Upon arrival at Hoedspruit Airport on the flight, you are met and transferred by road to your lodge in the Sabi Sand Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger National Park. You check in for your three-night stay.
You have time to settle in at your lodge before you set off on your afternoon game drive.
Transfer time: Hoedspruit Airport to Sabi Sand Reserve: approx. 2 ½ hours
Forming part of the Greater Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sand Reserve has no fences and the wildlife is able to cross freely between the Sabi Sands and the rest of the Greater Kruger National Park. The safari experience in the Sabi Sand is highly personalised because game drive vehicles have exclusive traversing rights in their area. The Sabi Sand Reserve is a remarkable natural sanctuary known for its exceptionally high concentration of animal and bird life.
Close contact encounters are guaranteed as the animals are not threatened by the presence of vehicles thanks to sound conservation management policies. Safaris are led by experienced rangers coupled with local Shangaan trackers. With exceptional sightings of leopard (usually the most elusive of cats), lion, rhino, elephant and buffalo during game drives, visitors are never lacking in exciting photographic content.
After your morning game drive and breakfast you check out of your lodge, you are met and transferred northwards to your game lodge in the Timbavati Game Reserve, also part of Greater Kruger where you check in for your three-night stay. There is time to freshen up before embarking on your afternoon game drive.
Transfer time: Arathusa Safari Lodge to Simbavati River Lodge: approx. 2 ½ hours
The Timbavati forms part of the two-million-hectare Greater Kruger National Park. It was the first private game reserve to be incorporated into the Kruger National Park and is part of one of Africa’s most innovative conservation partnership agreements. The Timbavati is 14 700 hectares (36 300 acres) and shares an unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park. Track the Big Five, as well as a wide variety of other game such as antelope, zebra, warthog, giraffe and hippo, in the company of an armed ranger and local Shangaan tracker. Bird viewing is spectacular, with over 360 recorded species including various eagles, vultures, kingfishers, woodpeckers, buzzards, herons, egrets, owls, and weavers. The Timbavati is also home to the world-famous “White Lions of Timbavati”.
After your morning game drive and breakfast you check out of your lodge. You bid this African Wonderland Farewell as you are met and transferred to Hoedspruit Airport where you board a flight to connect with your international flight home.
Transfer time: Simbavati River Lodge to Hoedspruit Airport: approx 1½ hours
Arathusa Safari Lodge is a jewel within the heart of the Sabi Sand Reserve. The camp is an intimate one, completely open-plan and designed to harmoniously blend with the adjacent waterhole and African bush. The lodge flanks the bank of a large waterhole (approximately 250m x 150m), allowing for a 180-degree view of the water. An infinity swimming pool overlooks the waterhole and is the perfect spot for wildlife viewing on a smouldering African summer’s afternoon.
Massive herds of buffalo, antelope and elephant families gather at the waterhole and there is also a resident herd of hippos. 13 thatched suites are within the camp’s perimeter. Each has a bathroom en-suite (with bath and separate indoor and outdoor showers), and a verandah. Meal times at Arathusa are a sociable affair. Guests are treated to sumptuous dishes, fresh produce and home-baked confectionery.
In addition to the morning and evening game drives, unique walking safaris are offered daily giving guests the opportunity to discover the hidden treasures of the region. Arathusa prides itself on its leopard viewing. As leopards are territorial, their regular appearances in the area allow their movements to be plotted. Many of the animals become familiar and are easily recognized by the rangers.
Large herds of buffalo numbering in excess of 300 are often encountered. Elephants are also seen in large numbers. There are various lion pride in the area, as well as a few nomadic males. General “Lowveld” game is abundant in this section of the Sabi Sand Reserve, including giraffe, zebra, warthog, impala and more. Between game drives, lazy hours can be spent in the sparkling pool or having a massage at the Nature Spa.
Situated in the heart of the world-renowned Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, which forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park, this intimate, family-friendly camp is built on the banks of the Nhlaralumi River – a beautiful watercourse in the summer months when rain is plentiful, and a dry riverbed in the drier winter months. Simbavati takes its name from the local Shangaan language, translated as “the place where the lions come down from the stars”. The focus of the lodge is on the excellent big-5 game viewing, breathtaking views, and friendly and knowledgeable staff in an environment where guests are made to feel comfortable and relaxed from the moment they arrive. Simbavati River Lodge is situated in the northern sector of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, and is surrounded by 12,000 hectares of wildlife and rich wilderness in which you can experience an authentic and affordable African safari.
