Timbavati Private Nature Reserve

Why visit Timbavati Private Nature Reserve?

Timbavati, meaning “the place where something sacred came down to Earth from the Heavens,” is renowned for its high wildlife density and excellent luxury safaris.

Strict access control (no day visitors are permitted) results in lower visitor numbers compared to the neighbouring Kruger National Park. Off-road driving (by experienced guides), night drives, and bush walks guarantee fantastic wildlife encounters. The number of vehicles at wildlife sightings is restricted to ensure an exclusive safari experience.

White lions, Big Five and other wildlife

The area is home to the famous white lions of Timbavati, although they can be challenging to spot as this is a rare natural colour mutation.

The Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant) are regularly seen during game drives, as are wild dogs, cheetahs and hyenas. Timbavati hosts high populations of other species such as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala and waterbuck, while smaller creatures such as genet, mongoose, pangolin and aardvark are also seen.

Timbavati's varied bushveld

Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is one of several private game reserves making up the Greater Kruger, which shares an unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park.

The 53,395 ha Timbavati features undulating terrain with deciduous woodland interspersed with grassy savannah and thick riverine forest along the seasonal riverbanks - perfect luxury safari country.

Excellent bird watching

Timbavati hosts over 360 bird species, including southern ground-hornbill, brown-headed parrot, martial eagle, orange-breasted bushshrike, scarlet-chested sunbird and five vulture species.

Why Timbavati is a responsible safari choice

Your Africa Geographic safari to Timbavati contributes directly to the conservation of the park to the benefit of local people because:

• We donate a portion of every safari sold to selected conservation efforts at ground level.

• Your safari supports our conservation publishing efforts, which educate the world about Timbavati and other threatened ecosystems.

• Our chosen lodges support local community initiatives, ensuring that tourism benefits the nearby villages directly. They also adhere to strict environmental practices, such as limited vehicle numbers and sustainable camp operations, which help protect the ecosystem.