Timbavati Game Reserve

Timbavati Game Reserve Highlights

The Timbavati Game Reserve consists of a group of private game farms and reserves situated north of Sabi Sands on the western edge of the National Park. It is considered to be one of South Africa’s premier game viewing areas. Timbavati Game Reserve was established in 1956 by a group of like-minded game farmers. This 60 000 hectare reserve shares a common unfenced border with the Kruger National Park allowing animals to move freely over 2 million hectares of prime African bush.

This hot lowveld area of wood and grassland is home to Africa's Big 5 as well as many other species of predator and antelope. This abundance of wildlife ensures that visitors to the area have an unforgettable safari experience.

The area supports a variety of wildlife including the "big five", lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo as well as cheetah and wild dog. All antelope and gazelle species such as buffalo, blue wildebeest, bushbuck, Impala, kudu, waterbuck, Burchell's zebra can be seen.

Timbavati Game Reserve Viewing and Activities

The area supports a variety of wildlife including the "big five", lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo as well as cheetah and wild dog. All antelope and gazelle species such as buffalo, blue wildebeest, bushbuck, Impala, kudu, waterbuck, Burchell's zebra can be seen.

Other animals to look out for are giraffe, hippo, spotted hyaena and baboon. Nocturnal animals such as hyena, civet, genet, honey badgers, bush-babies and owls can be seen while out of night drives. Also, elusive nocturnal animals including the endangered African Wild Cat and the Pangolin (Scaly Anteater) are often sighted. Breeding herds of elephant make for exceptional viewing. White rhino sightings increase during the dry season. Large breeding herds of buffalo, numbering up to 400, have been moving through the area using the waterholes.The Timbavati is a bird-watcher's paradise with over 350 species of birds. Species include the Woodland Kingfisher, Scops Owl, Crested Barbet, Marico Sunbird, Spotted-backed Weaver and White-throated Robin. Colourful birds to look out for are the Southern Yellowbilled Hornbill and the Redbilled Hornbill, hornbills are among the most conspicuous birds in African savannahs. Vultures and eagles soaring through the Ngala sky include the Lappet-faced Vulture, White-backed Vulture, Martial Eagle, African Hawk Eagle and Bateleur. All game activities will be accompanied by expert guides.

How to Get there

Air

There are daily flights from OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg International) to Hoedspruit Airport (also called Eastgate). Phalaborwa and Kruger Mpumalanga Airport (KMIA) airport can also be used to access the Timbavati Game Reserve lodges. Once guests arrive at the various airports they have a choice between, a car hire option (self-drive), a road transfer to the lodge where they will be staying or a short air transfer (flight hop) to the various lodges in the Timbavati Game Reserve.

Land

All the Timbavati Game Reserve lodges are accessible via self drive with a sedan rental car from anywhere in South Africa. Obviously the drive time depends on where you are driving from! To self drive from Johannesburg will take approximately 6 hours.

Seasons and Climate

The climate in this reserve is considered subtropical. Summers are very hot and humid and winters are cool and dry.

Summer is from October to March and is characterised by hot humid days and afternoon thunderstorms. Daytime temperatures can get very high, followed by cooler more comfortable nights. The dry bushland comes to life after the rains however game becomes more difficult to find as numerous waterholes fill up and the foliage becomes thicker.

Winter, known as the dry season, is from April until September and brings clear skies and warm sunny days with cold to chilly early mornings and evenings. Winter means less water is available in the region and animals tend to congregate around the water sources, hence game viewing in the dry winter months is the best.