Shaded by age-old Jackalberry and Leadwood trees, Simbavati River Lodge is warm and welcoming, with a generous contemporary design and accommodation for guests in luxury tented rooms or thatched chalets. Accommodation consists of eight luxury tents and three chalets; all are privately situated, comfortably furnished and with en-suite facilities.
The design of this 4-star lodge is contemporary, warm and welcoming. Guest common areas offer a generously proportioned lounge, bar, boma and extensive decks with breathtaking views overlooking the Nhlaralumi river, where regular wildlife sightings take place and guests can unwind.
The lodge offers Big 5 game drives in the early morning and late afternoon/evening to ensure game viewing when the animals are most active. Nocturnal animals, including the big cats, are regularly sightings at night. Currently, there are over 40 mammal species in the Timbavati, including the Big 5 of lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant, as well as 360 species of bird life.
Upon arrival at your safari lodge, you are given a welcome drink, and your safari experience will be explained to you by your lodge host. There will be time to settle in before afternoon High Tea followed by your first game drive. Game drives take place in the early morning and evening to ensure game viewing when animals are most active. Night game drives provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the predators, particularly the leopard for which this area is renowned. You return to your lodge in time for a sumptuous safari cuisine dinner.
The next day after a light snack you are taken on a morning game drive. You return to the lodge for a grand brunch. There is time to relax around the sunny pool, do some bird-watching from the observation deck or read a book in the peace of your room’s private verandah. After High Tea you set off on another evening game drive, returning again in time for dinner. On your day of departure, you will do a morning game drive and will leave the lodge after brunch.
Upon arrival at your safari lodge, you are given a welcome drink, and your safari experience will be explained to you by your lodge host. There will be time to settle in before afternoon High Tea followed by your first game drive. Game drives take place in the early morning and evening to ensure game viewing when animals are most active. Night game drives provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the predators, particularly the leopard for which this area is renowned. You return to your lodge in time for a sumptuous safari cuisine dinner.
The next day after a light snack you are taken on a morning game drive. You return to the lodge for a grand brunch. There is time to relax around the sunny pool, do some bird-watching from the observation deck or read a book in the peace of your room’s private veranda. If you are feeling more active, you can go on a bush walk with your ranger. After High Tea you set off on another evening game drive, returning again in time for dinner. On your day of departure, you will do a morning game drive and will leave the lodge after brunch.
This is just a sample itinerary.
Our itineraries are 100% tailor-made
to meet each client’s expectations.
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+27 87 353 7873
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I am one of the owners of Pembury Tours and set up the company in 1996 with my husband shortly after our return from a 6-year stay in the United Kingdom, during which time I worked in London and also did a Master’s Degree in Linguistics at Cambridge University.
My principal function at Pembury Tours is ensuring that we maintain a consistently high standard of work. This means I work very closely with my tour consultants as well as my administration staff. I do manage to spend about half my time tour consulting; however, something that I really enjoy! I love the challenge of compiling an itinerary for clients that meets all the criteria they have given me. My love of wildlife means that I especially enjoy working on safari itineraries, but I also like drawing up itineraries that include a “bit of everything” for first-time visitors – Cape Town, beaches, game viewing, African culture and historical insight. As a mother of young adults, I know the importance of looking for more adventurous activities that will keep them entertained and ensure a great family holiday. I am extremely well-travelled and particularly enjoy using my knowledge of travel to put together complex itineraries for discerning travellers.
My favourite safari is definitely the Okavango Delta in Botswana. It truly is one of Africa’s last wildernesses. And my favourite safari memory? It has to be my first time on a mokoro dugout canoe. The slow pace, the utter silence other than the gurgling of water under the canoe and the swish-splash of the guide’s pole, a giant Saddle-billed Stork taking off literally right over my head, the tiny brightly coloured Painted Reed Frog clinging to a papyrus reed, the fat carpenter bee collecting pollen from a water lily, the evocative call of the Fish Eagle, and then coming around a bend to see a family of elephants crossing the stream in front of me, with a tiny little calf being helped through the water by its mother and sisters. It was magical. And made me realise that slow and quiet is just as meaningful as fast and exciting.
