South Africa Big 5 safari holiday at the 5* Tanda Tula Safari Camp. A luxury fully inclusive safari experience in the Timbavati, bordering Kruger National Park. Where game roams freely between the Timbavati and the Kruger, providing an unforgettable safari experience.
Thanks to committed owners and a strong team, Tanda Tula is regarded as one of the best safari destinations in South Africa. This family feeling is ever present throughout each and every staff member, and it continues on to every guest that passes through their doors. Here, you connect to a distinctly authentic and immersive safari experience in Kruger.
At the heart of the camp lies the central area, featuring a split level lounge and bar that opens onto decks through expansive sliding doors. Offering breathtaking views. There is also a pool, library, gym, a secluded hide, Wellness Nest, and the Shangaan inspired ‘guma’ (boma).
Tanda Tula Safari Camp allows children 6 and over. WiFi is available in all the suites and main areas.
What makes Tanda Tula Safari Lodge so special and exclusive?
As Timbavati Nature Reserve’s premium lodge, Tanda Tula is deliberately small and intimate. The camp has been designed this way so that every safari vehicle carries no more than six guests, ensuring you enjoy space, comfort, and the full attention of your guide and tracker. Fewer people also means a lighter impact on the land.
With fewer guests, we can offer ultra-personalised service. Attentive care that anticipates your needs, along with the freedom to tailor your experience in ways larger lodges cannot. Every element is considered with care and crafted with quality. Right down to the smallest detail.
Another part of the value lies in the people. Tanda Tula is home to some of the most experienced guides, trackers, and hosts in the industry. Many have decades of knowledge in both hospitality and the wild. Just as you would seek out a specialist in any field, here you are cared for by a team of experts whose skill, insight, and warmth make every encounter richer.
This is what makes Tanda Tula rare, and why the value you receive goes far beyond the rate.
Tanda Tula Safari Camp Accommodation
There are 7 x safari suites (125 m2), and 2 x family suites (165 m2) that are dotted amongst the majestic trees. Each air-conditioned suite seamlessly blends glass, canvas, and steel. The intricate patterns in traditional Tsonga design. Contemporary local art. Fine linens. The pulse of the wild. And it’s deep calm.
Each safari suite is positioned overlooking the stunning Nhlaralumi riverbed with sweeping views of the bush. The entire front of the suite is a combination of sliding glass doors and canvas sliding walls. Allowing the light to flood in. They have an open plan bedroom and separate lounge with a fully stocked mini bar, aromatic teas and bean to cup coffee. Air-conditioning and overhead fans keep you cool. While automated roll down blinds means you don’t have to move from the comfort of your bed/couch.
The en suite bathrooms have a bath, indoor & outdoor showers, and a separate loo. Outdoor wraparound covered decks and private plunge pools are ideal for dining and relaxing, with sunken bench seating. Participate in some “armchair game viewing”.
The Family Suites consist of two bedrooms. Each with its own en suite bathroom, a shared lounge area, and a private plunge pool. Ideal for families with children or friends traveling together. In total, the camp can sleep 22 guests.
Suite 3 is configured for guests with disabilities.
These ecologically sensitive suites are fully ‘off grid’. Powered by solar with water wise systems.
Suite with private plunge pool and sunken loungeModern Suite interior
About Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is regarded as one of the top safari destinations in South Africa. The reserve comprises individual landholders who together have formed a protected area of over 53,000 hectares (131,000 acres) of unspoiled natural wilderness adjoining the Kruger National Park in an open ecosystem. The Timbavati is a highly professional and well managed reserve. That protects sustainable populations of many endangered species such as black and white rhinoceros, pangolins, saddle-billed storks, southern ground hornbills, and many others. The area has frequent sightings of elephants, lions, and leopards.
Southern Ground Hornbill
Tanda Tula Safari Camp Activities and Experiences
There are endless opportunities for adventure. And rest. Or for the curious to learn about nature. Or just to absorb the atmosphere. Watch a matriarch and her calves digging in a riverbed. Sip a sundowner G&T at Sunset Plains. Taste the tang of the first ripe marula fruit. Scour the soil for the tracks of wild dogs. Have your worries massaged away in the Wellness Nest. Feed your senses on a quintessentially South African food journey. Connect with people in the camp. Or quietly retreat in solitude with a book.
We 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.
