Authentic BIG 5 Kruger Safari - Tented Safari Camp
African Bush & Wildlife up close stay at an unfenced tented safari camp (on-suite safari tents) with BIG 5 walking safaris & open vehicle safaris - safely accompanied by armed safari guides.
About your safari camp: The Tented Safari Camp is located in the Timabavati Game Reserve - also known as Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. It shares a common unfenced border with the Kruger National Park allowing animals free range and ensuring guests to the area the opportunity to view the greatest diversity of wildlife that Africa has to offer.
The Tented Safari Camp is an intimate bush camp made from wood and canvas that accommodates just 12 guests in 6 fully serviced Safari style tents each with own private bathroom. Guests take part in walking safaris, and game drives (safaris) in open 4x4 safari vehicles. The Camp specializes wildlife walking safaris, where guests can explore the African wilderness on foot. Safari activities are conducted by professional and knowledgeable safari guides. The Camp has an informal, relaxed atmosphere, and is alive with warm African hospitality.
The Tented Safari Camp offers guests an authentic safari experience, in an unfenced wilderness environment. There is no electricity - solar power, gas and candles are used. Your stay is undisturbed by modern conveniences such as television and cell phones - a true opportunity to immerse yourselves in the African wilderness.
Electronic photographic equipment can be charged from the main building.
Day 1 Johannesburg to Timbavati, Tented Safari Camp Meals Today: Lunch, Dinner 05:30 - 06:30 Pick-up from Johannesburg Airport or surrounding Airport Hotels. (Transfer services by daily shuttle duration 5.5hrs) 12:00 Arrival at Timbavati Entrance Gate where you meet your transfer driver to The Tented Safari Camp. 13:00 Check-in 14:30 Lunch Afternoon Safari activity Dinner Overnight: The Tented Safari Camp, Timbavati, Kruger National Park
Day 2:On Safari Meals Today: B,L,D A typical day on safari: All walking trails are led by a professional, experienced safari guide who is armed. Each safari guide takes a maximum of 8 guests on a walking trail (with tracker). Your Kruger walking safari generally begins at dawn with a wake up call at 5h00/05h30 (ouch! but its worth it). Enjoy a welcome cup of tea or coffee, and fruit and cereal before setting out.
Your safari guide will give you a thorough safety briefing before your safari walk, so that you are comfortable with the rules and safety instructions pertaining to you walking trail. Please feel free to ask questions at any time. Please do remember that you are walking in a wild environment, and it is important to listen to your guide at all times. There is ample opportunity to stop along the trail to examine interesting features of the bush, to observe animals and learn more about the African bush. Photography is allowed on the walking safari, but under the guidance of your safari guide.
Return to camp mid morning, and enjoy a hearty brunch, prepared by our safari cook. Its then time to relax in camp, before joining us in the dining room at about 14h30 for a late lunch.
During the afternoons, depending on the animal movements in the area, your guide may suggest a game drive and short walk, followed by sundowners and a night safari game drive. Our timetable and activities during your safari are primarily determined around game viewing, so we do include both walks and game drives.
The best time to view game on your African safari, are the early hours of the morning and during the late afternoon. This is when most game is active during the heat of the day, many animals tend to seek shade and are less active. Night game drives with a spotlight bring you in to contact with nocturnal animals such as Bush babies, Civets, Genets, African wild cats, Porcupines and so forth.
Whilst we make every effort to seek out the Big Five animals (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino), we focus on the whole safari environment, showing appreciation for all aspects of the wilderness animal behaviour and habitat, trees, insect and plant life, as well as viewing all the other species of game found in the bush. Overnight: The Tented Safari Camp, Timbavati, Kruger National Park.
Day 3: Morning Safari & return to Johannesburg Meals Today: B Morning Safari activity followed by breakfast. 10:30 Transfer from The Tented Safari Camp to Timbavati Gate. 11:45 Meet your transfer driver to Johannesburg 17:45 18:45 Drop-off at Johannesburg Airport or Airport Hotels Overnight: None (available on request)
Included: Return transfers to/from Johannesburg (scheduled shuttle service) 2 Nights accommodation All safari activites Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at the Camp
Excluded: International Flights Timbavati Reserve entry fees R 150pp payable at the camp All beverages Personal travel insurance Gratuities & Tips to safari guides & housekeeping
Options: Extend this safari to 4 or more days Add a Victoria Falls adventure to this safari Add a trip to see magical Cape Town and Table Mountain
Our unique relationship with our tour operators ensures only people who have participated in a trip after making an enquiry for it at The Africa Guide can leave a review.
The email we send you when you make an enquiry has full instructions for registering a booking and leaving a review - both are free services.
Feel free to read through the reviews for any trip you like the look of.
Trips with no reviews are usually new to the The Africa Guide but are normally operated by a tour operator who is established here. Most tour operators listing here will usually have gained reviews about other trips they have listed here.
Thanks for visiting, happy travels and don't forget to send us your reviews...
We've returned from a trip of a lifetime, it was thoroughly fabulous.
The tour operator managed to take care of every aspect of our trip and the itinerary was fantastic.
Each of the safari destinations were unique and your selection was superb. We'd be hard pressed to decide on just one and thus the three selected were perfect. Cape Town and Victoria Falls were also incredible travel destinations.
We cannot thank the operator enough and sincerely appreciate their experience and efforts.
We will not hestitate to use your services in the future, nor will we hestitate to reccomend your services.
I had a great time on my safari adventure in southern Africa. The arrangements all worked perfectly for me, and they were pretty complicated as I had seven different lodging venues and all the transportation moving between them required.