I am so proud that Pembury Tours is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and even prouder of our consistent 5-star review status, something that makes us one of the top-rated tour operators in Africa. I could not pick a better team!
+27 87 353 7868
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I first joined Pembury Tours as Personal Assistant to the MD back in November 2004, on a mornings-only basis — a role that quickly grew into a full-time position. That time gave me invaluable behind-the-scenes insight into how our tour consultants support clients every day.
After a short break in 2014, I couldn’t stay away for long and returned in 2016 as a consultant based at our offices in Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha.
I love the process of organising: researching destinations, building itineraries, and handling every detail of a client’s arrangements. But just as importantly, it’s about getting to know my clients from our very first conversation, so the holiday we create truly reflects what they’re looking for.
Alongside my administrative background, I’ve also studied tour guiding, which gave me a solid grounding in local history and key sights — knowledge I draw on regularly when planning tours. These days, I specialise in tailor-made journeys through Southern Africa & East Africa. And there’s nothing quite like hearing from clients after their trip, sharing the highlights that made it unforgettable.
My favourite African landscape? Namibia, hands down. Standing atop the burnt-orange dunes of Sossusvlei one day, then watching herds shimmer across the blinding white salt pans of Etosha the next — that contrast still gives me chills. It’s this kind of first-hand experience that shapes every itinerary I build for my clients.
+27 87 353 7872
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My passion for travel began at a young age when I was fortunate enough to visit Mozambique at just 10 years old. That experience sparked a lifelong love for Africa and exploring the world. After leaving school, unsure of which career path to pursue, I travelled to Israel to work on a kibbutz. It was there that the travel bug truly took hold, leading me to spend the next decade living and working in various countries around the world.
With Africa always close to my heart, I returned home and began my career in the travel industry in 2005. Since then, I have had the privilege of sharing the beauty and diversity of Africa with travellers from across the globe. I joined Pembury Tours in 2016, where I continue to create unforgettable African journeys tailored to each client’s dreams and interests.
My favourite travel experiences include the breathtaking Victoria Falls, where the sheer magnitude and power of the Falls never fail to impress, and the unforgettable Kruger safari, offering incredible wildlife encounters in one of Africa’s most iconic game reserves. These destinations perfectly capture the beauty and adventure that make Southern Africa so special.
I am family-oriented, enjoy a good laugh, and genuinely love connecting with people. Combining my passion for travel with helping others experience the magic of Africa is both a joy and a privilege, and I take great pride in crafting memorable, once-in-a-lifetime holidays.
+27 87 353 7875
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My journey with Pembury Tours began in late 2015 as an Administrative Assistant. My love for travel led me to study Tourism at school and later at college, where I knew I had found my calling. My long-term goal was to become a Tour Consultant, so supporting the consulting team and learning every aspect of the business gave me invaluable experience. I was proud to progress into the role of Tour Consultant, and it truly was a dream come true.
My passion for wildlife, nature, travel, and adventure began at a young age. Growing up, my parents regularly took me to game reserves across South Africa, where I developed a deep appreciation for our country’s incredible landscapes and wildlife. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong love for travel and exploration that continues to inspire me today.
Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to experience many of Southern and East Africa’s most iconic destinations. From road-tripping through South Africa and enjoying unforgettable safaris in the Kruger National Park, Madikwe Game Reserve, the Lower Zambezi, Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater, to unwinding on the beautiful beaches of Zanzibar and exploring the United Kingdom and Croatia, every journey has strengthened my passion for the travel industry.
There is nothing more rewarding than helping clients plan their dream holiday—whether it’s a romantic getaway, a family adventure, or a once-in-a-lifetime African safari. I love getting to know each client, understanding their unique travel aspirations, and creating tailor-made experiences that exceed expectations. For me, travel is about more than just visiting a destination—it’s about creating unforgettable memories, discovering new perspectives, and experiencing the magic that makes every journey unique. Being able to share my passion and knowledge with clients and help bring their travel dreams to life is what makes this career so fulfilling.
My favourite Safari Destination: Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia.
+27 87 353 7869
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20+ years with Pembury Tours and counting… and I still get excited about Africa!
