Umlani Game Lodge

Built to enhance thermal storage qualities, it is lovely and warm when cold outside and much cooler when hot outside. Same “close to nature” experience with outdoor shower and bathroom but with little extra luxuries. Two guests can be accommodated in the Eco Rondavel.

Umlani Game Lodge South Africa,a African Safari Camp In The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.

Umlani Game Lodge is a classic African safari camp located in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve,which forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park.

Umlani Game Lodge is an authentic camp is the ultimate experience of true wilderness and seclusion, accommodating only 16 guests in traditional African reed and thatch huts.

Umlani Lodge Details:

Umlani’s philosophy of simplistic luxury and ‘getting back to nature’ is enhanced by the romance of operating without electricity.

Enjoy the warm atmosphere of candlelight and oil lamps as well as open-air bush showers fuelled by wood fires.

The accommodation offers you all the privacy and superior comfort you need for uninterrupted relaxation. Umlani’s award winning cuisine will take you on a gastronomic tour of African styled food.

Umlani Bushcamp offers an authentic wildlife experience in Big Five territory.

View lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, in over 10 000 hectares (24 000 acres) of traversing area, also home to over 40 mammal species and 350 bird species.

Experience the thrill of game drives in open Land Rovers, guided bush walks, and tracking game on foot with highly experienced rangers and trackers.

You are guaranteed an adventure of a lifetime in one of Africa’s world-renowned unspoilt wilderness reserves.

Umlani’s traditional African reed and thatch huts will not only provide you with all the comforts you need, but will also provide you with an authentic experience of local tribal (Shangaan) architecture and style, which blends in naturally with the environment.

Each hut has en-suite facilities including an open-air bush shower fuelled by wood fires.

The hut is comfortably fitted with white mosquito nets, crisp white linen and towels as well as with standard bathroom amenities, bottled water (although the tap water is perfectly safe to drink) and insect repellent.

Umlani’s philosophy of simplistic luxury and ‘getting back to nature’ is enhanced by the romance of operating without electricity, so each hut and the entire camp is lit by candle light and oil lamps, providing a warm and romantic atmosphere.

The camp can take a total of 16 guests.

There are five double huts, two huts that sleep four people, and one hut that sleeps three people. This allows us to be flexible with friends and families that would like to share accommodation.

Umlani is renowned for their outstanding Shangaan rangers and trackers, who will not only find you the game, but will also introduce you to the wealth of flora, fauna, bird life and cultural heritage of the region.

You will be taken out on two game drives per day, in open top land rovers. The morning game drive will leave at dawn and the night drive will leave in the late afternoon. There is always a ranger on stand-by for an optional morning bush walk.

During the day you can go on short walks with the ranger after breakfast, or lounge in the double hammocks around the swimming pool sipping your favourite drink.

Alternatively, laze away the day in our spacious bush bar and deck overlooking the riverbed and watering hole.

For exclusive tranquillity there is a tree house about 2.5 kms from the camp overlooking a dam, where we can leave you for an hour or two with blankets and big comfortable pillows as well as a cooler box with drinks.

In the evening you will be treated to pre dinner drinks in the traditional boma around the fire, followed by one of Umlani’s award winning meals in the candle lit dining room, or out in the open riverbed surrounded by flares and cauldron fires.

Timbavati Game Reserve

Umlani is located in the Timbavati Game Reserve, one of the oldest private nature reserves adjoining the Kruger National Park.

Timbavati was formed in the 1950’s, when a group of conservation minded game farm owners, on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park, decided to pool their resources for mutual benefit and to benefit the wildlife in the area.

The individual farms were consequently joined in order to form a wilderness area that is today privately owned by 48 individual members.

Timbavati Game Reserve is situated on the Western boundary of the Kruger National Park and lies between the Klaserie, Umbabat and Manyeleti reserves.

In recent years, the fences separating Timbavati from the Kruger National Park were dropped, thus forming a pristine wilderness area of approximately four million hectares.

Umlani Bushcamp works together with other landowners and lodges in the Timbavati Game Reserve in a mutually beneficial way. This co-operation results in a huge area of more than 10,000 ha of unspoilt wilderness for traversing and walking.

 Beyond the Timbavati

There are some optional daytime activities outside the reserve, which can be arranged by camp management. A transfer service can also be organised to and from any of the listed activities below:

A one hour microlight flight over the Klaserie Big Five reserve

Nyani Shangaan Cultural Village

Early Morning Balloon Safaris

White Water Rafting Trips

Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

Monsoon Gallery and Curios Centre

Horse Riding

You can also do a walking Safari from this lodge.