Simbavati River Lodge

• Simbavati River Lodge is one of the few tented camps in the Greater Kruger
• Superb game-viewing in the Timbavati Game Reserve
• Warm friendly ambience
• Accepts children of all ages with spacious family suites and a kids centre
• Choice of tented rooms or chalet accommodation
•  Well-priced

Simbavati River Lodge is an intimate and friendly camp built on the banks of the Nhlaralumi River in the Timbavati Private Game Reserve. The Timbavati is part of the Greater Kruger Park. Shaded by age old Jackalberry and Weeping Boerbean trees, the lodge comprises three thatched chalets (each with two bedrooms) and eight luxury tented rooms all with en-suite facilities. Tents and chalets are comfortably furnished with eco-friendly air conditioning or fans. Each has a well appointed en suite bathroom with indoor bath and outdoor shower (or outdoor bath and indoor shower in the case of two tents).

Simbavati River Lodge also offers a spacious lounge, bar, and dining area on the deck, and an expansive deck with breathtaking views over the river. There's a small plunge pool for relaxing during the heat of the day. Brunch is served outside on the wooden deck and combines African and Western cuisine (with exciting new tastes for the more adventurous as well as more conventional options). High tea is served just before the afternoon game drive whilst dinner is a festive event served around the campfire in the open-air boma, or on the deck overlooking the river.

Game viewing

Simbavati River Lodge offers game drives in the early morning and evening to ensure game viewing when the animals are most active. Game drives are conducted by experienced rangers and Shangaan trackers in open 4x4 vehicles, with excellent photographic opportunities. You traverse over 12,000 hectares of the finest big game country, with lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo thriving alongside giraffe, zebra and a variety of antelope. Nocturnal animals, including the big cats, are regularly sighted on night drives. Bird watching is wonderful, with various eagles, owls, francolins, kingfishers, rollers and weavers among the over 300 recorded species.

Family Safaris at Simbavati River Lodge

River Lodge is a child-friendly safari camp with three family chalets available, each with two bedrooms sharing one bathroom. One of the family chalets can take three children sharing with two parents. The other chalets can take two children. Typically, children 6 years and over can join their parents on game drives. However, families with younger children can request a private land-rover and guide (at an additional cost). One child can sometimes share with parents in the tents on request.

They have a kids centre with a dedicated carer where kids can enjoy various activities from cupcake decorating, bug/treasure hunting, making animal face masks, colouring in, board games, wildlife DVDs and scrap booking, amongst other activities.

The Greater Kruger is a seasonal malarial area (lower risk in the dry winter months of May to August).