THE PERFECT SAFARI TRIO

Game drives at Tanda Tula Safari Camp are unhurried, immersive, and expertly guided by one of the most experienced teams in the Greater Kruger. With access to up to 15,000 hectares of traversing in pristine wilderness, guests encounter iconic wildlife in a landscape teeming with life. Each drive is tailored to guest interests, with professional guides and trackers sharing deep knowledge and passion for the bush. From golden sunrises to dramatic sundowners, every game drive is a deeply personal journey into the heart of wild Africa.

Lion Drinking Credit: Chad Cocking

Lion Cub Credit: Chad Cocking

Lioness and Cub Credit: Chad Cocking

Lions Credit: Chad Cocking

Mongoose Credit: Chad Cocking

Wild Dogs Credit: Chad Cocking

Rhino Baby Credit: Chad Cocking

Rhino Running Credit: Chad Cocking

Sunset Credit: Chad Cocking

Wildlife Landscape Credit: Chad Cocking

Zebras Credit: Chad Cocking

Elephant in the Dam Credit: Chad Cocking

Elephant Bull Credit: Chad Cocking

Impala Road Block Credit: Chad Cocking

:eopard Prowling Credit: Chad Cocking

Walking and tracking at Tanda Tula Safari Camp offers a thrilling, ground-level perspective of the African bush. Guided by highly skilled trackers and armed guides, guests follow wildlife footprints, interpret signs of the wild, and discover the intricate details often missed from a vehicle. It’s an intimate and sensory experience—feeling the earth beneath your feet, hearing the call of birds, and gaining insight into animal behavior and ecology. These walks foster a profound connection to nature, offering both quiet reflection and exhilarating discovery in one of Africa’s most pristine wilderness areas.

Walking with Elephants Credit: Tanda Tula Seeing elephants on foot is a deeply humbling experience!

Setting out on a Walk Credit: Tanda Tula We always gather for a briefing before setting out on a walk.

Safari Walk 4 Credit: Tanda Tula Once out in the bush, our guides often stop to explain the smaller things.

Safari Walk Briefing Credit: Tanda Tula Taking time on a walk to stop and discuss what you are seeing gives a deeper insight into the wilderness environment.

Tracking on Foot Credit: Tanda Tula Understanding tracks and the tracking process is a significant part of any walk.

Safari Walk 1 Credit: Tanda Tula Being out in the bush on foot is immersive and sensory.

Safari Walk 2 Credit: Tanda Tula Walking is also time to reflect and to make a connection with yourself.

Safari Walk 3 Credit: Tanda Tula Our guides and trackers help our guests to interpret and understand what they are seeing.

Spa treatments at Tanda Tula Safari Camp are designed to restore and rejuvenate in harmony with nature. Set in a tranquil bush setting, treatments draw inspiration from African botanicals and healing traditions. Guests can unwind with soothing massages and holistic therapies, tailored to individual needs and delivered by skilled therapists. Whether after a game drive or during a quiet afternoon, each treatment offers a moment of calm and self-care, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wilderness. It’s a serene, sensory journey that nurtures both body and spirit.

Inside the Spa 2 Credit: Kikitography

View from the Spa Credit: Kikitography

Portia our fabulous therapist Credit: Kikitography

Preparing for treatments 1 Credit: Kikitography

Preparing for treatments 2 Credit: Kikitography

Inside the Spa 1 Credit: Kikitography

Inside the Spa 3 Credit: Kikitography

View of the Spa Credit: Kikitography

Spa Massage 1 Credit: Kikitography

Spa Massage 2 Credit: Kikitography

Rejuvenate after treatment 1 Credit: Kikitography

The gym at Tanda Tula Safari Camp offers a unique workout experience, blending wellness with wilderness. Fully equipped with modern cardio and strength-training equipment, the space is designed for comfort and functionality. Large windows open onto the bushveld, allowing guests to stay active while immersed in nature. Whether it’s an early morning session before game drive or a midday workout, the gym provides a refreshing balance of movement and mindfulness in a serene, inspiring setting.

Gym Exterior 1 Credit: Kikitography

Gym Exterior 2 Credit: Kikitography

Cardio Exercises Credit: Kikitography

The helicopter conservation patrol flight at Tanda Tula Safari Camp offers a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into wildlife protection efforts. Guests join experienced pilots and Timbavati field rangers on an aerial patrol over the Timbavati, witnessing vast landscapes, wildlife movements, and conservation operations from above. These flights support anti-poaching and land management initiatives, and guests gain insight into the challenges and triumphs of preserving this ecosystem. It’s an exhilarating, purpose-driven experience that deepens one’s appreciation for conservation and the scale of wild Africa.

Pilot and Field Ranger on a Helicopter Patrol Credit: Tanda Tula

Guest view from the Helicopter Patrol Credit: Tanda Tula

A view of wildlife from above Credit: Tanda Tula

The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve’s immediate neighbors include the Kruger National Park to the east, Umbabat to the north, and the Klaserie and Thornybush reserves to the west. While the reserve has been open to the Kruger for more than 30 years, more recently, fences between the Timbavati and its neighbor to the west were also dropped, which opened an additional 14,500 hectares for natural species migration.

Guided walks through the wilds of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve are more deep immersions than strenuous hikes. Lead by nature – and our most experienced and passionate guides - you’ll rediscover what it means to be wild. You'll experience nature's finer details. 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.

The Timbavati’s birdlife tells its own story. Of ancient riverine trees. Of seasonal fruits. Of interdependencies. Love and courtship. Life and death. Birdlife 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.

Scenic game drives take you to various points of interest within the concession, such as Lanner Gorge, the Limpopo Flood Plain, the Fever Tree Forest, the Nyala Berry Forest, seasonal wetlands, and Mangala.

Bush walks are the best way to experience the forests, floodplains, gorges, and koppies between the two rivers. Walking through this remote and pristine landscape provides a more intimate experience and is ideal for bird watchers looking for species like Pel’s Fishing Owl, as well as others seeking solitude and wilderness in one of Africa’s great landscapes. We offer walking safaris from April to October (Pafuri Walking Safaris) for nature lovers to explore this vast and varied area.

Guests at Pafuri Tented Camp can prearrange to swap a morning game drive for a bush walk to explore the concession on foot.

Immerse yourself in early human history with a visit to the Royal Citadel of Thulamela. This site, which arose in the 13th century and lasted for about five centuries, is located on a rugged hilltop overlooking the Luvuvhu River. It was part of the sophisticated Great Zimbabwe culture, known for its mining, crafting, and global trade via the Swahili Coast.

A community visit to our partners in the Makuleke villages offers a unique opportunity to learn about the Makuleke people's past and present way of life. The visit includes a traditional meal and a memorable performance by a cultural group.

Experience magical moments with bush dinners along the Luvuvhu River, bush breakfasts among the giant Nyala Berry trees, or boma evenings filled with storytelling by the Makuleke people. Full-day excursions with a picnic lunch, which allow you to venture further afield, can be prearranged with the reservation office.

Game drives depart in the early mornings and late afternoons for approximately 4 hours

Winter 06H30 / 15H30
Summer 06H00 / 16H00

Dress:
Comfortable walking shoes and safari gear

Pack:
Cameras, hat, binoculars, bird book