TIMBAVATI NATURE RESERVE

55000+ hectares of raw African wilderness, and you…

A personally crafted safari impeccably curated by the most experienced and skilled guides and trackers in the Greater Kruger region

What you will love

143 hectares per guest
Exceptional guides & trackers
All the keystone species
A photographer’s dream
A tailormade safari

Life slows down to Africa’s rhythm in the bush. Here, vast sun-licked savannahs, lush woodlands, and ancient riverbeds set the stage for the adventure of your life!

The Timbavati Nature Reserve spans over 55,000 hectares and shares a border with the Kruger National Park, allowing wild animals to roam freely across a vast wilderness. Known for its diverse ecosystems, the reserve is home to an abundance of wildlife, including the Big Five and over 40 mammal species.

What sets the Timbavati apart is the way safaris are experienced. With few lodges and vehicles and no fencelines with neighbouring reserves, you’re assured an exclusive, tranquil and immersive journey. Led by some of the Greater Kruger’s most skilled guides and trackers, this positions us well to deliver on our purpose of (re)connecting people to nature.

Why Timbavati?

Low density of vehicles
Smaller road network
No light or noise pollution
Diversity of species
Formidable lion prides
Beautiful undulating terrain
Fewer lodges & camps
Big dry-river systems
The safari starts the moment you land in Hoedspruit

Tanda Tula’s Guides & Trackers

A skilled guide and tracker are at the heart of an exceptional safari. Through the alchemical combination of knowledge, intuition, personality, and passion, they animate the wilderness.

Our extraordinary team will tailor your experience to meet any need, quirk, or obsession – for families, photographers, big-cat seekers, avid birders, enthusiastic trackers, or other special-interest travelers.

Chad

Wildlife photographer extraordinaire, with two acclaimed books to his name!

Joining him on safari is a privilege as he shares his unique perspective behind the lens and sharp eye for detail.

And he’s funny too (well, at least he thinks so 😁).

Scotch

A Senior Guide and one of South Africa’s rare Master Trackers, Scotch is an exceptional birder with an extraordinary ability to identify even the most elusive species from any distance.

His deep understanding of the bush and near-supernatural tracking skills put him in a class of his own when it comes to exploring the wilderness on foot.

Ginger

With nearly 20 years of experience in the Timbavati Nature Reserve, Ginger has an uncanny gift for tracking game within this unique ecosystem.

Walking with this gentle and unassuming human being is always a privilege.

Formen

A shareholder in Tanda Tula and Camp Manager, Foreman is the quintessential gentleman.

Having grown up in the Greater Kruger, his wisdom, skills, and deep bush knowledge are second to none. While his focus is now on shaping your guest experience, he never misses an opportunity to return to the wild—especially when long-standing guests specifically request him as their guide.

Allied

Training under his father Formen’s watchful eye, this Tanda Tula Foundation graduate is a multi-talented guide with a passion for tracking.

Often found on the tracker’s seat, he is honing his skills both in the bush and behind the lens—developing his talent for photography under Chad’s mentorship.

Given

Another member of the team, he began his journey in our gardening team alongside his father and worked hard to earn his tracking qualifications.

He also has incredible knowledge of our local bird species and loves sharing his passion with guests.

Eric

Driven by an insatiable hunger for learning, Eric showed great initiative by beginning his tracker training while still working in the gardens. He further honed his skills under the guidance of Scotch and Jack, giving him an exceptional foundation in the field.

He is a gentle man with a big smile and always shows an eagerness to learn more explore the environment around him.

Jack

One of the few Master Trackers in the country, Jack can read the signs of the bush like an astronomer reads the stars. His skills will leave you absolutely in awe.

Jack is a dedicated member of the Tanda Tula family for nearly 30 years! With a sharp sense of humour, and a warm, welcoming smile, he brings expertise and charm to every safari.

Steven

Starting his journey as a tracker at Tanda Tula and training with our exceptional team of guides, Steven has developed a remarkable knowledge of the game and the land.

