari
An intimate 4 Day budget safari to Greater Kruger National Park staying at a tented safari lodge in Balule Nature Reserve.
More on this 4 Day Budget Lodge Safari
4-day Kruger safari from Johannesburg with lodge stay, Big Five game drives in Kruger National Park and private reserves, plus a bush walk. Great value small-group safari.
More on this 4 Day Budget Lodge Safari
Enjoy superb game viewing in the Big Five Greater Kruger Park on open vehicle game drives and guided bush walks, whilst staying at an authentic tented camp in the private Timbavati Game Reserve.
More on this 5 Day Budget Lodge Safari
An excellent-value Big 5 Pilanesberg Safari in South Africa's Pilanesberg National Park, staying at the luxurious, family-friendly Bakubung Bush Lodge.
More on this 4 Day Budget Lodge Safari
Enjoy the best of both Kruger National Park & Balule Nature Reserve (Greater Kruger Park) on this 4-Day Budget South Africa Safari to Kruger & a Tented Camp
More on this 4 Day Budget Lodge Safari
__small.jpg)
An excellent value Pilanesberg Tented Camping Safari from Johannesburg, with Big Five game drives, night safaris, and expert guides in malaria-free Pilansberg Game Reserve.
More on this 4 Day Budget Safari
4-day Kruger safari with a stay at a private river lodge in Greater Kruger. Includes a full-day Kruger National Park safari and private reserve drives.
More on this 4 Day Budget Lodge Safari
Our team has the destination knowledge to help you plan an unforgettable African adventure. We're based in Cape Town and ready to help.
We can also plan you an affordable private group or tailor-made tour. We built our business on turning luxury travel into affordable travel.
