Leave the noise of everyday life behind and step into the heart of the African wilderness ... This 5-day Timbavati bush camp safari stays at Umlani Bushcamp, an authentic off-grid eco-camp in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve in Greater Kruger. Surrounded by unspoilt nature, it offers a rare opportunity to experience Africa as it was meant to be — wild, remote and unplugged.
As the most immersive option in the Umlani range, this safari gives you extra time for Big Five game drives, guided bush walks and a deeper, slower-paced experience in a small, eco-friendly camp far from the crowds.
On day one of your 5-Day Timbavati Bush Camp Safari at Umlani Bushcamp, you will be collected from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The shuttle takes us east towards the Kruger National Park, the heart of South Africa's foremost wildlife regions. Travelling from the urban jungle, we stop to stretch our legs and enjoy the scenery along the way, before the shuttle drops us off at a popular bush pub near Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. From here, we are transferred to Umlani Bush Camp, our eco-camp located in the central region of Timbavati.
Arriving at the camp, tuck into a delicious lunch and take time to settle in and soak up the peaceful atmosphere, before heading off into the wild for our first exhilarating Timbavati game drive. We stop for sundowners to watch the sun set over the landscape before making our way back to Umlani Bush Camp for a hearty dinner and peaceful evening around the campfire or at the bar overlooking a waterhole that attracts animals coming to drink.
Days two to four follow a familiar safari rhythm. Our Greater Kruger safari begins with an early start each morning, 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. Half an hour later, we are off to take advantage of the early-morning hours when the wildlife is most active. The first game viewing activity of the day is either a bush walk or a game drive in Timbavati. Your expert guides share their in-depth knowledge of the plants, animals, birds and smaller creatures of the region, whilst expertly tracking sought-after wildlife, such as the Big Five. Buffalo and elephant herds are commonly encountered, whilst lions and leopards are often spotted, and rhinos, if you are lucky. Game walks can be arranged, subject to weather conditions and consensus amongst guests at the camp. You may opt for a longer game walk in place of one of the game drives, or something shorter where you return on foot from one of the morning game drives, walking back through the bush with the ranger. 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 larger animal encounters, as Timbavati hosts big cats, other predators and large herbivores, such as rhinos.
After our morning adventure, head back to camp to enjoy a hearty breakfast, served at about 9:00 am in summer and 9:30 am 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, splash in the pool or relax at the bar. A light lunch is served 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 pm in summer and 15:30 pm 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. On the drive back, keep a lookout for the fascinating nocturnal creatures that are just beginning to stir.
Back at camp, enjoy a tasty dinner under the stars, share stories around the campfire or in the bar. Fall blissfully asleep to the quiet sounds 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, wake up early once more to experience the bush as the animals and birds begin to stir. After a quick coffee or tea and a snack, we are off into the Timbavati Nature Reserve on our final game drive.
The morning game viewing drive is followed by a scrumptious breakfast at Umlani. Then it is time to pack up and say farewell to our remote hideaway and the pristine bushveld. We return to the bush pub close to meet up with the shuttle that will transfer us back to the bright lights and bustle of Johannesburg city.
At the end of this excellent-value 5-Day Timbavati Bush Camp Safari at Umlani Bushcamp, you are dropped off at OR Tambo International Airport, bringing our real African adventure to a close.
Secluded Umlani Bush Camp is set in the heart of the prestigious Timbavati Private Nature Reserve of the Greater Kruger. This award-winning 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 is ideally located for crowd-free Big Five game viewing of the highest calibre.
This intimate bush camp consists of only ten reed-and-thatch eco-huts and an even more remote treehouse tucked away in a private spot nearby. The eco-huts have en-suite bathrooms featuring an open-air shower with hot water heated on wood fires. The interiors are decorated with natural materials in earthy, warm colours that add to the calm, cosy ambience. The beds are comfortable, with crisp bedding and soft towels - 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 and bottled water (in addition to the tap water, which is safe for drinking).
Umlani Bush Camp is an authentic getaway surrounded by the game-rich African bush. At night, a combination of oil lanterns, candles and solar lamps is used to light up the camp, creating a serene, romantic atmosphere. The camp has a shaded pool for refreshing dips and a bar with an outdoor deck to view wildlife and birds at the nearby waterhole. Hearty meals are served in the dining area, and in the evenings, guests can relax around the campfire in the traditional African boma (an open-air reed enclosure).
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. While the camp is off-grid, there is usually WiFi available during the day, and electronics can be charged in the gift shop. Umlani prides itself on its ethical practices and the meaningful contribution it makes to wildlife conservation and social upliftment in the local communities.
Game viewing drives are conducted by exceptional rangers and trackers in open 4x4 safari vehicles. In Timbavati, visitor numbers are restricted, so the game-viewing experience is less crowded and more intimate. Game walks can also be arranged, subject to weather conditions and consensus amongst guests at the camp. On shorter walks, 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. The rangers are armed in case of dangerous animal encounters.
A 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.
Timbavati Game Reserve shares unfenced boundaries with the Kruger National Park, forming part of the collective Greater Kruger Park, which encompasses 20 000 000 hectares of wilderness where wildlife can roam free. 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, and plants.
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 are a rare endemic species. Timbavati 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, 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.
See our 3-Day Timbavati Bush Camp Safari at Umlani Bushcamp
See our 4-Day Timbavati Bush Camp Safari at Umlani Bushcamp
Collection times on the first day:
Drop-off times on the last day:
Note: 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.
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.
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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