This morning you are transferred from your Sandton accommodation to Johannesburg Airport for your flight to Hoedspruit,. Upon arrival in Hoedspruit, you are met and are transferred to the Timbavati Game Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger National Park. You have time to settle in at your lodge before you set off on an afternoon game drive in the Timbavati. You return after dark for a safari cuisine dinner.

The Kruger National Park was established in 1898 and is the oldest National Park in Africa. The 2-million hectare Park provides sanctuary to 147 mammal species, including the Big Five, as well as over 500 bird species. The Kruger National Park has more than its fair share of the Big Five, with an estimated 1,500 lion, 12,000 elephant, 2,500 buffalo, 1,000 leopards and 5,000 rhino. Cheetah, wild dog, spotted hyena, hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, warthog and many antelope species are also regularly seen on game drives. Boundary fences have been dropped between Kruger and its neighbouring private game reserves, such as Sabi Sand, Timbavati, Klaserie and Manyaleti, meaning that the animals are free-roaming over an area the size of Switzerland, resulting in an immense gene pool. Kruger is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies.

The Timbavati forms part of the 2 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. Track the Big Five, as well as a rich variety of other game such as wild dog, antelope, zebra, warthog, giraffe and hippo. Bird viewing is spectacular, with over 360 recorded species including various eagles, vultures, kingfishers, woodpeckers, buzzards, herons, egrets, owls, weavers. The Timbavati is also home to the world-famous “White Lions of Timbavati”.

You will head out on dawn and late afternoon game drives in the company of dedicated and highly knowledgeable rangers and trackers. The fact that the Timbavati is a private Kruger reserve means that guests can enjoy activities not normally permitted in the Kruger Park itself. Your ranger will go off road for close-up views of special sightings and once darkness falls, you’ll be treated to thrilling spot-lit night drives in search of rare nocturnal creatures and big cats on the move.

This morning you enjoy your last game drive before bidding farewell to this African wonderland. You are transferred to Hoedspruit Airport for your flight to Johannesburg. Upon arrival in Johannesburg, you will be transferred back to your accommodation in Sandton.