Timbavati Game Reserve

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Timbavati Game Reserve Overview

Reasons to Visit Timbavati Game Reserve

* Good wildlife viewing with all of the Big Five present * Part of a very large ecosystem * Less busy than Sabi Sands * Day and night drives and walking safaris available * Off-road driving in open vehicles * African wild dog are regular visitors

Timbavati Game Reserve Wildlife

Timbavati is part of the Greater Kruger ecosystem, where animals roam throughout the bordering parks and reserves. This means all the main safari animals can be seen.Timbavati is the closest competition to the better-known Sabi Sand Game Reserve, but it is a bit quieter and wilder. All of the Big Five can be spotted, and sightings are of the highest quality.Wildlife viewing tends to be very good – Timbavati boasts all the usual large safari animals including elephant, buffalo, kudu, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, impala, waterbuck and their predators: lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena.Big cats are easy to spot, but rhino is more hit-and-miss. African wild-dog are regular visitors to the property. The white lion is very rare, but some lighter-coloured lions carrying the gene might be spotted.

Black Rhino
Rare
Buffalo
Common
Cheetah
Common
Elephant
Common
Giraffe
Common
Hippo
Common
Hyena
Common
Leopard
Common
Lion
Common
Rhino
Occasional
Wild Dog
Rare
Wildebeest
Common
Zebra
Common

Wildlife Highlights

Timbavati is known for its large herds of buffalo, while lion and elephant are found in good numbers as well. The reserve’s claim to fame is its white lions, but pure white lions haven’t been seen for a long time. You might be able to see some very pale individuals that carry the gene. Cheetah and leopard are seen less often than in nearby Sabi Sands.

Best Time to Visit Timbavati Game Reserve

Best Time to Visit

Best Weather

Worst Weather

Timbavati offers impressive wildlife watching in the Dry season, from May to September, when animals share the local waterholes and rivers. The landscape is green and lush in the wetter months (October to April), and this time is best for bird watching.

Low Season

April to September (Prime wildlife viewing)

High Season

October – March (It rarely gets crowded)

Timbavati Game Reserve Weather and Climate

The season in Timbavati Nature Reserve is opposite to that of Europe and North America. As Timbavati Nature Reserve lies in the southern hemisphere, the winter season and the summer season falls in different months than in northern hemisphere. The wet summer season occurs in between the months of October and April, while the dry winter period is between the months of May and September. The summer in the northern hemisphere is hotter and more humid while the winters are dry, dusty and milder in nature during the night. It is necessary for the visitor to keep warm clothing with them for the morning and evening game drives. The visitors will even experience afternoon thunderstorms throughout the wet season.

How to get to Timbavati Game Reserve

The people who are planning to visit Timbavati, fly to OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) located in Johannesburg.From Johannesburg, visitors can take a connecting flight to Eastgate Airport located in Hoedspruit. The Timbavati Nature Reserve is just at a distance of 15km from the airport. However, the visitors can even use the direct mode of transportation by flying with Federal Air from Johannesburg to Timbavati.The visitors can even use the alternate transportation medium by hiring a car in Johannesburg and taking a road trip to Timbavati. The Timbavati nature reserve is within a five hours drive from Johannesburg. The visitor can aim for R40 near the Hoedspruit, which is on the west side of the Kruger National Park.

By Air

There are domestic flights to the Sabi Sands regions and people can also choose self-drive options.

By Road

Renting a car in Johannesburg and driving to Timbavati is another option. The reserve can be found on the R40 near Hoedspruit, and west of Kruger National Park. The 450km/280mi drive takes nearly five hours.