Timbavati Nature Reserve

Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is one of the original Greater Kruger private reserves, famous worldwide as the birthplace of the white lion — a rare genetic colour variant first documented here in 1975 by Chris McBride. Covering 53,392 hectares of unfenced bushveld bordering Kruger National Park, Timbavati offers Big Five game viewing across a vast traversing area of classic African savannah. The reserve is named after the seasonal Timbavati River that flows through it, drawing wildlife to its pools during the dry winter months. With a range of lodges from authentic tented camps to luxury retreats, Timbavati strikes a balance between exclusive wildlife encounters and a more accessible price point than the Sabi Sand. The Global White Lion Protection Trust continues to work within the reserve to protect the iconic white lions in their natural habitat.