Timbavati Private Game Reserve

The Timbavati Private Game Reserve is one of South Africa’s finest reserves with exceptional game viewing, an unfenced border with Kruger National Park and a small population of wild white lions.

Formed in 1956 by landowners concerned about inappropriate land use leading to habitat degradation, the Timbavati Private Game Reserve was established to preserve the area’s natural integrity. The reserve is renowned for its abundant wildlife viewing, spanning an area of over 53,000 hectares of pristine wilderness and sharing a fenceless boundary with the Kruger National Park, allowing wildlife to move freely between the park and the reserve. The habitat is a combination of grassland and mixed woodland with the Big Five regularly seen on game drives along with cheetah, spotted hyena, African wild dog and a host of plains game such as impala, kudu, waterbuck, blue wildebeest, zebra, giraffe and warthog. There are also over 350 recorded species of birds including southern ground hornbill, lappet-faced vulture, white-crested helmet shrike and African spoonbill.

White lions

Within the Timbavati’s large lion population exists a recessive gene which, on rare occasions, can cause cubs to be born white, along with tawny siblings from the same litter. Although born with a snow-white coat, white lions are not albinos, they're leucistic, with either icy blue or brown eyes. Leucism is a genetic mutation resulting in a partial loss of pigmentation in an animal’s cells, whereas albinism affects all melanin production. Studies on white lions have shown that individuals with both eye colours still possess concentrations of melanin, although it is reduced, particularly for blue-eyed cats. The reserve is famous for playing host to the only naturally occurring population of white lions in the world, however it still requires a great deal of luck to locate these genetic anomalies due to their expansive range and low numbers. 

Safaris in Timbavati Private Game Reserve

The reserve has a range of accommodation options, from tented camps to ultra luxurious safari lodges, each providing a fantastic safari experience. Owing to the private nature of the reserve, only vehicles from these properties are permitted to traverse their own designated areas on game drives and off-road driving is permitted. This low vehicle density coupled with the reserve’s vast size ensures each wildlife encounter is personal and unforgettable.

View suggested itinerary