I started my journey in the safari world more than two decades ago, and honestly? I never fell out of love with it. If anything, the more I travel, the more I appreciate just how special this part of the world is. There’s something about being out in the bush, surrounded by nature, watching animals in their natural environment and never quite knowing what you might see around the next corner.
These days, I’m a Tour Consultant at Pembury Tours, helping clients from all over the world plan their own African adventures. I love getting to know what makes each traveller tick and then putting together an itinerary that feels like their trip, rather than simply ticking off a list of places.
Outside of work, I’m a farmer’s wife and a mom to two daughters, so life is usually a happy mix of family, farm life, school runs and trying to keep everything running smoothly! Whenever I get the chance, though, my favourite escape is heading into the bush with my family and friends. It’s where I switch off, breathe a little deeper and remember just how lucky we are to call this incredible continent home.
And if you ask me about animals, be prepared… I can probably talk your ear off! Elephants have always been my absolute favourite. There’s something about their intelligence, family bonds and sheer presence that never gets old. I could happily spend hours watching a herd simply go about their day.
After so many years in the travel industry, I’ve learnt that the best trips aren’t necessarily about seeing everything — they’re about finding the right places, having those special experiences and giving yourself time to really enjoy them.
Whether you’re planning your very first safari, returning to Africa for the fifth time, or simply dreaming about your next adventure, I’m here to help make the planning easy, personal and stress-free. My goal is to share the Africa I love with you and create a journey filled with wonderful memories, incredible wildlife and those little moments you’ll still be talking about long after you’ve arrived home.
I’d love to help you discover it for yourself.
+27 87 353 7870
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Twenty years ago, I joined Pembury Tours as a young, single travel consultant with a passion for Africa. Since then, life has taken me on an incredible journey of its own, and I am now happily married with two wonderful children. One thing that has never changed is my love for creating unforgettable travel experiences.
There is something incredibly rewarding about playing a small part in what is often a once-in-a-lifetime journey for our guests. I enjoy getting to know each traveller, understanding what makes their dream holiday unique, and carefully crafting an itinerary that is perfectly suited to them. My goal is always to ensure every detail is thoughtfully planned so that clients can simply relax and enjoy every moment of their adventure.
For me, a safari is the highlight of any trip. No matter how many I experience, the excitement never fades. Hippos and hyenas have always been among my favourite animals to spot, and every sighting feels special. More recently, I have found myself equally captivated by the smaller wonders of the bush. One particularly special moment on a recent safari was discovering hundreds of butterflies tucked away in the trees, quietly sleeping after sunset. It was a beautiful reminder that Africa’s magic is found not only in its iconic wildlife, but also in the extraordinary details that often go unnoticed.
+27 87 353 7871
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Travel has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I have been incredibly fortunate to turn that passion into a career. I have been involved in the hotel and tourism industry since 1990, and have been part of the Pembury Tours family for 20 years! How awesome is that!
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work in some wonderful hotels and lodges across South Africa and beyond, and to experience many of the incredible destinations that Africa has to offer. I have also been lucky enough to live and work in different parts of the world, which has given me a wonderful appreciation for different cultures, people and ways of life.
Having spent many years living in game reserves, my love for the African bush and wildlife is something that has never left me. Safari remains a huge passion of mine, and there is still nothing quite like being out in the bush and sharing that experience with others.
What I love most about my work is the people. Building relationships, getting to know my clients and understanding what they are looking for means I can create journeys that are not just about seeing the sights, but about experiencing Africa in a really special and personal way.
After all these years, I still feel incredibly lucky to have turned my love of travel into a career. I get to work with wonderful people, explore incredible places and, best of all, help others experience the magic of Africa.
And after all these years in tourism, I’m still not tired of safari… although I’m pretty sure the bush has become slightly more addictive over the years! My favourite safari destination? I love the bush, but Sabi Sand and the Greater Kruger area are just fantastic for safari. The incredible wildlife, landscapes and truly special safari experiences keep drawing me back. And my favourite safari memory? Watching what started as one or two elephants walking over the top of a hill and then realising the herd was more than two, and the elephants just kept coming! Before long, there were around 60 elephants making their way over and down the hill. It was one of those magical safari moments, and I could have watched it forever.
+27 41 581 7801
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