From the hide you can watch animals and birds
Guided safari game drives
Game drives go beyond the ordinary to give guests unforgettable wildlife experiences in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. You may see the big 5; lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinos. But you’ll also discover so much more. Brown-hooded kingfishers nesting on river banks. The universe in a string of stars. Your own courage, staring into a lion’s eye. All while being led by some of the Greater Kruger’s most skilled guides and trackers.
Hyena chasing vultures off a killLioness with curious cub
Guided safari walks and tracking
Guided walks through the wilds of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve are more deep immersions than strenuous hikes. Led by nature, and the most experienced and passionate guides, you’ll rediscover what it means to be wild. You’ll experience nature’s finer details. Tracking opens up a new world as the tracker guides teach you how to find animals. It’s expert artistry. It’s everyday miracles. And your own sense of wonder and curiosity as the experience wakens dormant senses. And you come fully alive.
Take time to see the small things too – Chameleon
Birding safari
The Timbavati’s birdlife tells its own story. Of ancient riverine trees, seasonal fruits, and inter dependencies. Love and courtship. Life and death. Bird life in the Greater Kruger is abundant. Especially in the summer when resident birds take on breeding plumage, and migratory species arrive in droves from further north in Africa, Europe, and Asia. The dawn chorus is a symphony with many, many stars.
African paradise flycatcher
Sound safari
Using specialized sound equipment, eavesdrop on the wild and hear what mammals, birds, insects, and other animals have to say. From the more audible lion roar, hyena whoop to the quieter elephant rumbles, birdsong, and insect buzz. There is much to listen to. Game drive vehicles are fitted with sound equipment and guests are connected with individual headphones to listen in to nature’s orchestra and discover that there is even more going on in our wild spaces.
Conservation Helicopter Patrol Flights
One of the key ways in which Tanda Tula contributes to the protection of the Timbavati and its wildlife is through patrol flights.
The primary mission of patrol flights is to spot any signs of unauthorized activity on the ground of the Timbavati from the air. If anything unusual is detected, a report is immediately sent to Timbavati Headquarters, so the appropriate teams can be deployed. Additionally, the visibility provided by airborne patrols significantly deters potential poaching activities.
Additionally, these patrol flights are not just functional but also offer a truly transformative, awe-inspiring experience for guests to take part in active conservation. This activity is at an additional cost per flight. Take advantage of our special that includes this activity.
Take a helicopter for conservation of the Timbavati
Star gazing
Every ancient people had it’s cosmology, it’s stories written in the stars. The dark, unpolluted skies above Tanda Tula still tell these stories, and the 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.
Wellness
Spa. Gym. Both. Or either. Whichever facility you choose, you’ll leave with a rejuvenated body and mind. The gym is small but well equipped. And it is air-conditioned. Wellness treatments are customized to each guest. You can book massages, scrubs, and body treatments as you wish. Tanda Tula Safari Camp uses gorgeous African products designed to unlock and indulge your senses.
Cultural/ Library
Set your mind exploring in the library. You can curl up with a book to learn about the area’s multiculturalism and history. Or talk to the team to discover their stories. Their links to nature. Their hopes for the future. You can get tactile with the curiosity cabinets. And follow the spiral on the shell of a giant land snail wherever it may lead. Ask questions. And connect the fascinating past to the vibrant, multicultural present.
Family experience and gatherings
Multi-generational travel. Just you and the kids. Friends who have become family. And family who have become friends. Whoever you travel with, we know you’ll have particular needs. And we’ll cater to them all. Drives geared towards grandparents. Babysitting and kids’ activities (tracking, cooking, arts and crafts, wild gardening with spekboom, and more). Romantic evenings, just for two, while your kids are well taken care of.
Small and intimate weddings. Milestone celebrations. Engagements. Birthdays. Tanda Tula Safari Camp can accommodate and cater to them all. You can expect the same exceptional experience tailored to you and your gathering. Just remember to contact us well in advance.
Eating and drinking
Expect local flavors with fresh ingredients from Tanda Tula’s own vegetable garden, Green Leaf. A journey for your palate. They try to source all ingredients from within 50 miles of camp. You’ll have a daily bush breakfast. Light lunches. Think homemade breads and specialty butters. Crunchy salads. Then, South African inspired dinners that explore regional flavors and cuisines. Every plate tells a story. And we have a wine cellar with a complex note for every occasion.
