Timbavati Game Reserve was formed in the 1950's, when a group of conservation minded private game park owners, on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park, decided to pool their resources for mutual benefit and to benefit the wildlife in the area. The individual farms were consequently joined in order to form a wilderness area that is today privately owned by 48 individual members.

Timbavati Game Reserve is situated on the Western boundary of the Kruger National Park and lies between the Klaserie, Umbabat, Manyeleti and Sabie Sands Reserves. In recent years, the fences separating Timbavati, private game park, from the Kruger National Park were dropped, thus forming a pristine wilderness area of approximately four million hectares.

Umlani Bushcamp works together with other landowners and African game lodge owners in the Timbavati Game Reserve in a mutually beneficial way. This co-operation results in a huge area of more than 10,000 ha of unspoilt wilderness for traversing and walking.

Umlani Bushcamp is a classic African safari camp located in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, which forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park.

This authentic camp is the ultimate experience of true wilderness and seclusion, accommodating only 16 guests in traditional African reed and thatch huts. Umlani's philosophy of simplistic luxury and 'getting back to nature' is enhanced by the romance of operating without electricity. Enjoy the warm atmosphere of candlelight and oil lamps as well as open-air bush showers fuelled by wood fires. The accommodation offers you all the privacy and superior comfort you need for uninterrupted relaxation. Umlani's award winning cuisine will take you on a gastronomic tour of African styled food.

Umlani Bushcamp offers an authentic wildlife experience in Big Five territory. View lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, in over 10 000 hectares (24 000 acres) of traversing area, also home to over 40 mammal species and 350 bird species.

Experience the thrill of game drives in open Land Rovers, guided bush walks, and tracking game on foot with highly experienced rangers and trackers. You are guaranteed an adventure of a lifetime in one of Africa's world-renowned unspoilt wilderness reserves.

Umlani's traditional African reed and thatch huts will not only provide you with all the comforts you need, but will also provide you with an authentic experience of local tribal (Shangaan) architecture and style, which blends in naturally with the environment.

Each hut has en-suite facilities including an open-air bush shower fuelled by wood fires. The hut is comfortably fitted with white mosquito nets, crisp white linen and towels as well as with standard bathroom amenities, bottled water (although the tap water is perfectly safe to drink) and insect repellent. Umlani's philosophy of simplistic luxury and 'getting back to nature' is enhanced by the romance of operating without electricity, so each hut and the entire camp is lit by candle light and oil lamps, providing a warm and romantic atmosphere.

The camp can take a total of 16 guests. There are five double huts, two huts that sleep four people, and one hut that sleeps three people. This allows us to be flexible with friends and families that would like to share accommodation.

Family Hut (3)

Includes: All Meals and Activities.
1 x double bed 2 x single beds.

Features available:Bathroom Facilities Ensuite shower only, Separate Toilet, Outdoor Shower.

Triple Hut (1)

Includes: All Meals and Activities.
1 x double bed 1 x single bed.

Features available: Bathroom Facilities Ensuite shower only, Separate Toilet, Outdoor Shower.

Double Hut (4)

Includes: All Meals and Activities.
1 x double bed.

Umlani is renowned for their outstanding Shangaan rangers and trackers, who will not only find you the game, but will also introduce you to the wealth of flora, fauna, bird life and cultural heritage of the region.

You will be taken out on two game drives per day, in open top land rovers. The morning game drive will leave at dawn and the night drive will leave in the late afternoon. There is always a ranger on stand-by for an optional morning bush walk.

During the day you can go on short walks with the ranger after breakfast, or lounge in the double hammocks around the swimming pool sipping your favourite drink. Alternatively, laze away the day in our spacious bush bar and deck overlooking the riverbed and watering hole. For exclusive tranquillity there is a tree house about 2.5 kms from the camp overlooking a dam, where we can leave you for an hour or two with blankets and big comfortable pillows as well as a cooler box with drinks.

In the evening you will be treated to pre dinner drinks in the traditional boma around the fire, followed by one of Umlani's award winning meals in the candle lit dining room, or out in the open riverbed surrounded by flares and cauldron fires.

