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User Reviews of Timbavati Private Nature Reserve (30 Reviews)

Timbavati Safaris Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Sort By: Date Most Helpful 1-6 of 6 Reviews

Average User Rating

4.7333 / 5 4.7 /5
4.7667 / 5 4.4667 / 5 4.7667 / 5 4.5500 / 5

Rating Breakdown

5 star 23 / 6 23
4 star 6 / 6 6
3 star 1 / 6 1
2 star 0 / 6 0
1 star 0 / 6 0
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Male avatar icon Ben Johnson Singapore flag SG       Visited: August 2024 Reviewed: Sep 1, 2024

Email Ben Johnson  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

4 / 5 4 /5
3 / 5 5 / 5 4 / 5 0 / 5

Timbavati was fantastic from an accommodation and guest experience, however the animal population felt much more sparse than at Sabi Sand. Overall still a great experience and I would love to go back.

Female avatar icon Mary United Kingdom flag GB       Visited: October 2023 Reviewed: Nov 21, 2023

Email Mary  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

4 / 5 4 /5
4 / 5 4 / 5 4 / 5 4 / 5

The River Lodge which we stayed in was very good, but overall we were surprised that there weren't more animals in the Reserve, yet we did see all the Big 5. At the Lodge, we had elephants walking by our tented suite and one even drank from our plunge pool. Also had hyenas and monkeys close by.

Male avatar icon guybaxendale United Kingdom flag GB       Visited: April 2011 Reviewed: Aug 14, 2012

Email guybaxendale  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

Honeymoon in Timbavati

4 / 5 4 /5
5 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5 4 / 5
My wife and I stayed at Tanda Tula Safari camp in Timbavati nature reserve for our honeymoon last April.

To give you some background as to what I benchmark Timbavati against i worked in a Safari lodge in Kenya in the past and have been on Safari in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The abundance of wildlife in Timbavati is exceptional and we saw the 'Big Five' twice over during our four day stay and plenty of plains game and birdlife. The food at Tanda Tula was excellent, particularly the bush breakfast. Our guide spoke perfect English and was extremely knowledgeable about the area and its wildlife.

For safari first timers that want to see the 'big five' this is without a doubt the best area I have ever been to. However, for people who have seen a bit of Africa you may feel that you are slightly part of a 'machine' and that the guides feel an obligation who need to 'tick off' the big five
Read more for each and every guest. The guides radio to each other constantly when they find game which means that you absolutely will get to see the animals. They have a 'queuing system' to see them as they maintain a policy of only two jeeps viewing at any one time to minimise stress on the animals (an excellent policy). This is not true true African wilderness and so i suppose the bush vibe cannot be expected to be 100% authentic but it was the only slight negative for me. My wife had been on safari once before and i think felt it slightly less than me.
Female avatar icon galago1962 Switzerland flag CH       Visited: December 2008 Reviewed: May 2, 2012

Email galago1962  |  35-50 years of age

4 / 5 4 /5
5 / 5 4 / 5 5 / 5 5 / 5

Large variety of birds and animals, pretty scenery, high level of hospitality.

Female avatar icon Marleen Netherlands flag NL       Visited: August 2007 Reviewed: Apr 11, 2012

Email Marleen  |  50-65 years of age

4 / 5 4 /5
4 / 5 5 / 5 4 / 5 4 / 5

We were on a nightdrive, but saw only a few animals. The guide stopped at a fence where we could see the famous white lions.

Male avatar icon Yamada Clan Netherlands flag NL       Visited: October 2011 Reviewed: Dec 6, 2011

35-50 years of age

4 / 5 4 /5
4 / 5 5 / 5 3 / 5 4 / 5

I would recommend everyone to start your visit with a trip of a few days to a private gamepark. It is more expensive then Kruger, but the bush feeling is much higher as there are very few other tourists, no asfalt roads and lots of game to spot.