Step out into the unspoilt wilderness and experience the real magic of Africa on this Kruger Bush Camp Safari!
Take a break from modern life to reconnect with nature, heading into the heart of Timbavati Private Game Reserve to a secluded eco-camp. At this authentic bush camp you stay in comfortable reed rondavels, enjoying award-winning meals and superb service, whilst surrounded by the wild beauty of Africa!
Explore Greater Kruger on 4x4 game drives and game walks with the exceptional guides of this fair trade eco-camp. Encounter the Big Five, and a diverse array of other incredible wild animals, birds, plants and creatures, on this exclusive and crowd-free bush adventure.
On day one of this Kruger Bush Camp Safari you will be collected from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Leaving Johannesburg, the economic centre of South Africa, the shuttle takes us east towards Kruger Park, the heart of the bushveld.
Travelling from urban jungle to remote bush camp in the Timbavati Game Reserve of Greater Kruger, we stop to stretch our legs and enjoy the scenery along the way. The shuttle drops us off at a popular bush pub near Timbavati and from there we are transferred to the eco-camp in the central part of Timbavati.
Arriving at the safari camp we tuck into a delicious lunch and settle in, before heading off into the sunset on our first exhilarating game drive.
Days two to four follow similar schedules, but the programme is flexible and serves as more of a guide.
On our days in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve we get an early start, with a wake-up call at 5:00 in summer and 5:30 during winter. We kick-start the day with a cup of coffee or tea and pancakes or muffins in either the bar or the traditional boma, depending on the season. Half an hour later we are off on our first game viewing activity of the day - embarking on either a bush walk or a game drive in Greater Kruger.
After exploring the unspoilt bush on our morning adventure we head back to the bush camp to have a hearty breakfast, served at about 9:00 in summer and 9:30 in winter. Then there is time to unwind at the camp, enjoying the unspoilt natural setting and retreating from the heat of the day. Take a nap, read a book, lie in a hammock, watch the watering hole from the deck or splash in the pool and relax at the bar.
A light lunch is served at about 13:30 in the bar area and then you are free to do some more serious relaxing in this authentic African environment. Later in the afternoon (16:00 in summer and 15:30 in winter) we venture back out into Timbavati in search of the wild and wonderful creatures found here. While out on our afternoon game drive we stop to watch the sunset over the untamed bush - a beautiful sight at the end of a rewarding day on safari.
Then we make our way back to camp for a tasty dinner under the stars, falling asleep in the middle of the bush, far away from the buzz of modern living.
Sometimes meals are served at slightly different times depending on the weather or to accommodate exceptional wildlife sightings on game drives.
On our last morning in Timbavati, we wake up early to experience the bush around us, as the diurnal animals and birds begin to stir. After that quick coffee or tea and a snack, we are off into Timbavati Nature Reserve on our final game drive.
Our morning game viewing drive is followed by a scrumptious breakfast at the bush camp. Then it is time to pack up and say farewell to our remote hideaway and the pristine bushveld. We return to the much-loved bush pub close to Timbavati, where the shuttle collects us and transfers us back to the bright lights and bustle of Johannesburg city.
At the end of this exceptional Kruger bush experience, you are dropped off at OR Tambo International Airport, bringing our real African adventure to a close.
This secluded camp is set in the heart of the prestigious Timbavati Private Nature Reserve of South Africa. The eco-camp offers an intimate and exclusive African wilderness experience that is both off the grid and off the well-worn safari route. This authentic lodge in the middle of Timbavati Reserve, is ideally located for crowd-free Big Five game viewing of the highest calibre.
Leaving electricity and cell reception behind, guests step into the unspoilt bush to get close to nature without the distractions and trappings of contemporary living. The bush camp is more than eco-friendly, it is officially Fair Trade certified. At this camp, commitment to responsible tourism is put into real action - on social and ecological fronts. The bush camp prides itself on its ethical practices and the meaningful contribution it makes to wildlife conservation and social upliftment in the local communities.
The bush camp in Timbavati is simple yet comfortable - an authentic getaway surrounded by the game-rich African bush. At night a combination of oil lanterns, candles and solar lamps are used to light the camp and the traditional style rondavels, bringing a romantic atmosphere to life. The camp has a shaded pool for refreshing dips and a bar with an outdoor deck from which to watch for wildlife and birds at the nearby waterhole. Utterly delicious cuisine is served in the dining area and in the evenings guests can relax around the campfire in the traditional African boma (an open-air reeded enclosure). During the day there is usually WiFi available and electronics can be charged in the gift shop, which sells safari souvenirs.
