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Professional wildlife artist Alison Nicholls will share her art techniques and teach you how to create wildlife field sketches. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, Alison will help improve your artwork. This safari includes game drives so that you experience the African bush in a new way, learning creative skills in a beautiful and relaxed environment.
Wildlife viewing in Timbavati is superb - this private reserve within the Greater Kruger boasts regular sightings of the Big 5 (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo) and other species such as zebra, hippo and giraffe. Predators such as cheetah, hyena and African wild dogs are regular visitors to the property.
Join professional wildlife artist Alison Nicholls on this art safari in the Big 5 Timbavati, Greater Kruger
Highlights
Learn from Alison Nicholls, a professional wildlife artist whose 15+ years of leading art safaris have earned her a devoted following of repeat guests.
Private morning and afternoon game drives allow the group to linger at sightings, unhurried and uninterrupted.
Regular Big 5 encounters, alongside zebra, hippo, giraffe, and predators such as cheetah, hyena, and African wild dogs.
Creative daytime art workshops offer the chance to refine sketches, explore colour and light, and transform field studies into polished works.
Location and Lodge
Your art studio is situated in the Timbavati, Greater Kruger, a private reserve that shares an open ecosystem with Kruger National Park. Timbavati is home to the legendary Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), and other species such as cheetahs, wild dogs, zebras, hyenas and giraffes. Greater Kruger access is exclusive to lodge guests, ensuring a private wildlife experience.
You will spend 6 nights at Kambaku Safari Lodge: This owner-run lodge features eight thatched chalets traditionally set around the camp waterhole. The main lodge features a welcoming fireplace, small library and superb bar, whilst the upper deck provides a pool table for the younger generation as well as a games corner. With a traversing area of 12,000 hectares, morning and evening safaris are always interesting and informative.
Guest Reviews
“AG’s art safari with Alison Nicholls was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had! I grew as an artist and learned so much about art and 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 identify the areas where my sketching needed to improve. She had quick tricks and skills that made my ability to sketch moving animals much better. This is something I have never been good at. I got much better at visualising an animal in different positions because of her extensive knowledge of anatomy. I also worked on spending less time on details and working on whole animals, which improved my proportions and overall sketching. I filled pages and pages of my sketchbook.
During the workshop time, we worked on new watercolour techniques. 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! Now, if we had just seen that African wild dog! I guess I’ll have to come back.” ~ Linda McClure, USA
Timing
6 to 12 September 2026 (6 nights, 7 days)
Your art safari is perfectly timed for excellent weather and wildlife-viewing. May to September enjoys warm to hot days with cool evenings and early mornings - when animals congregate near available water and vegetation is sparse, resulting in better wildlife encounters.
October and November are also excellent for viewing wildlife, but temperatures increase during those months, making things uncomfortable for those who are not used to the heat.
The summer rains arrive from December to March, and the presence of more groundwater (which allows wildlife to disperse widely) and thicker vegetation during those months makes wildlife more difficult to find.
Price per person sharing
Based on a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 5 guests - only 2 spots left
6 nights (7 days) | |
Per person sharing | from ZAR 79,370 |
Per solo traveller | from ZAR 114,555 |
Includes: Return road transfers from Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport to Kambaku, 6 nights’ accommodation at Kambaku Safari Lodge including all meals, tea & coffee, house wines, local spirits, beers & soft drinks, 2 game drives per day, bush walks, gym, laundry, unlimited Wi-Fi, conservation levies, Alison Nicholls' guidance fees, 24/7 office support.
Excludes: International and domestic flights as well as associated departure taxes, excess baggage/weight fees, visas, travel and medical insurance, premium spirits, wines and champagne, spa treatments, curio shop purchases, any additional unspecified activities, gratuities.
Thank you!
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
Day 01 – Arrive in Hoedspruit and transfer to Kambaku Safari Lodge in the Timbavati, where you will stay for the next seven days. Enjoy an introductory sketching session with Alison Nicholls and your first art-focused game drive.
Day 02 – Begin early with tea and coffee before a morning art safari game drive, followed by lodge-based workshops or relaxation, and an afternoon sketching drive.
Day 03 – Continue refining quick wildlife sketching techniques on morning and afternoon game drives, with optional informal workshops and critiques at camp.
Day 04 – Spend the day immersed in art safaris, capturing Timbavati’s rich wildlife and predators in pencil and pen, with creative time back at the lodge.
Day 05 – Enjoy another full day of guided sketching on game drives, focusing on confidence, speed and observation, with evening discussions around the next day’s plans.
Day 06 – Embrace your final full day of art safari activities, combining wildlife encounters with hands-on instruction and personalised feedback.
Day 07 – Set out on a final early-morning game drive in search of memorable sightings, possibly including the famed white lions, before brunch. Depart from the Timbavati with your transfer to Hoedspruit airport, for your departure flight or additional arrangements.
“Signature safari”
Christian Boix, AG art safari expert: “Creating this safari was about filling a unique niche – and who better than Alison Nicholls? A gifted artist, patient tutor, and passionate conservationist, she’s made this signature safari thrive for over 12 inspiring years.”
“Prime game-viewing”
Our destination expert, Nadia Lautenbach, says, “Kambaku Safari Lodge sits in prime game-viewing territory, offering countless moments to sketch wildlife in real time – and with Alison Nicholls as your mentor, inspiration and guidance come effortlessly.”
“Unravelling mysteries”
Dave Hyslop, AG safari expert: “Alison has this special knack of unravelling the mysteries of painting wildlife, providing logical and simple instruction and a host of tricks that make realistic looking forms easy to produce time after time.”
Safari planning
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Art safari with Alison Nicholls – Timbavati
Tell us about your dream trip - our travel experts will craft a no-obligation itinerary just for you. We have crafted over 5,000 safaris since 1991. Your personal details are protected; we only use this information to contact you.
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.
YOUR safari choice does make a difference - thank you!