Simbavati River Lodge - South Africa

Simbavati River Lodge is an intimate and friendly camp built on the banks of the Nhlaralumi River in the heart of the world famous Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Shaded by age old Jackalberry and Leadwood trees, Simbavati is warm and welcoming, with a generous contemporary design and accommodation for guests in luxury tented rooms or thatched chalets.

Simbavati takes its name from the local Shangaan language, translated as “the place where the lions come down from the stars”. The focus of the lodge is on the excellent big-5 game viewing, breath-taking views, friendly and knowledgeable staff in an environment where guests are made to feel comfortable and relaxed from the moment they arrive.

Simbavati River Lodge offers game drives in the early morning and evening to ensure game viewing when the animals are most active. Game drives are conducted by experienced rangers and Shangaan trackers in open 4X4 vehicles, with excellent photographic opportunities.

You traverse over 12,000 hectares of the big-5 game country, with lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo as well as other species such as kudu, zebra, warthog, giraffe, monkey to name a few.

Nocturnal animals, including the big cats, are regularly sighted on night drives. Bird viewing is spectacular, with over 360 recorded species including various eagles, vultures, kingfishers, woodpeckers, buzzards, herons, egrets, owls, weavers.

The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve was initiated in 1956 by a group of land owners concerned about the degradation of this once pristine wilderness area. Timbavati is dedicated to conservation by maintaining the biodiversity of species and is also involved in different research projects.

Simbavati River Lodge is an uncomplicated and down to earth safari experience, guests are encouraged to relax and feel at home. The lounge area is the perfect place to relax on a comfortable couch with a book from the inhouse library or doze off on an afternoon siesta.

During the mid-day heat, recline in a sun lounger or take a dip in our swimming pool.

Children are catered for with an activity plan or increase their wildlife knowledge with a large selection of books at their disposal.

The lodge has a curio shop in which to buy any necessities forgotten at home,  or an African memento to remind you of your visit to Simbavati River Lodge.

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Timbavati Game Reserve

The Timbavati Private Game Reserve lies in the western region of the Kruger National Park, north of Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve; the borders between all of them unfenced allowing greater freedom of access to wild life. This is typical lowveld terrain and home to the big 5, not least because the huge tracts of land that make up the Timbavati Game Reserve have only ever been very lightly inhabited and have thus remain largely unspoilt and wild. The Game Reserve has never had to resort to restocking its wild life.

The other famous fact about the Timbavati is its association with the white lions, known as the 'white lions of Timbavati'. Timbavati in ancient Sangaan means 'the place where something sacred came down to earth from the heavens' and refers to these genetically rare specimens that are not albino lions but are actually listed as a sub species of lion.

Here is a beautiful photo of an entire pride of white lions

Chris McBride first spotted two white lion cubs in the Timbavati Reserve back in 1975 and today there is a whole pride of white lions in the greater Timbavati area. People come from all over the world to spot them, and they're the stuff of legends.

Recommended accommodation

Kambaku Safari Lodge is situated in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, which is open to the world renowned Kruger National Park.

The camp is well situated in this unspoilt natural wilderness area, home to an astonishing array of animals including the Big Five.

Kambaku Safari Lodge provides the ultimate escape from busy schedules, with only seven well-appointed thatched chalets overlooking its own private water hole.

Attracting guests from around the world, Kambaku Safari Lodge offers superior standards in all of their facilities yet always maintaining a high level of environmental consciousness. The dedicated staff will cater to the individual needs of the guests making for a truly memorable stay.

With scrumptious bush cuisine in a relaxed, rustic setting the guests can truly unwind and immerse themselves in the restorative powers of nature.

Engela

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