The impact of your stay
Uplifting people is part of Tanda Tula’s DNA. Through the work of the property’s foundation, your stay helps fund educational opportunities and scholarships for bright young minds. As well as an adult literacy program for staff. It also provides support for small business development, the establishment of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and encouraging environmental awareness. Through support from guests, they contribute to various important projects in the Timbavati and Greater Kruger National Park.
When to visit Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Tanda Tula Safari Camp is open all year round. It has a sub-tropical climate. Hot all year with summer rains and cold nights in winter. The main rainfall occurs between October to March, usually in afternoon thundershowers. Before the skies clear. It is quite beautiful and clears the air and heat.
How to get to Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Road transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle can be arranged from Hoedspruit and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Nelspruit). You can fly directly from either Cape Town or Johannesburg to these airports.
From Johannesburg, you can also fly to Tanda Tula’s Rockfig Airstrip,
Self drive from Johannesburg is approximately 5½ hours.
Details on a day at Tanda Tula Safari Camp and everything that is included in your South African safari ↓
Morning: Waking to the wild
The day begins gently after a restful night of deep sleep. Rise to a personal wake-up call. It’s time to head out on safari as the bush responds to the sun’s imminent arrival. Step outside into the cool, quiet dawn and wander to the bar, where fresh grade A coffee. Prepared to your liking and warm pastries get the first of your senses excited.
Your private open safari vehicle awaits. With no more than six guests, a dedicated guide, and a skilled tracker who know this vast and wild land and its many animals intimately. These are specialists. Meticulously trained, veterans of the bush. You’ve come to the wild for a reason, and you want to know you are in the hands of the best in the industry.
As the first light spills across the savanna, you set off into a vast 55626 hectare wilderness – the furthest you’ve been from civilisation. With the Timbavati’s very low human density, you have thousands of hectares of space all to yourself! It’s quiet here, deeply quiet. Until the roar of a lion, the deep rumble of an elephant’s stomach, the melodic trill of birdsong, or the crackle of hooves on dry grass reminds you exactly where you are.
Approximately three hours of adventure follow (although it could be more… you never know what nature will bring). You’ll sit with wild animals in close, unhurried silence, observing their behavior, absorbing their energy, and learning from your guide’s deep storytelling. These aren’t sightings; they’re encounters. And somewhere along the way, you realize this is as much about discovering yourself as it is about discovering the wild.
Mid morning: Coffee Stop & Breakfast in the Bush
When it’s time to pause, your guide pulls up somewhere impossibly beautiful. A riverbank, an open plain, a shaded grove. Here, steaming mugs of fresh brewed coffee are poured, with a splash of Amarula if you like. Alongside more baked treats straight from camp. Space like this, all to yourself? Priceless. The view, the ground beneath your feet, the earthy scents, and of course, the company. For a long time to come, you will be able to close your eyes and still remember every detail. And the feeling of simple happiness. Refreshed and ready to go, your drive continues…
A little later, comes breakfast in the bush. Lavishly set up under wide skies, tables adorned with fresh fruit, creamy yogurts, warm breads, and cooked to order favorites sizzling over an open fire. How is it that coffee tastes this good, fruit this fresh, and eggs this perfect, when you’re miles from anywhere?
Between Game Drives: Languish in your Dream Home in the Wild
Return to camp, where your time is yours to:
Retreat to your suite to relax in a sanctuary with uninterrupted river views. Your private plunge pool offers front row seats to the Nhlaralumi riverbed. It’s so easy to be lulled into gentle sleep under the trees. With the soundtrack of birdsong and monkey chatter. Or simply curl up with a book, feet up, heart full.
Languish by the communal pool beneath ancient Jackalberry trees. Overlooking the waterhole where animals frequently come to drink.
Watch quietly from the hide as wildlife comes and goes.
Head to the spa for a therapeutic massage or body treatment.
And the best part? A dedicated team that is never more than a moment away. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, they’ll make it happen.
Lunch & Leisure: Taste freedom
Lunch arrives as an à la carte experience, meticulously paired with the beverage of your choice. From premium wines to non-alcoholic treats. Fresh, bold flavors served simply, elegantly, perfectly.
Spend your afternoon as you wish:
Swim.
Nap.
Gather around the pool, where fascinating conversations unfold with fellow travelers from around the world.
Or simply be – knowing you don’t need to plan, decide, or lift a finger.
