The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is one of South Africa’s undiscovered wilderness jewels; home to Africa’s big five, in an area renowned for its biodiversity, ranging from savannah woodlands to grasslands and riverine glades.
The reserve was established in 1956 by like-minded landowners. Today, it forms part of one of the largest game reserves in the world, the Kruger National Park. A unique feature of the Timbavati is the low rate of commercialisation, with game lodges that are dedicated to preserving the sense of true wilderness. Tented camps such as Tanda Tula Safari Camp are ideal for enjoying the African bush as it should be. The Timbavati is also a leader in conservation initiatives and research, and is committed to the upliftment of local communities.
The white lions of the Timbavati were first discovered by Chris McBride on the Tanda Tula property in the late 1970s. While he was studying the white lions, Chris and his wife Charlotte helped build and set up Tanda Tula Safari Camp in its initial phase of development. The first pride to produce white lion cubs was the Machaton Pride, a pride that still exists today, and their core territory continues to be based on the Tanda Tula Safari Camp property.