Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Limpopo
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Inside park
Where to stay in and near Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Private nature reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park, known for its white lions and exceptional game viewing.
Limpopo, South Africa
Big Five
About Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
The Timbavati is a private reserve on Kruger's western boundary near Hoedspruit, unfenced to the park since 1993, and famous for the white lions that occur naturally here: a rare colour variant, not albinism, first recorded in the reserve in the 1970s and still present in the wild. It is a Big Five reserve of lodges and camps with guided drives, off-road driving and night drives, inside the malaria area, best in the dry months from May to September. The reserve funds its conservation through a levy on every guest, and it forms part of the Greater Kruger with the Klaserie, Umbabat and Balule.
Things to do: Game drives · Safaris · Guided walk · Scenic drives · Spa
Where you can stay: Luxury lodges · All-inclusive
Wildlife near Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
What people record most across Limpopo. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across Limpopo, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Stay in & near Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
&Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge
Hoedspruit
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Can support DAKTARI Bush School and more
Price on request
Inside park
&Beyond Ngala Tented Camp
Phalaborwa
Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Can support Endangered Wildlife Trust
Price on request
Inside park
When to visit Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Most of the rain at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve falls from November to February, peaking in January at about 127 mm. The dry season runs from May to August, with little or no rain. February is the hottest month, with average highs of about 31°C, and July the coolest, with average lows of about 12°C.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 127 | 30 | 21 |
| February | 95 | 31 | 21 |
| March | 56 | 30 | 20 |
| April | 32 | 28 | 18 |
| May | 10 | 27 | 15 |
| June | 4 | 25 | 13 |
| July | 5 | 25 | 12 |
| August | 6 | 27 | 14 |
| September | 20 | 29 | 16 |
| October | 31 | 29 | 18 |
| November | 67 | 30 | 19 |
| December | 116 | 30 | 21 |
Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 433 m above sea level. Weather data from Open-Meteo.com (opens in a new tab) (ERA5), CC BY 4.0.
Getting there
3 stays we sell in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. Tap a pin for the listing.
24.3779° S, 31.3315° E800 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Timbavati Private Nature Reserve wild
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
- Built into every booking
- A conservation share
- Where it goes
- Local causes & communities
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve: your questions
Where is Timbavati Private Nature Reserve?
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is in Limpopo, South Africa.
Does Timbavati Private Nature Reserve have the Big Five?
Yes. Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is a Big Five area, home to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
What wildlife can you see near Timbavati Private Nature Reserve?
In Limpopo, commonly recorded species include animals such as Sharpe's Grysbok, Tsessebe, Roan Antelope, Lichtenstein's Hartebeest and birds including Tropical Boubou, Racket-tailed Roller, Black-fronted Bushshrike, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
When is the rainy season at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve?
Most of the rain at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve falls from November to February, peaking in January at about 127 mm. The dry season runs from May to August, with little or no rain. February is the hottest month, with average highs of about 31°C, and July the coolest, with average lows of about 12°C. Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 433 m above sea level.
When is the best time to visit Timbavati Private Nature Reserve?
The best time to visit Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is May-Sep (dry season).
What is there to do at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve?
Popular activities at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve include game drives, safaris, guided walk, scenic drives, spa.
Where can you stay in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve?
Places to stay inside Timbavati Private Nature Reserve include Tanda Tula Safari Camp, &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge and &Beyond Ngala Tented Camp. Request them on Spekboom and pay once your dates are confirmed. Every booking funds conservation.
Parks near Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Thornybush Game Reserve
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Manyeleti Game Reserve
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Manyeleti Game ReserveGame Reserve · 36 km
A community-owned Big Five reserve open to Kruger
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Kruger National Park
Limpopo, South Africa
Kruger National ParkNational Park · 52 km
Premier Big Five destination
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Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
Big Five parks and reservesPrivate game reservesNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in LimpopoAll protected areas