There are some optional daytime activities outside the reserve, which can be arranged by camp management. A transfer service can also be organised to and from any of the listed activities below:

• A one hour microlight flight over the Klaserie Big Five Reserve
• Mafunyane Shangaan Cultural Village
• Early Morning Balloon Safaris
• White Water Rafting Trips
• Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
• Monsoon Gallery and Curios Centre
• Horse Riding
• Ringetani Acornhoek Village Tour which includes tribal dancing, tasting of traditional African foods, visiting a Sangoma (Traditional healer), a traditional Shabeen and a local family. After which you will head back to the camp for afternoon game drive

The direct route when driving to Umlani Bushcamp in the Kruger National Park from Gauteng will take safari travellers approximately 5 hours.

If driving to Umlani Bushcamp from Pretoria, take the N4 from Pretoria to Witbank, which then joins the N12 from Johannesburg at Witbank.

If driving to Umlani Bushcamp from Johannesburg, take the N12 from Johannesburg to Witbank, which then joins the N4 from Pretoria at Witbank.

Go past Witbank and Middelburg on the N4 (main route to Nelspruit and Maputo).
After Middelburg take the Belfast turnoff off the N4 (there is an Engen One Stop on the RHS of the N4 just after the offramp).
Turn left from the offramp and go into Belfast.
Go through 1 stop sign before going into town.
At the second stop sign in town (1 block after the Spar shop on the LHS), turn right towards Dullstroom.
Go about 35km from Belfast to Dullstroom.
Continue straight through Dullstroom to Lydenburg (approximately 50km from Dullstroom).
On reaching Lydenburg, you will come to a T-junction where you need to turn left to go through town.
Go straight through town, past the Wimpy on the left.
At the next stop sign after the Wimpy turn left.
Go down to the second stop sign. At the second stop sign turn right toward Ohrigstad.
Go about 50km from Lydenburg to Ohrigstad.
Go straight through Ohrigstad and continue on to the JG Strijdom Tunnel via the Abel Erasmus Pass (approximately 40km from Ohrigstad).
After the Tunnel continue straight on to Hoedspruit (approximately 40km from the tunnel).
On entering Hoedspruit, go straight over the first stop sign, straight at the second stop sign, over the railway bridge and at the third stop sign turn right.
Travel for approximately 7km from Hoedspruit and you will see a number of signs for lodges, as well as a sign for Eastgate Airport, to the left.
Turn left towards Eastgate Airport, and you are on the road into the Timbavati Nature Reserve.
Travel 19km on tar and cross the Klaserie river, where the road becomes a dirt road.
Continue for 10km on the dirt road and you will reach the Timbavati Control Gate. Please drive carefully.
You will need to pay R80 for vehicle entry into the reserve and R100 per guest conservation levy. (Subject to change)
After the Control Gate, travel past one turning to the right (with a large stone and concrete sign-post, like in the Kruger Park, indicating the direction to various camps).
Turn right at the second turning to the right (again, there is a large stone and concrete sign-post, like in the Kruger Park, with Umlani indicated at the top of this sign-post).
After about 30m, there is a Y-fork in the road, with a wooden sign to Umlani. Follow the left hand fork (the one which goes almost straight ahead).
From here, follow the wooden signs to Umlani, and these will lead you straight into the camp.

Daily scheduled flights

Fly-in safaris are extremely popular amongst those who don't have as much time as they would like or need to spend on their South African safari. Flying to Umlani Bushcamp is easy as SA Express runs two daily return flights to Eastgate Airport (formally Hoedspruit) from Johannesburg every day, Monday to Sunday.

For guests flying to Umlani Bushcamp to and from Cape Town, the nearest direct flight will be to Nelspruit (MQP airport), two and a half hours drive from Umlani. Transfers from Eastgate and MQP Airport to Umlani Bushcamp are available. Contact us for details on fly-in safari options.

Charters

There are several air charter companies who service the area. If you would like us to help you with arrangements for flying to Umlani Bushcamp, please contact our reservations office.

Our nearest landing strip is the Kings Camp / Tanda Tula airstrip, which is at the following GPS co-ordinates: S 024° 17' 824" x E 031° 17' 197"

The runway is tarred and is 1000m in length. Landing fees are payable and permission must be obtained first!

We can collect you from the airstrip.

From R2,541 p/person
From R1,815 p/person sharing