This 5-day all-inclusive Timbavati safari at Kambaku Safari Lodge is the most complete option in our Timbavati lodge safari collection, giving you extra time for Big Five game drives and optional bush walks in the renowned Timbavati Greater Kruger private reserve. This itinerary offers the best balance of wildlife viewing and relaxing at family-friendly Kambaku Safari Lodge in the heart of Timbavati.
On the first day of this affordable 5-Day Timbavati Safari at Kambaku Safari Lodge, you are collected from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. A shuttle transfers you to a popular bush pub near Kruger National Park, pausing along the six-hour drive to admire the scenery. From the bush pub, you are transferred to the nearby Kambaku Safari Lodge, located in the heart of Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
Enjoy lunch in the natural setting at the lodge, followed by free time to relax and settle in. Later in the afternoon, we set off on our first sunset game drive in the prestigious Timbavati Game Reserve, sharing unfenced boundaries with Kruger National Park. We stop in the middle of the bush for sundowners, before continuing our drive back to the lodge after dark.
After our exhilarating open-vehicle game drive, we return to Kambaku Safari Lodge for dinner, which is served in the lantern-lit boma around an open fire (weather permitting). In the evening, we relax at the stylish lodge, taking in the sounds of nearby wildlife and admiring the star-studded African skies.
Days two, three and four of your excellent-value Timbavati lodge safari follow the same rhythm, starting with an early morning wake-up call just before the sun rises. The day kicks off with coffee or tea and rusks in the main lodge area, where you meet up with your guide to take advantage of the early morning hours when wildlife is most active. We set off on a morning game drive in Timbavati Game Reserve, through a variety of habitats that host a wide array of wild animals.
We spend about three hours game viewing in an open 4x4 safari vehicle, spotting wildlife and birds as we explore. Look out for the Big Five of Africa (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo), as well as a plethora of other wild animals, such as African wild dogs, cheetahs, giraffes, hyenas, hippos, zebras and various antelopes. Conditions allowing, you may opt for a guided walk during our mornings in the bush. Bush walks are a thrilling way of exploring nature up close, enabling you to gain insight into the plants, animals and smaller details of the wilderness area from your skilled ranger. There are also plenty of activities for kids, who are able to earn a junior ranger certificate during their stay.
Returning from our morning game viewing activity, we tuck into a scrumptious breakfast of hot and cold options, cereals, fruits and juices. The heat of the day is spent enjoying some downtime at the lodge, where you can take a refreshing dip in the pool, nap, play board games and simply relax. Later in the afternoon, enjoy high tea in the main lounge area at the lodge, before heading back into the game-rich bush in search of more of the wildlife found in Timbavati Reserve.
Our late afternoon game drive lasts for about three hours and includes a scenic stop for sundowners in the bush. Then we continue into the night when spotlights are used to spot nocturnal animals who are beginning to stir, such as civets and bush babies. Returning to the lodge, there is time to freshen up before meeting in the bar for drinks and snacks, followed by dinner and a relaxed evening by the campfire.
Day five of your Timbavati Game Reserve safari starts with an early morning game drive - one last chance to enjoy the wilderness and sight the diverse wildlife of Timbavati. We then enjoy a final breakfast at the exclusive Kambaku Safari Lodge, before we set off for the bush pub and are met by the shuttle. Travel back to Johannesburg city, where you will be dropped off at the OR Tambo Airport, and this excellent-value 5-Day Timbavati Safari at Kambaku Safari Lodge comes to a close.
Kambaku Safari Lodge is located deep in the unspoilt bushveld of the renowned Timbavati Game Reserve in Greater Kruger Park. This small safari lodge accommodates 16 guests at most, providing an intimate and exclusive wildlife experience. The lodge combines simple luxury and home comforts to create a welcoming environment. It is family-friendly, with plenty of activities to keep the little ones busy, and has been carefully designed to blend in with the bush and reduce its impact on the environment.
The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is home to all of the Big Five of Africa - lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhino - and is famous for the elusive white lions that are very rare and endemic to the area.
Timbavati Reserve covers 53,392 hectares of savanna bush, hosting over 40 mammal species, 360 bird species, nearly 80 reptile species, and more than 80 tree species. The private Timbavati Reserve shares unfenced borders with Kruger National Park and neighbouring private reserves, forming part of the Greater Kruger National Park. The unfenced boundaries allow an incredible diversity of wildlife to roam freely, including cheetah, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, kudu, impala, waterbuck and warthog; as well as hyena and the critically endangered African wild dog.
One of the main advantages of visiting Timbavati Reserve is that access is restricted to guests staying at the few lodges in the reserve. This ensures a less crowded, more exclusive safari experience than the busier Kruger National Park.
Looking for a shorter option?
See our 3-Day Timbavati Safari at Kambaku Safari Lodge
Prefer the best-value balance of time and safari activities?
See our 4-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 pre-selected 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 |
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