Tanda Tula
TIMBAVATI PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA
With a mission to celebrate Africa, explore wild places, inspire change and connect our people
Tanda Tula is a leader in conscious travel offering a modern and connected safari experience at their luxury Tanda Tula Safari Camp.
TO LOVE THE QUIET
Tanda Tula, meaning to love the quiet, is inspired by the people and wildlife-rich region of the Greater Kruger National Park. This is a safari business that has been around for more than 30 years and thanks to committed owners and a strong team is regarded as one of the best camps in South Africa.
Strategically positioned on the banks of the Nhlaralumi River, Tanda Tula Safari Camp provides awe-inspiring views of the surrounding wildlife and natural landscapes. The camp features nine hybrid off-grid suites, including two family suites, designed by renowned safari architect Nicholas Plewman. These suites incorporate contemporary elements such as glass, canvas, and steel, seamlessly blending modern luxury with the environment. Each suite boasts a private deck with an eco-plunge pool, indoor and outdoor showers, and stylish furnishings inspired by the traditional designs of South Africa’s Tsonga people, who were the original custodians of the land.
The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is regarded as one of the top safari destinations in South Africa. The reserve comprises of individual landholders who together have formed a protected area of over 53 000 hectares (131 000 acres) of unspoilt natural wilderness adjoining the Kruger National Park in an open eco-system. The Timbavati is a highly professional and well managed reserve, that protects sustainable populations of many endangered species such as black and white rhinoceros, pangolins, saddlebilled storks, southern ground hornbills and many others.
Founded by Don and Nina Scott, Tanda Tula is an owner-run company alongside the Jackson and Mathebula families. This family feeling is ever present throughout each and every staff member and it continues on to every guest that passes through their doors.
FAST FACTS
RATES
Safari Camp:
2024: From R 25 000
per person per night
2025: From R 28 750
per person per night
ACCESS
FLY:
Daily flights into Hoedspruit Airport from Johannesburg and Cape Town. Daily scheduled charters into Timbavati Rockfig Airstrip from Johannesburg.
Drive:
45 minutes from Hoedspruit Airport, 15 minutes from Timbavati Rockfig Airstrip
CHILDREN
Safari Camp
6+ years
Family suites are perfectly suited with 2 en-suite bedrooms, shared lounge and a private pool.
What we love
celebrate AFRICA
Offering a distinctly authentic and immersive safari experience, Tanda Tula is proudly committed to Africa and sharing this passion with all guests.
explore WILD PLACES
Responsible tourism is the foundation of an authentic safari experience that protects habitats and keeps wild places for wild animals.
Inspire CHANGE
Telling Africa’s story in a new and honest way inspires guests to be part of a conscious journey and a movement of change.
Connect OUR PEOPLE
Authentic moments of connection inspire real relationships and new friendships between the team and guests at Tanda Tula.
Tanda Tula
The impact of your stay
Tanda Tula has always been committed to strengthening communities, empowering individuals and conserving wild spaces. Through responsible business practices and people-facing programs, they enable change immediately and provide growth for years to come. Tanda Tula are focused on community development and conservation.
Their community development programs are largely associated with education, but also provide support for small business development, the establishment of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and encouraging environmental awareness. Through support from guests they contribute to various important projects in the Timbavati and Greater Kruger National Park.
Every stay contributes through:
- When staying at any of the Tanda Tula camps, you contribute towards the Tanda Tula Education Foundation and the Greater Kruger National Park conservation initiatives in the Timbavati Private Nature reserve.
- Knowing that responsible tourism is the foundation upon which Tanda Tula’s conservation efforts, community programs and research projects have been built.
- Paying R 1 500 (2024) | R 1 650 (2025) per person per day R 750 (2024) | R 825 (2025) for children under 17 years) Sustainability Levy which includes Timbavati Conservation Levy, Tanda Tula Foundation Contribution and Land Management Fees & Bushbuckridge Community Levy.
