The small, intimate Thabamati Luxury Tented Camp is situated within the world-renowned Timbavati Private Nature Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park. Here you can relax under canopies of canvas and enjoy views of the dam below your feet, the bushveld beyond and the Drakensberg mountain range on the horizon. Accommodating only 8 guests in 4 luxury safari-style tents, Thabamati offers a timeless safari feel with some modern elegance. 

Arriving at Thabamati, you will find a spacious open-plan reception, lounge, dining and bar area designed with nature in mind. The library provides tranquillity, whilst the curio shop will satisfy your African souvenir needs. 

The infinity pool and viewing deck with seating areas can be enjoyed overlooking the water and mountain back drop. Elegant dining in the sunken boma with the stars above and water below to end of a perfect day in Africa. 

Each luxury safari-style tent is situated overlooking the water, where you can enjoy your morning coffee before embarking on your safari, or during the day soaking up the sounds of nature. The spacious open plan tents comprise of a writing desk, fan, seating area, bedroom, en-suite bathroom with a wardrobe, WC, bath, stunning inside, and outside shower all equipped with luxurious south African made amenities, robes and hairdryers. 

The following is Included in your stay: Accommodation, three meals per day, sundowner game-drive drinks (local beers, local soft drinks, local spirits and house wines), bottled water, tea, coffee, laundry, morning and afternoon game drives, optional morning bushwalk of approximately 1 hour after breakfast, emergency medical assistance and evacuation, VAT, unlimited WI-FI, star-gazing after supper and room turndown. 

Safari Activities 

Thabamati Luxury Tented Camp is situated within the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, which forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa. This Private Nature Reserve is open to the Kruger National Park, providing animals with a vast expanse of wilderness in which to roam, free of fences. There are numerous advantages to a safari in a private game reserve that forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park. 

The Timbavati is home to a myriad of mammal species, including Africa’s Big Five - lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant. Other species of animals that you may encounter while on safari include hyena, jackal, giraffe, hippo, wild dog, zebra, kudu and impala, to mention just a few. More than 350 bird species have been recorded in the area. 

Thabamati offers two safari game drives per day – one in the morning and one late afternoon/early evening – in one spacious game viewer seating 8 guests comfortably (4 rows of 2 individual seats). 

Each safari activity is led by a qualified field guide who will share with guests his passion and knowledge of the animals, birdlife and vegetation. A full safety briefing will be conducted prior to embarking on your first African safari. 

We also offer a short morning bushwalk after breakfast, focusing more on smaller animals and vegetation that one does not necessarily observe in detail during game drives. In order to participate in the morning bushwalk, guests need to be physically capable to walk for about 1 hour without any assistance and need to understand and speak English. Ages allowed to partake are 16 years up to 60 years. If you exceed the upper age-limit, a medical certificate is required, confirming that you are physically fine to participate in the walk. 

In the evenings, after your fine-dining bush meal, you can make your way to the main deck area for star-gazing at the bright lights of the Southern African skies. Immerse yourself in nature while seeking out animals and birds of the Southern African bush and enjoy morning coffee and sunset stops along the way. 

The Timbavati lies within the Savanna Biome of South Africa. This biome covers 32% of the country. In essence, savanna is classified as a vegetation type consisting of both a tree and a grass layer, with complex interactions between these two structural layers.  Thabamati offers a great experience for individuals or small groups and can also be booked out as a villa option, complete with your private guide, vehicle and chef. 

A typical day on safari 

Upon your arrival at Thabamati Luxury Tented Camp, you will be met by one of the guides or front- of-house staff members and proceed with your check-in procedures. After check-in, you will be shown to your tented accommodation. Enjoy high tea, before embarking on your safari game drive. 

Summer Times 

05H00 Wakeup Call & Coffee 

05H30 Depart on AM Safari 

08H30 Return from Game Drive 

09H30 Brunch 

15H00 High Tea 

16H00 Depart on PM Safari 

19H00 Return from PM Safari 

19H30 Dinner 

Winter Times: 

05H45 Wakeup Call 

06H15 Depart on AM Safari 

09H15 Return from AM Safari 

09H30 Brunch 

15H00 High Tea 

15H30 Depart on PM Safari 

18H30 Return from PM Safari 

19H30 Dinner 

Children in camp 

Regrettably, we do not accommodate children younger than 10 years old at Thabamati. Children who are 10 years and older are welcome to go on game drives. There is no upper age-limit on the game drives. There is one family tent, which can accommodate a maximum of 3 persons. Confirm with reservations when making a booking if this suite is available. 

Getting to Thabamati 

The closest airports to Thabamati are: 

• o Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS), approximately 1 hour 15 minutes’ drive away 
• o Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), approximately 3.5 hours’ drive away 
• o Phalaborwa Airport (PHW), approximately 2 hours’ drive away 

There are daily flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to the above airports. Thabamati also offers private transfers from any of the above airports, using a local transfer company. Please enquire about the costs. 

Self-drive 

Guests who opt for a self-drive experience can easily reach us by following the written directions on the website. PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW THE GPS. 

When self-driving to Thabamati between the months of September and April, it would be better to hire a 2x4 or 4x4 high-clearance vehicle, because this period is our rainy season. In our winter months (May to August) a normal sedan will suffice. 

Remember ALWAYS enquire about the self-drive directions to camp. We do not recommend following GPS/SATNAV, because these will lead you on to the wrong roads. 

Reputable car-hire companies in South Africa 

a. Europcar - www.europcar.co.za 

b. Avis Car Hire - www.avis.co.za 

c. Budget Car Rental - www.budget.co.za 

Important: If you are self-driving, please allow adequate time to reach Thabamati – you must try to be in camp by 14:00 at the latest, as the first game drive departs around 15:30/16:00, depending on the season.

Driving duration 

Driving times may vary for individual road-users, but these are estimates: 

Johannesburg or Pretoria to Thabamati: 6.5 hours 

Timbavati Gate to Thabamati: 1 hour 

Nelspruit to Thabamati: 3.5 hours 

Orpen Gate to Thabamati: 2.5 hours