Afternoon Safari: Your Front Row Seat to the Wild
After high tea on the deck (the iced coffee is legendary!) as the golden light softens, you set out again into the Timbavati. One of the planet’s last truly protected wildernesses. Your guide and tracker anticipate your hopes and follow quiet signs through the bush, leading you to unexpected moments you’ll never forget. Who needs to travel to the moon when we still have this?
Sundowners are served at a lookout chosen just for you. Drinks in hand, you watch the vast African sky deepen in mesmerizing hues as the Timbavati prepares for night.
Evening: Fireside Connections
Back at camp, the glow of lanterns welcomes you home. Refresh with a welcome drink and wander to dinner. A different setting every evening, each one unforgettable.
An impeccable three course meal awaits, paired with carefully selected wines or zero-alcohol alternatives. And easy conversation carries across the firelight. Inspiring connections stretch long into the night beneath a canopy of stars, until eventually, you drift back to your suite to fall into deep and restorative slumber.
Tanda Tula Safari Camp Rates
These are the published rates, but if you book with us, we will give you a discount.
Tanda Tula Safari Camp 2026 Rates
1st January – 31st December
Safari Suites
Per person per night sharing (17 years and older)
R 31,500
Per single adult (supplement of 50% applied)
R 47,250
Child (6 – 16 years) sharing with 2 paying adults
R 15,750
Family Suites
Base rate per night (1 – 3 guests)
R 94,500
Additional child (6 – 16 years)
R 15,750
Additional adult (17 years and older)
R 31,500
Tanda Tula Safari Camp 2027 Rates
1st January – 31st December
Safari Suites
Per person per night sharing (17 years and older)
R 34,950
Per single adult (supplement of 50% applied)
R 52,425
Child (6 – 16 years) sharing with 2 paying adults
R 17,475
Family Suites
Base rate per night (1 – 3 guests)
R 104,850
Additional child (6 – 16 years)
R 17,475
Additional adult (17 years and older)
R 34,950
*Sustainability Levy
2026
2027
Per person per night (17 years and older)
R1815
R1955
Per child per night (6 – 16 years)
R910
R1085
*Sustainability Levy includes Timbavati Conservation Levy, Tanda Tula Foundation Contribution and Land Management Fees & Bushbuckridge Community levy.
Rates Include:
Morning and afternoon game drives with open vehicles (no more than 6 guests), expert guides, and trackers.
Bush coffee stops and breakfasts served outdoors (weather dependent).
À la carte lunches paired with beverages.
Sundowners in scenic locations.
Evening three course dinners with wines and non-alcoholic options.
Luxury suites with private plunge pools and river views, a fireplace, air-conditioner and fan.
In room mini-bar, with beverages, snacks and deluxe coffee machine.
Attentive, personalized service from a dedicated team of industry specialists. Trackers, guides, and hosts with decades of experience in both hospitality and the wild. Who elevate every encounter with knowledge, warmth, and rare expertise.
All rates exclude:
Wellness treatments, cellar wines, premium spirits & French champagne
Rockfig Airstrip Landing & Departure Fees and/or road transfers in and out of the Timbavati.
All curios & gratuities.
Sustainability Levy – due per night.
A vehicle entrance fee is payable at the Control Gate (self drive guests only).
Tanda Tula Safari Camp Special Offers
Luxury Timbavati Honeymoon Package
Tanda Tula Safari Camp is a favorite Kruger safari honeymoon destination. Spend your honeymoon here and one of you receives 50% off accommodation. Plus 1 x complimentary private romantic dinner for the honeymoon couple.
A minimum of 3 nights’ stay.
Valid all year. Honeymooners must stay within 1 year of marriage.
Stay Longer for Less at Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Stay 3 Pay 2 or Stay 4 Pay 3
Maximum 6 guests.
Valid: 9th January – 31st March30th April 2026 & 1st November – 15th December 2026 and 9th January – 31st March 2027 & 1st November – 15th December 2027.
Free helicopter patrol flight
Enjoy a complimentary helicopter patrol flight when staying 3 nights or more.
By taking advantage of our complimentary helicopter flight, not only do you contribute to the critical work of safeguarding this protected area, but you also get a bird’s eye view of the region’s stunning beauty as you soar above and take in the breathtaking landscapes below.
Valid: 1st May – 30th June 2026 and 1st May – 30th June 2027.
Maximum of 2 people | Subject to availability and weather dependent
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