- The Foundation Contribution made by each guest goes a long way in helping make the scholarship program truly sustainable. Tanda Tula’s vision is to assist with educating the next generation and provide them with the knowledge to build a stronger future.
- 100% of the Conservation Levy fee goes to the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve and directly supports the Greater Kruger National Park conservation projects including anti-poaching and security, as well as sustainable development for communities.
- Finally, every stay at Tanda Tula contributes to a monthly fuel donation and feedback on any endangered ground-hornbill sightings for the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology researcher.
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TIMBAVATI PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE
Safari Camp
Safari camps shouldn’t just be beautiful. They should be designed to immerse us in nature and feed our senses. Newly rearchitected Tanda Tula Safari Camp takes full advantage of its position on the Nhlaralumi River in South Africa’s Timbavati Private Nature Reserve to create intimate guest experiences across the breadth of the camp.
After 27 years of operation, Tanda Tula Safari Camp has undergone a complete revamp (literally from the ground up), modernising the infrastructure and, by doing so, protecting the wilderness for generations to come. Guests are welcomed back to a more ecologically sensitive camp with a lighter footprint. The new design embodies the essence of Tanda Tula and continues to connect guests to the African wilderness.
7 spacious tented suites and 2 family suites are dotted amongst the majestic trees, each with their own private deck and pool overlooking the dry riverbed. All tents are en-suite with an indoor bath and outdoor shower.
At the heart of the camp lies the central area, featuring a split-level lounge and bar that opens onto decks through expansive sliding doors, offering breathtaking views.
SEASONALITY: Open all year
CHILDREN: 6+ years
Safari Camp
7 Suites
2 Family Suites
Klaserie Private Nature Reserve
Field Camp
“Treading softly on the surface of the earth” is a foundation principle of everything that Tanda Tula stands for, and a principle that is echoed throughout each element of the Tanda Tula Field Camp experience. This camp has evolved to meet the growing requirement in the market for privacy, exclusivity and immersion into the wild in one of the few remaining private wilderness areas in South Africa.
Tanda Tula Field Camp is a unique safari experience unlike any other. Consisting of four custom designed tents, each with en-suite open-air bush bathrooms (hot water bucket shower and a compostable toilet) and a communal mess tent. The camp caters for between 4 and 8 guests on an exclusive-use basis only. Guests are hosted by some of the safari industry’s leading iconic guides who accompany them on an extraordinary journey of exploration and adventure.
Field Camp does not have wi-fi or electricity but operates with oil and solar-powered lanterns.
SEASONALITY: Open 1 April – 30 September. Minimum stay 3 nights.
CHILDREN: 13+ years, Field Camp is a walking experience and by Klaserie Park regulations children only 13 years and older are permitted to participate on a safari walk..
Field Camp
Exclusive Use
4 tents
Tanda Tula
Featured Offer
Stay 3, Pay 2
Stay at the brand new Tanda Tula Safari Camp for 3 nights and only pay for 2 OR 4 nights and only pay for 3.
VALID: 1 Nov – 15 Dec 2024 | 9 Jan – 31 Mar 2025 | 1 Nov – 15 Dec 2025
Suggested Itinerary
Cape, Bush, and Beach
We call this our "slam-dunk" combination as it offers fantastic diversity, easy access and is available all year round. It is also well suited to couples and families alike.
Tanda Tula
Location
Getting there
FLY
There are two daily flights into Hoedspruit Airport (HDS) from O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB), and one daily flight from Cape Town Airport (CPT) operated by Airlink & CemAir.
In addition, there are daily scheduled shuttle flights from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) to Timbavati Rockfig Airstrip operated by Federal Air.
NOTE: Only Federal Air has landing persmission for Rockfig.
DRIVE
45 minutes’ drive from Hoedspruit Airport (HDS) to Safari Camp, and 15 minutes’ drive from Timbavati Rockfig Airstrip to Safari Camp.
Availability
Contact
Email:
reservations@tandatula.com
Tel:
+27 15 793 3191
Office Hours:
Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm. Based in Hoedspruit.