Bordering the iconic Kruger National Park and forming part of the Greater Kruger conservation landscape, the Timbavati Nature Reserve is one of South Africa’s most treasured wilderness areas. With over 55,000 hectares of unfenced, wildlife-rich terrain, the reserve offers an authentic and sustainable safari experience—one where the rhythms of nature are uninterrupted, and the wildlife roams freely across a pristine landscape.
Why Choose the Timbavati For Your Next Safari?
What makes the Timbavati truly special is not just the abundance of game, but the way in which safaris are experienced. With minimal lodge density and highly experienced guides and trackers, guests enjoy an exclusive, deeply immersive encounter with the African bush. These safaris aren’t just about sightings; they’re about connection—reconnecting people to nature, and supporting the long-term protection of the land, wildlife, and surrounding communities.
Regarded as one of the most untouched regions within the Greater Kruger, the Timbavati is part of a vital conservation network that includes the Klaserie and Umbabat Private Nature Reserves. These reserves, together with Kruger National Park, form a continuous landscape that supports thriving populations of the Big Five, as well as rarer species like African wild dogs and cheetahs. With no fences to hinder movement, animals migrate naturally across the ecosystem, offering guests some of the most rewarding and unpredictable wildlife encounters in Africa.
The reserve’s remarkable biodiversity includes over 40 species of mammals and more than 360 recorded bird species, making it a paradise for birders and wildlife enthusiasts alike. From the elusive leopard and endangered ground hornbill to plains game like kudu and giraffe, every drive is a reminder of the richness and fragility of this landscape.
More than just a safari destination, the Timbavati is a model for sustainable tourism. Revenue generated from tourism directly supports conservation efforts, anti-poaching initiatives, and community outreach programmes led by the Timbavati Foundation. These include water access projects, sustainable farming, and environmental education—all aimed at creating a long-term, balanced relationship between people and the natural world.
As one of the original private reserves to drop its fences with Kruger in the early 1990s, the Timbavati has long believed in collective conservation. Its inclusion in the Greater Kruger open system reflects decades of dedication to ethical, low-impact safari tourism and ecological preservation. Today, a visit to the Timbavati isn’t just a journey into the wild—it’s a conscious choice to support a more sustainable and unified future for Africa’s wildlife and people.
What Makes the Greater Kruger Region Special?
Spanning two provinces and stretching to the borders of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, the Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s most iconic conservation areas. Established in 1926, its vision of protecting biodiversity at scale has since evolved into a far-reaching initiative—the Greater Kruger, a landscape of collaboration, conservation, and shared responsibility.
Within this open system lies the Timbavati Nature Reserve, one of the key players in a unified ecological network that includes Klaserie, Umbabat, Balule, and the Kruger itself. This unfenced, integrated wilderness allows wildlife to move freely and naturally across the region, supporting sustainable populations of predators, herbivores, and threatened species alike.
In 2018, a landmark Cooperative Agreement was signed between Kruger National Park and its adjoining private reserves. This agreement formalised a collaborative framework under five core pillars—governance, environmental management, socio-economic benefits, safety and security, and land inclusion. For the Timbavati, it was a natural alignment with values long held: that only through good governance and shared purpose can true sustainability in conservation be achieved.
Through this collective vision, the Greater Kruger system has become more than a protected area—it’s a living, evolving landscape that actively works to combat threats like poaching, promote inclusive economic development, and ensure that conservation benefits reach beyond reserve borders. For guests, it means every safari in the Timbavati contributes directly to a broader mission: protecting the natural heritage of Southern Africa for generations to come.
A Legacy of Conservation: The History of the Timbavati Reserve
The Timbavati’s roots in conservation date back to the 1950s, when a group of forward-thinking landowners came together with a shared vision: to protect and preserve a stretch of Lowveld wilderness from the rising pressures of unsustainable land use. Forming the Timbavati Association in 1956, their efforts laid the foundation for what would become one of the most respected private reserves within the Greater Kruger region.
From humble beginnings, the Timbavati has grown to encompass over 53,000 hectares, managed under a single constitution and governed with conservation at its core. A defining moment came in 1993, when fences were dropped between Timbavati and the Kruger National Park, creating an open ecosystem that now allows for unrestricted wildlife movement and a richer, more authentic safari experience.
This vision of openness expanded over time, as Timbavati joined forces with neighbouring reserves like Klaserie, Umbabat, and later Balule and Thornybush—forming a continuous conservation corridor within the Kruger Lowveld. Today, the reserve is home to thriving populations of endangered species including black and white rhino, pangolins, ground hornbills, and saddlebilled storks, all protected through rigorous conservation management.
Sustainable tourism plays a key role in supporting these efforts. The Timbavati is home to a select number of lodges that offer guests not only exceptional wildlife encounters, but also the opportunity to support conservation and community development. Income from tourism helps fund anti-poaching initiatives, habitat management, and the work of the Timbavati Foundation, which invests in education, water access, and sustainable agriculture projects in local communities.
In a region where large parts of the Lowveld have remained untouched by permanent settlement, the Timbavati stands as one of South Africa’s last truly wild frontiers—an unspoiled corner of the bushveld where people, wildlife, and landscapes continue to coexist in a delicate, enduring balance.
How Far Has Safari Come in the Timbavati?
The safari experience in the Timbavati has come a long way from its frontier days in the 1970s. Back then, pioneering lodge owners operated under challenging conditions, with minimal infrastructure, limited communication, and few established guidelines. Practices that were once commonplace—like baiting predators or habituating animals for viewing—have since given way to a more ethical and conservation-focused approach.
Today, the Timbavati safari experience is one of professionalism, purpose, and progress. Lodges are no longer isolated ventures but are part of a broader, collaborative tourism economy that promotes best practices, invests in communities, and safeguards the natural environment. From advanced training for guides and trackers to rigorous operating standards, every aspect of a modern Timbavati safari reflects the industry’s transformation into a sustainable, respected pillar of the South African economy.
These changes haven’t come without effort, but they’ve resulted in a more responsible and rewarding way to experience the bush. Safari operators now work closely with conservation bodies, local stakeholders, and national agencies to ensure that the tourism footprint is as light as possible, while the benefits are widespread and long-lasting.
Perhaps the most remarkable evolution has been the way in which the Timbavati has embraced its role within the Greater Kruger system. No longer operating in isolation, the reserve is now a vital part of a regional conservation network—one that shares knowledge, resources, and a united vision for the future. This integrated approach ensures that the landscape functions as one, not only for the wildlife that inhabit it but also for the people who depend on it.
The result is a safari destination that’s as enriching as it is ethical—one where guests can witness Africa’s most iconic wildlife while contributing to a deeper legacy of protection, partnership, and sustainability.
At the Heart of It All: Tanda Tula
Situated in the heart of the Timbavati Nature Reserve, Tanda Tula enjoys unrivalled access to one of South Africa’s most pristine wilderness areas. As part of the Greater Kruger landscape, our safari experiences are enriched by the vast, unfenced ecosystem that surrounds us—offering guests the freedom of open landscapes, exceptional game viewing, and meaningful encounters with nature. Benefiting from the Timbavati’s commitment to sustainable tourism, conservation, and community upliftment, Tanda Tula is proud to play a role in preserving this remarkable region while offering an authentic, low-impact safari rooted in respect—for the land, the wildlife, and the people who call it home.