I particularly enjoyed my stays n the Timbavati Private Game Preserve, and in Thornybush Private Game Reserve. The animal viewing was fantastic and the experiences provided by the staffd members and facilities were really first rate.
The trip exceeded my already high expectations, as you would expect since an African safari was No. 1 on my "bucket list."
3
Client:
Jeannie - from United States
Trip:
currently unavailable
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
Trains, animals and food are some of the few passions I have in life (not necessarily in that order).
My decision to go to South Africa was mainly to experience an intimate encounter with wildlife in an environment that is as close to their natural environment as possible. My initial contact was to inquire about a package tour that was advertised on the Africa Guide that includes the Blue Train, Big 5 Safari and Cape Town. From the very beginning, Cecil was the specialist that took care of me. I knew what I wanted from the trip but the challenge was to design an itinerary that would accommodate time constraints (the trip was a last minute decision and I had to be back home by certain date) and to include the Blue Train with its limited time schedule. Cecil worked hard in designing several itineraries to best fit my schedule and budget. All throughout, Cecil was always very patient and replied professionally and promptly to all of my questions.
I didn't know what to expect from the trip as I had never travelled to any countries in Africa. All of the tour guides were very professional, knowledgeable, prompt, pleasant, and friendly. Cape Town was beautiful and the people felt genuinely nice. Being in the Blue Train was quite an experience. Its the perfect backdrop for an Agatha Christie's novel - mysterious, elegant, and classic. Service was superb and the train was truly a moving 5-star hotel.
The safari is a photographer's dream. There were so many momentous events to capture. I am still dumbfounded as to how close we can get to these wild animals. Pierre and Service, the assigned ranger and trekker were quite a team. They tracked all Big 5 and many other wildlife. Pierre was very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of the region. It's always gratifying to learn from one who shows much enthusiasm in his field.
I learn so much about the history and peoples of South Africa. Of course the opinions of the history, culture and points of view differ in range with people from different backgrounds and economic status. All politics aside, South Africans were very approachable, courteous and warm. Overall, it was a spectacular and unforgettable experience.
From a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being top marks) I give this trip a score of 10!
I had an excellent time and really enjoyed myself to the point that I am looking at returning next year.
5
Client:
Pamela Davidson - from United States
Trip:
currently unavailable
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
Thank you for a amazing trip. It was more than I thought it would be. I did so much and saw so many awesome animals , I saw four of the big five. The places I stayed was great. Cliff Top was one of my favorites , beautiful place and huge game farm for the animals. The staff was so nice there. The Ranger Sebastian was awesome and funny.
The Elephant Safari was a highlight as well as the great tour of Cape Town. Cape Town is a great city. I went to the waterfront thanks for the suggestion I got to spend a good amount of time there. Thanks again. Also the drivers were nice and great also. Everything went smooth with the transfers.
We enjoyed a wonderful safari holiday thanking the competence and the seriousness of the tour operator and of our guide/interpreter/driver Mrs.Carla Dogliani.
I just returned from the most wonderful holiday in Africa! It's my first visit and it will certainly not be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, from camping at Victoria Falls to Safari at Kruger and finally at the most beautiful Cape Town.
The operator was helpful. He was very responsive from the beginning and I am very grateful for his help in booking 4days/3 nights at a tent at Waterfront Resort, Livingstone, Zambia. The arrangement including transfer from OR Tambo was flawless and it was a very auspicious start of my holiday :-)
Now I am planning my next trip to Africa and will certainly turn to your website for ideas and suggestions. Thank you for the great site and keep up the good work.
The trip was WONDERFUL! We had a FABULOUS time and we would do it all over again!
The whole thing was VERY organized! Right from the start, Cecil, was great at answering our questions and staying in contact with us!
The tour guides were fun and professional, the hotels were perfect (some fancy and some bungalows), the food was good and the tours/safaris were exactly what we were looking for (not too fast and not too slow)! I would highly recommend both a trip to Africa and using this operator to go!
The operator took care of my every need for my first trip to Africa. I was a bit nervous traveling as a single female, but they made all the arrangements and everything was taken care of for me.
My safari in Kruger Park was unforgettable. Marc's Treehouse Lodge fit the occasion perfectly, although I did have a few unwanted guests the first evening :-). The hostess was very sweet, the food delicious, and the safari exciting. The guides were not only knowledgeable but anyone could tell they were completely dedicated and enthralled with their jobs. That made our safari even more special.
Victoria Falls was breathtaking. The tour on the falls and the river cruise just made the experience that more memorable. I have photographs of scenes that I could never have imagined. Again, the accommodations at the Zambezi Sun were lovely and the food excellent. The staff were helpful, always polite and always with a smile.
Cape Town speaks for itself. Africa definitely is a place of surprises. First a safari, then to the falls, then on to a bustling metropolis with a small town flair. Only in Africa :-). Both guides in Cape Town were phenomenal!! They answered every question and more. They were as excited as their guests to show them their town and all the beautiful sites. They made my stay that much more special.
I want to personally thank Cecil and all his Team for making my first trip to Africa as memorable as I knew it would be. I will definitely return and hope to build more fond memories...and hope to bring my family and friends along too.
The Safari was great. Everything was organised well. Thank you very much again.
Just something small. What I would suggest is that just one night will be at Marc's Treehouse and the other nights at an other hotel. The Marc's Treehouse is very special, but me and also other people thought that they have to do some renovatings. Once we had a big rain at night. I was lucky with my room but the others not. Some people had water in the room.
But after that everything was ok and the tour in Cape Town was also well organised.
