Simbavati River Lodge | Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Simbavati River Lodge offers an exclusive and authentic African Big 5 Safari experience over an extensive tract of pristine wilderness in the well-known Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, home to the famous white lions. Set amongst a truly unique landscape with magnificent views over the Nhlaralumi River where the surrounding wilderness can be appreciated sipping exotic cocktails, enjoying authentic cuisine or simply relaxing.
This intimate, family-friendly lodge boasts contemporary luxury accommodation in luxury safari tents or thatched family chalets elegantly decorated with sophisticated finishes where one can awaken to sights and sounds of the surrounding bush.
Breakfast and lunch are served daily outside on the wooden deck, set out under age-old Jackalberry and Leadwood trees, combining African and Western cuisine offering exciting new tastes for the more adventurous as well as for the more conventional preferences. A traditional dinner is served around the campfire in an open-air "Boma", an experience not to be missed.
The lodge offers Big 5 Safari game drives in the early morning and evening for exceptional game viewing when the animals are most active. Nocturnal animals, including the big cats, are regular sightings at night. Simbavati also offers specialized photographic game drives. (ITT)
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Rooms
Units
Facilities
Activities and Services
Restaurants
Simbavati River LodgeBreakfast with a view
Simbavati River LodgeBar Area
Simbavati River LodgeDinner Setup on the deck viewing
Simbavati River LodgeMain Lodge with a deck enjoying expansive views of the river and waterhole
Simbavati River LodgeMain Lodge with a deck enjoying expansive views of the river and waterhole
Simbavati River LodgeBoma Dinner Experience
Simbavati River LodgeTented Pool Luxury Suites
Simbavati River LodgeTented Luxury Suites
Simbavati River Lodgea spacious en suite bathroom and dressing area with ample storage space, shower, double vanity, enclosed toilet and door out to an outdoor rain-shower as well.
Simbavati River LodgeTented Luxury Suites
Simbavati River LodgeLuxury Safari Tents
Simbavati River Lodgea spacious en suite bathroom and dressing area with ample storage space, shower, double vanity, enclosed toilet and door out to an outdoor rain-shower as well.
Simbavati River LodgeTented Luxury Suites
Simbavati River LodgeBeautiful game viewing bedroom with a riverfront view
Simbavati River LodgeFamily Chalet
Simbavati River LodgeFamily Chalet
Simbavati River LodgeSpacious en suite bathroom and dressing area with ample storage space, shower, double vanity, enclosed toilet and door out to an outdoor rain-shower as well
Simbavati River LodgePool area
Simbavati River LodgePrivate Dinner
Simbavati River LodgeCubs Club
Simbavati River LodgeWildlife Experience
Simbavati River LodgeWildlife Experience
Simbavati River LodgeWildlife Experience
Simbavati River LodgeWildlife Experience
Simbavati River LodgeWildlife Experience
Simbavati River LodgeWildlife Experience
Our Tented Pool Suites offer a luxurious retreat in the heart of the wild, featuring a king-size bed (convertible to twin), an en-suite bathroom with a spacious shower, double vanity, and separate toilet, plus a dressing area with ample storage. Unwind on your private game-viewing deck, take a refreshing dip in your plunge pool, or embrace nature with an invigorating outdoor shower.
Our Luxury Tented Suites offer a serene escape, featuring a king-size bed (convertible to twin), an en-suite bathroom with a spacious shower, double vanity, and enclosed toilet, plus a dressing area with ample storage. Enjoy breathtaking views over the riverbed or bush from your private game-viewing deck, private plunge pool or refresh under the open skies with an invigorating outdoor shower.
King bed (convertible to twin), Twin beds (second bedroom), 1 x Bathroom with bath and double shower, Game viewing deck ,Views over river bed.
Notes: each two-bedroom chalet is configured slightly differently
There are three family chalets. Each has a main bedroom with a king-sized bed, the second bedroom with twin beds, and one bathroom with a bath and double indoor rain shower. Please note that the bathroom is accessed via one of the bedrooms. Each has a beautiful game viewing deck with a riverfront view.
Notes: each two-bedroom chalet is configured slightly differently
Six luxury safari tents have a king-sized bed (or twin) and a beautiful game-viewing deck with either a river or bush view. There’s a spacious en suite bathroom and dressing area with ample storage space, shower, double vanity, enclosed toilet, and door out to an outdoor rain shower as well.
Our Tented Pool Suite is in a more secluded location. They have a king-sized bed (or twin) and a beautiful game viewing deck with a solar-heated plunge pool. There’s a spacious en suite bathroom and dressing area with ample storage space, indoor shower, double vanity, enclosed toilet, and door leading out to an outdoor rain shower and plunge pool.
Credit: Richardo Penell
Credit: Richardo Penell
Credit: Richardo Penell
Property Facilities
Bar, Business Centre, Eco Friendly, Internet Access (Complimentary), Kiddies Club, Library, Pool, Restaurant, Secure Parking, Spa, Vegetarian
Room Facilities
Air Conditioning, Balcony / Deck, Bath, Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, Heater, Laundry Service (Available), Lounge Area, Mini Bar, Mosquito Nets, Outside Shower, Pure Cotton Linen, Safe, Shower, Tea / Coffee
Big 5, Bird Watching, Fine Dining, Game Drives, Game Viewing, High Tea, Natural History Tours, Night Drives, Safaris, Wildlife Tours
Activities Nearby
Adrenaline Activities, Animal Encounters, Big 5, Bird Watching, Cultural Tours, Game Drives, Game Viewing, Game Walks, General Sightseeing, Hiking, Historical Tours, Safaris, Wildlife Tours
Game Viewing
Game drives take place in the early morning and late afternoon when the animals are naturally most active. Key to the experience are your English-speaking local guide, working with a tracker from the local Shangaan community. This duo pool their knowledge, experience and fresh observations to maximise your wildlife sightings. Not only in terms of how much you see. But how rewarding, informative and fun the overall experience is. Your guide is often a keen photographer and will be conscious and considerate if your mission is to capture sightings on camera.
Your mode of transport, (or chariot as one of our guides likes to call it), is an open-sided 4×4 game vehicle with 3 rows of comfortable bucket seats in tiers. You generally head out with a maximum of 8 guests. This offers safe, yet close wildlife encounters. Guests sit up high for the best ‘spotting’ of birds and animals. There are no sides to inhibit your views and you naturally feel more in tune with nature. In the summer month, a shade top is added to protect against the African sun, but in winter it is open to the skies for the best bird-viewing and for stargazing.
Your guide helps you to interpret what you see. They also communicate with other vehicles by radio in order to keep in touch with sightings nearby.
Several times a week, dinner in the camps is a more hearty, campfire style meal served under the stars in a ‘boma’, a circular enclosure originally made from branches. The cosy, lantern-lit ambience recalls the early days of safari pioneers.
Another authentic safari experience is dining out under the star in a boma (an enclosed circular dining area) around the campfire. This usually takes place every 2nd night.
The gentle flicker of lanterns, candle-light and a welcoming open fire truly conjures up what is magical about a safari.
Dinner is a festive event which is alternatively served around the campfire in the open-air boma or in the thatched dining area. Dinner consists of an African and Western cuisine with exciting tastes for the more adventurous as well as various conventional options.
Your Stay
4 Nights
Full Board Plus - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities
Your Rooms
1x Luxury Safari Tent
Fast Facts
4 Star
Lodge
Spoken Languages: Afrikaans, English
No. Rooms: 11
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife, Wine