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An exclusive art safari with renowned wildlife artist Alison Nicholls in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, Greater Kruger.
Expect seven days of thrilling game drives, private art sessions, and expert guidance from Alison on sketching Africa’s Big Five and other wildlife in their natural habitat. This safari caters to artists and wildlife enthusiasts of all skill levels.
"Nothing short of spectacular... utterly enriching... The real-time sketching lessons on game drives were fantastic." - Sarah, AG art-safari 2024 attendee
Unlock your creativity on this guided art safari in the Big 5 Timbavati
Overview
Length: 7 days / 6 nights
Group size: 6 - Only one shared room remaining
Location: Timbavati Game Reserve, Greater Kruger, South Africa
Departure dates: 2 - 8 September 2025
Lodges visited: Umlani Bushcamp
Highlights
Guided wildlife art experience: Sketch African wildlife in real-time with guidance from acclaimed artist Alison Nicholls. Suited for all skill levels
Exclusive Big 5 viewing: Located in the Big 5-rich Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, part of Greater Kruger
Private, intimate safari: Limited to six guests for a personal, immersive experience with a private safari vehicle dedicated to art-focused game drives
Eco-friendly bushveld accommodation: Stay in traditional, off-grid reed-and-thatch huts with open-air showers under the stars, set in a serene wilderness
Unique bushveld dining: Enjoy high tea, sundowners, and candlelit dinners amidst stunning African sunsets and sounds of the wild
Prices and dates
Lodges visited: Umlani Bushcamp
2025 Rates - 2-8 September 2025 (7 days/6 nights) | |
Per person sharing | ZAR 59,970 |
Per solo traveller | ZAR 73,845 |
Price Includes:
Meet and greet at Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport
Return transfers from Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport to Umlani Bush Camp
Six nights’ accommodation in spacious double rooms with en-suite bathrooms
All meals: light lunch on arrival day, daily continental breakfasts before morning drives, brunches, high teas, dinners, and brunch on departure day
Beverages: soft drinks, local beers, local spirits, local wines, coffee, and tea
Art tuition by Alison Nicholls throughout the safari
Activities: twice-daily game drives in a private vehicle and informal sketching workshops
Unlimited Wi-Fi
Conservation and park entrance fees for reserve access
24/7 office support
Price Excludes:
International and domestic flights or road transfers to reach Hoedspruit
Airport departure tax, if applicable
Excess luggage weight charges
Visas or entry permits
Telephone calls
Travel, cancellation, and medical insurance (highly recommended for safaris)
Optional safari extensions and any activities not specified in the itinerary
Personal expenses and any items not explicitly included in the itinerary
Tips and gratuities
Premium spirits, wines, and champagne
Spa treatments, curio shop purchases, and other personal purchases
Laundry service (please note: only small items are hand-washed by staff on site; not typically advertised or included)
All participants are responsible for booking their own seats on the following flights:
Arrival Flight
Date: Tuesday, September 2
Airline: Airlink
Class: Economy
Duration: 1 hour
Departure: Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (JNB) at 10:30
Arrival: Hoedspruit Air Force Base Airport (HDS) at 11:30Departure Flight
Date: Monday, September 8
Airline: Airlink
Class: Economy
Duration: 1 hour
Departure: Hoedspruit Air Force Base Airport (HDS) at 12:10
Arrival: Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (JNB) at 13:10
Timbavati - Greater Kruger
Nestled in South Africa's Mpumalanga Province, the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve spans 53,395 ha and features undulating terrain with deciduous woodland interspersed with grassveld savannah and thick riverine forest along the seasonal river banks - perfect safari country.
Timbavati shares an unfenced border with the iconic Kruger National Park, forming part of Greater Kruger. Known for the discovery of two rare white lions in the 1970s, Timbavati is aptly named “the place where something sacred came down to earth.”
Visitors can encounter over 40 mammal species, including the famed Big 5 (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo), along with 360 bird species. Activities include thrilling day and night game drives, guided bush walks, and incredible birdwatching, all designed to immerse you in the beauty and excitement of this unforgettable wildlife haven.
What to expect during your art safari
Your guide, Alison Nicholls, will meet you on arrival at Eastgate Airport near the bushveld town of Hoedspruit. Join your fellow art safari participants on the 30-minute vehicle transfer to Umlani Bushcamp in Timbavati to settle in and get to know your home for the next week.
Alison will demonstrate her sketching techniques soon after you arrive in camp - usually after a light lunch. Your first art safari game drive will follow, where you will spend time sketching and photographing wildlife and scenery. Perhaps a herd of elephants or an elusive leopard will be on the cards? As the sun sets, enjoy a refreshing sundowner drink before returning to camp for dinner to discuss the next day's activities and your artistic goals.
Each day after that, we will follow the rhythm of the bushveld safari - up early for coffee and a light breakfast before heading on a morning art safari game drive. You will usually return to camp for brunch in the late morning, with time to relax by the pool or participate in an informal art workshop led by Alison. Workshop topics will include useful topics such as colour usage in sketches and composition techniques. Afternoon tea and cake is followed by your later afternoon game drive and sundowner drinks stop in one of many scenic locations, then return to camp for a hearty dinner. Bushveld walks in the morning will add to the sketching opportunities.
The detail of each day will depend on what nature delivers, and your ranger will use his vast experience and bushveld sign-reading skills to get you where it's all happening - from hunting wild dogs to sleeping lions, wallowing elephants, and dung beetles rolling dungballs.
Your final day will include a final game drive before checking out of Umlani Bush Camp and joining the vehicle transfer back to Eastgate Airport near Hoedspruit for your onward journey.
Client testimonials
"The game drives were nothing short of spectacular. The artistic aspect of the safari was utterly enriching. The real-time sketching lessons on game drives were fantastic. Alison provided skilled critique of our work and easily adapted her lessons to all skill levels, making the creative process enjoyable."
“My art safari with Alison Nicholls was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had! I grew so much as an artist and learned so much about art, African animals and birds. I really appreciated Alison’s approach to teaching art. She is very knowledgeable about the animals, birds and plants in South Africa. She was able to easily identify the areas where my sketching needed improvement and had skills that made my ability to sketch moving animals much better. Alison has endless patience with all different skill levels and we all produced some wonderful art. The best part of the five days was the friendships and the experiences with the animals that you can’t get anywhere else but on safari in Africa!”
“I could not have created a better forum for Africa and my art. The unexpected bonus of the human connection on safari was also handed to us. I will return to Africa, often.”
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Why choose us to craft your safari?
Handcrafted experiential safaris since 1991.
Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
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Make a difference
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
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