But beyond his skills in the bush, he has a rare gift with children—patient, attentive, and entertaining. He transforms a family safari into a deeply immersive experience, sparking a lifelong passion for the wilderness in young hearts and minds.

Tristan

If his dance moves don’t win you over, his charm and knowledge certainly will. With a deep understanding of the Greater Kruger and an insatiable hunger for learning, Tristan brings energy, expertise, and curiosity to every safari.

His sharp eye for detail, engaging storytelling, and genuine passion for the bush make time with him as enriching as it is entertaining.

Kurisani

Having recently joined the Tanda Tula team after serving with the Timbavati anti-poaching unit. His deep passion for conservation and love for people naturally led him to a career in tourism.

Having grown up in a village on the outskirts of the Greater Kruger, this wilderness has always been home to him.

It’s not just about the big game…

Here you’ll discover so much more than the Big 5. Brown-hooded kingfishers nesting in river banks. The universe in a string of stars. Your own courage, staring into a lion’s eye.

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The rhythm of safari

DrivesGuided walkThe waterhole & hideMagic moments Stargazing
Drives

Each day begins and ends with an adventure into the wild. Morning and late afternoon drives last around 3-4 hours, immersing you in the two contrasting faces of the bush; daylight’s vibrant activity and the mysterious world of nocturnal life. The circadian rhythm of the wilderness is both consistent and full of surprises, revealing something new with every outing.

Guided walk

Guided walks through the wilds of the Timbavati Nature Reserve are more deep immersions than strenuous hikes. Lead by nature — and our most experienced and passionate guides — you’ll rediscover what it means to be wild. You'll experience nature's finer details. It's expert artistry. It's everyday miracles. And your own sense of wonder and curiosity as the experience wakens dormant senses.

The waterhole & hide

Spend time in our hide at the edge of the camp overlooking a bustling waterhole. From birds to shy antelope and even elephants, this is your moment to be still and present. Sometimes, you may see nothing but the rustle of leaves in the breeze — and even that holds its own quiet profundity. Here, in the stillness, is where you forge a deeply personal connection with the wild.

Magic moments

In Africa, sunrise and sunset are events in their own right, and we honour them with a stylish reimagining of the timeless safari tradition of coffee and sundowner stops. There’s something profoundly moving about standing on foot in this vast, untamed wilderness, whether sharing laughter with loved ones or newfound friends, or enjoying the quiet solitude of your own thoughts.

Stargazing

Every ancient people had its cosmology, its stories written in the stars. The dark, unpolluted skies above Tanda Tula still tell these stories, and our guides are fluent in them. Your star safari at Tanda Tula will be a trip through time. A journey out of this world. A celestial experience you won’t forget. Just remember that it’s weather-dependent.

" The game drives were great with Steven and Jack who found the big five for us including plenty of white rhino families. They gave us plenty of time to photograph but also to watch the behaviour of these unusual animals. In fact the leopard sightings here were better than Botswana including amazing time watching a leopard up a tree with his Impala kill and hyenas circling beneath waiting for scraps ! Jack even spotted an Aardvark for us! "
Tripadvisor
" Our guide was Chad, someone we have known for years and our tracker was Glen, a wise finder of things nobody else can see! Over the course of the next four days we saw everything that the Timbavati has to offer - birds and small grazers, rhino, elephants galore, leopards, buffalo, zebra, giraffe and lions.....fifty one different lions! "
Tripadvisor
" Repeated sightings of all of the Big 5 - and much more. Our guide (Tristan) and tracker (Glenn, who tracked down a pride of lions on foot and then guided our vehicle to a kill) are the best that there could possibly be. Their knowledge, insight, and easy manner are second to none. "
Tripadvisor

QUICK FACTS

  • Two game drives per day
  • Morning guided bush walk
  • Night drives aided by spotlight
  • No more than 6 people per vehicle
  • Stargazing
  • Vehicles equipped with binoculars, water bottles, blankets, ponchos, and insect repellent
  • Book an exclusive photographer to capture your experience