Kambaku Safari Lodge
Kambaku Safari Lodge Is An Intimate And Cosy Safari Lodge In Central Timbavati
The small and charming Kambaku Safari Lodge provides a very personal welcome and is ideal for anyone wanting a very personal bush experience with friendly hosting, comfortable accommodation and good guiding. Nestled into the big game wilderness of the Timbavati, Kambaku Safari Lodge almost has a private house feel, with the cosy central areas leading out to a garden area and waterhole beyond. The rooms are located around the edge of the garden, all fairly close together, adding to the intimate feel of the property. Offering excellent value for money, this is potentially a great option for honeymooners and also with their special Kamkabu Kubs program, it is one of the best lodges in the region for families with younger children.
Rooms
Accommodation for up to 20 guests is provided in eight thatched chalets either with views of the garden or the small waterhole. The chalets, which all have a slightly different décor, are simple but elegant with twin or double beds, and private en suite facilities comprising a toilet, basin and both shower and bath. At the front of each chalet is a private, furnished verandah. The honeymoon suite is completely detached and has direct views to the waterhole. The rooms all have ceiling fans but please note that there is no air conditioning.
Central Areas
The cosy lounge and bar area, with an impressive fireplace for cool winter evenings, is housed under a high thatched roof. The mezzanine level provides a tranquil spot from which to view the waterhole. There is also a swimming pool. Meals are taken communally in a variety of locations around the camp and are always hosted by a member of the management team.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming – Yes
Habitat & Wildlife
The Timbavati is a private wildlife reserve bordering the famous Kruger National Park. It was started in 1956 where conservation minded landowners decided to pool their individual farms and create a wilderness habitat. In 1993, the fence between the Kruger and the reserve was removed allowing animals to move freely between the two.
The habitat of the region is predominantly mopane/bushwillow woodland on an underlying strata of granite. The Oliphants River is the major watercourse through the reserve, flanked in places by open floodplains and in others by riverine woodland. Animal species likely to be seen include elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, rhino, buffalo, impala, duiker, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck, bushbuck, zebra, hippo, warthog and wild dog. Under the guidance of your ranger, you will be able to learn about the intricate workings of the habitat, and its inhabitants – the animals, birds, insects and reptiles. The birdlife of South Africa is exceptional, and the Timbavati is no exception. Birds likely to be seen include the beautiful rollers (Lilac Breasted and European), various kingfisher species, as well as a variety of species usually associated with the bush – shrikes, widowbirds, babblers, starlings, vultures and raptors.
Activities
Game viewing activities include morning and afternoon game drives on open vehicles (maximum of eight guests on each vehicle) with bush walks also available.
During your stay, you will have the opportunity to experience the bush after dark. Using a spotlight on the vehicle, you may have the luck to see some of the many nocturnally active species of wildlife – honey badger, leopard, civet, serval, genet, aardvark, pangolin, African wild cat, bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal, and hyena.
There is also a sleepout hide available to all guests of all Kambaku lodges which comprises a three-levelled hide overlooking a waterhole. On the top level is the open sided sleeping deck with king-size bed under mosquito net and swing seats, and en suite bathroom to the rear. Steps lead down from the sleeping deck to a viewing deck with chairs. The ground level is a hide. This experience should be booked in advance (extra costs apply).
Seasons
Kambaku Safari Lodge is open all year. Game viewing is superb all year round, though you could experience rain from November through to March.
Children of all ages are welcome. One of the rooms is ideal for a family with a small twin room leading from the main bedroom – the bathroom is shared. There are two further sets of interconnecting rooms.
Younger children are well catered for with their Kambaku Kubs programme. The programme is loosely compared to a bush version of cub, scouts or brownies. Broken up over the length of your stay, the program is not only designed to educate, but also tests your child’s ability within the various facets of this amazing environment. This all whilst working through interactive manuals and participating in fun, practical activities under the watchful eyes of professional guides with years of experience, knowledge, and passion to share. Each field of achievement be it orientation, crafts, identification, making molds and so forth, receives a merit badge of achievement. This ultimately leads to the awarding of a junior ranger certificate adorned with the various merit badges achieved.
Every guest who stays in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve pays a conservation levy which is crucial for the operational functioning of the reserve. It aids in funding essential activities such as fenceline maintenance, anti-poaching efforts, and overall security measures. Furthermore, 10% of all conservation levy income is used for community development projects through the Timbavati Foundation.
The primary objective of the Timbavati Foundation is to reach underprivileged communities neighbouring the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve with quality environmental education, skills-development opportunities, social upliftment projects and healthcare support.
Kambaku Lodges have adopted a comprehensive sustainability policy, from converting Kambaku Safari Lodge and Kambaku River Sands to operate entirely on solar power, to waste management and recycling.
Kambaku Lodges has also partnered with Indalo and the Timbavati Foundation to establish an Enterprise Supplier Development Programme to build and support a cohort of carefully selected community-based enterprises to supply goods and services, including fresh produce, required by the lodges.
