Overview:
Discover South Africa’s premier game viewing destination, Greater Kruger National Park, through our economical Kruger Park Lodge Safari, allowing you to evade the crowds and engage in an authentic African bush experience.
Engage in fulfilling open vehicle game drives within the private Timbavati Game Reserve, which shares unfenced boundaries with Kruger National Park. Reside in a luxurious and secluded safari lodge within the game-abundant Timbavati, relishing the genuine bush environment and the thrill of encountering Africa’s majestic wildlife up close. Activities consist of early morning and afternoon-to-night game drives, accompanied by sundowners, in this Big Five wilderness region of Greater Kruger.
An exceptional cost-effective budget Kruger Park Lodge Safari is perfect for a brief wildlife retreat into the pristine African wilderness!
Detailed itinerary:
Day 1: Johannesburg to Greater Kruger National Park (South Africa)
On the first day of our economical three-day Kruger Park Lodge Safari, you will be picked up at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Departing from Johannesburg, the commercial hub of South Africa, the shuttle proceeds eastward to Kruger National Park, the country’s foremost wildlife reserve. We journey to a renowned bush tavern adjacent to Greater Kruger Park, stopping to extend our legs and appreciate the landscape along route. You will be transported from the bush bar to the safari lodge located within the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
Upon arriving at the delightful resort, it is time for a delectable meal. Post-lunch, you have leisure time to acclimate—swim in the pool, take a sleep, or simply unwind in the pristine natural environment. In the afternoon, we commence our inaugural game drive in Timbavati Game Reserve, which shares unfenced borders with Kruger Park. We bring beverages for sundowners while traversing this private Big Five wildlife reserve in the wild bush. During our return to the safari lodge, we partake in a nocturnal game drive utilizing a flashlight to locate species active at night.
Upon returning to the welcoming lodge, dinner is provided in the lantern-lit boma around an open fire or in one of the sheltered lodge spaces. In the evening, we rest at the real safari lodge, absorbing the sounds of neighboring wildlife and admiring the star-studded African skies.
Repasts: Luncheon & Supper
Day 2: Timbavati Game Reserve – Greater Kruger National Park
Today, we commence our day at dawn, enjoying tea and coffee accompanied by rusks before embarking on an exhilarating game drive in Timbavati.
We allocate approximately three hours to observe wildlife in the esteemed Timbavati Reserve region of Greater Kruger, which features diverse ecosystems supporting a multitude of animal species. Should conditions permit, we may seize the opportunity for a guided bush walk this morning, in coordination with your guide.
Upon returning to the bush camp following our morning wildlife drive, we indulge in a substantial breakfast of both hot and cold meals, cereals, drinks, and fruit. The day’s heat is endured at the cozy lodge, where one may have a revitalizing swim in the pool, unwind in a shaded area, or engage in board games and billiards on the upper deck with a view of a bustling watering hole.
Following high tea at the resort, we return to the wildlife-abundant bush in pursuit of further fauna present in the Timbavati Game Reserve. In the evening, we pause for sundowners in the serene wilderness of this remote region of Greater Kruger Park. The second day of this budget Kruger resort Safari concludes with an amazing nocturnal game drive on the return to the resort. Revitalize and savor pre-dinner beverages followed by a delectable supper at the exclusive safari lodge.
Repasts: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 3: Greater Kruger National Park to Johannesburg (South Africa)
On the final day of this budget Kruger Park Lodge Safari, we embarked on a concluding game viewing expedition early in the morning. Commence with a cup of coffee or tea accompanied by refreshments, prior to embarking into the wilderness with your seasoned guide.
Following our recent game drive in pursuit of wildlife and avifauna in the exclusive Timbavati Game Reserve, we return to the elegant lodge for a delectable breakfast. Subsequently, we depart from Greater Kruger National Park, proceeding to the bush tavern to board our return shuttle to Johannesburg. The shuttle transports you to OR Tambo International Airport, marking the conclusion of this economical Greater Kruger jungle expedition.
Repast: Breakfast
Transportation Collection and drop-off will occur at the OR Tambo Bus Terminal Building. Transportation to and from this designated site is excluded from the tour cost.
The schedule for shuttle departures is as follows:
Collection schedules on the inaugural day:
06:45 OR Tambo Bus Terminal Structure
Final day drop-off times:
17:00 – 18:00 OR Tambo Bus Terminal Structure
About Timbavati Safari Lodge
The safari resort is situated within the depths of the Timbavati Game Reserve in Greater Kruger Park, encircled by the wild African bushveld. This modest lodge hosts a maximum of 16 people, providing a secluded and exclusive forest retreat. The lodge is inviting and congenial, merging aspects of understated elegance with a casual warmth to foster a hospitable atmosphere. The lodge is both family-friendly and economical, while also being stylishly and beautifully adorned. The structures have been meticulously crafted to harmonize with the natural surroundings and minimize ecological effect. The lodge operates on solar energy and adheres to ideals of environmental sustainability.
Privileged access to the privately-owned wildlife reserve guarantees a relaxed and uncrowded game viewing experience—an authentic African safari devoid of the distractions of everyday life. Seasoned rangers employ their tracking expertise to identify the Big Five of Africa and other fauna during game drives in Greater Kruger National Park.
About Timbavati Game Reserve
The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve hosts around 40 mammal species, encompassing Africa’s Big Five: lion, leopard, rhinoceros, buffalo, and elephant. The reserve is renowned globally for its fabled pale lions, specifically the White Lions of Timbavati, and currently accommodates a robust pride of these distinctive lions. The White Lions of Timbavati are regarded as the progenitors of all white lions globally.
The Timbavati Reserve has 53,392 hectares of savanna bushveld, featuring 360 bird species, about 80 reptile species, over 80 tree species, and approximately 50 fish species. The private Timbavati Reserve is integrated into the Greater Kruger National Park, sharing unfenced boundaries with Kruger Park and adjacent private reserves like Sabi Sands. The absence of guarded boundaries with Kruger Park and adjacent reserves facilitates a remarkable variety of species to traverse freely within these protected zones.
Alongside the Big Five, the Timbavati Reserve is home to cheetahs, zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, kudus, impalas, waterbucks, and warthogs, as well as hyenas and the critically endangered African wild dogs. Timbavati is strategically located between Kruger National Park to the east, Klaserie Private Reserve and Umbabat Private Nature Reserves to the north, Sabi Sands to the south, and Thornybush Private Reserve to the west.
The Timbavati Reserve is primarily appealing due to its status as a less congested safari location with a restricted number of lodges. The restricted access results in a reduced number of visitors and safari vehicles for game watching in this section of Greater Kruger Park, hence promoting robust game populations. Since 1962, the non-profit Timbavati Association has been committed to preserving species biodiversity in this wilderness region, ensuring that Timbavati remains largely pristine and has never required wildlife restocking.
Pre and Post Tour Lodge Rates:
We provide convenient pre and post tour lodge accommodations for the Kruger Lodge Safari, available for addition to your tour booking upon request. The four-star lodge lodging is situated 10 to 15 minutes from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Access the website for details regarding rates.
Child Policy
This trip accommodates children.