This small bush camp consists of only ten reed-and-thatch huts and an even more remote treehouse tucked away in a private spot nearby. The huts have en-suite bathrooms featuring open-topped showers with hot water that is heated on wood fires. The interiors are furnished and decorated using natural materials in earthy and warm colours that add to the calm and uncluttered, yet cosy, ambiance. The beds are comfortable, the bedding is crisp and clean, and the towels are soft and fresh - all ensuring a good night's rest after a full day in the elements. The huts are fitted with insect nets and guests receive complimentary insect repellent, bathroom products and bottled water (in addition to the tap water which is safe for drinking).
On this safari accommodation is in the twin or family rondavels, or the eco-hut. The secluded treehouse can also be reserved in advance, but staying in the rustic hideaway is weather dependent and subject to availability. The treehouse overlooks a waterhole about 2,5 kms from the main camp, making for a unique overnight stay under the stars, close to the calls of the wild.
Game viewing drives are conducted by exceptional rangers and trackers in open 4x4 safari vehicles. In Timbavati self-drive safaris are not permitted, nor are day visitors, thus the game viewing experience is less crowded, better regulated and of higher standards. The top-notch guides at the bush camp share their in-depth knowledge of the plants, animals, birds and small creatures of the region, whilst expertly locating sought-after wildlife, such as the Big Five. Buffalo and elephant herds are commonly encountered, whilst lions and leopards are often spotted and rhinos less regularly. Game walks can also be arranged at the bush camp, subject to weather conditions and consensus amongst guests at the camp. Guests can return to camp on foot from one of the morning game drives, walking back through the bush with the ranger. Alternatively the ranger can lead you on a longer game walk in place of one of the game drives. Bush walks are an exhilarating way to immerse yourself in nature, getting up close to the flora, birds and fauna. The rangers are armed in case of dangerous animals encounters, as Timbavati hosts big cats, other predators and large herbivores, such as rhinos.
Timbavati Game Reserve shares unfenced boundaries with Kruger National Park, forming part of the collective Greater Kruger Park which encompasses 20 000 000 hectares of wilderness. As one of the oldest, largest and most acclaimed private game reserves in Greater Kruger, Timbavati is amongst the very best game viewing destinations in the country. The reserve itself covers about 53 392 hectares (534km²) of open savannahs and woodlands, inhabited by over 40 mammal species, 360 species of birds and a rich array of reptiles, insects, plants and even fish. Due to the absence of fences, however, wildlife and birds move freely between Timbavati, Kruger and the surrounding private reserves, resulting in more diverse and healthy populations.
Africa's Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) are all to be seen, often at close range, in Timbavati. Of the Big Five in Timbavati, lions are the most famous - the white lions of Timbavati being rare anomalies. Timbavati Game Reserve is home to other predators too, including cheetahs, jackals, caracals, wild cats, spotted hyenas and endangered African wild dogs. On the herbivorous end of the spectrum there are plenty of different antelope species to be seen; such as kudu, sable, roan, nyala, eland, reedbuck, klipspringer, waterbuck, wildebeest and impala. Other herbivores range from giraffes and zebras to hippos, with some of the oddest looking creatures including the pangolin, warthog, aardwolf, porcupine and honey badger.
Access to Timbavati is restricted to guests staying at the small selection of reputable lodges set in different areas of the game reserve. This restricted access keeps visitor numbers low, maintaining an exclusive and more private game viewing experience. Game drives are conducted by the professional guides based at the private lodges, ensuring that nature and best safari practices are respected in Timbavati.
Pick-up and drop-off are at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. For more details and times please enquire. Transport to and from this location is not included in the tour price.
Collection times on the first day:
Drop off times on the last day:
Please note that we offer convenient pre and post tour lodge accommodation for before and after this Kruger Bush Camp 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. For information on lodge rates follow the link.
This tour does take children.
Children of all ages are welcome at the lodge and must be accompanied by parents on game drives.
Children under the age of 12 are not allowed on bushwalks due to safety reasons.
Babysitting services and baby cots can be arranged, with prior notice, at an additional cost.
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