Shindzela Tented Camp (Timbavati Game Reserve) South Africa
Location:
We know that an African safari is a very special experience – we invite you to join us for a journey of discovery on a Kruger wildlife safari. Shindzela is a small wilderness bush camp, and hosts a maximum of 16 guests.
We focus on game drives in open 4×4 vehicles (day & night drives), and walking safaris. Our bush walks and game drive safaris place an emphasis on understanding the wild environment, and tracking and viewing animals in their natural surroundings.
We also offer day and night game drives in open safari vehicles, and are able to drive off road in search of African predators and Big Five animals.
Description:
Situated in the Timbavati Nature Reserve, and part of the Greater Kruger National Park, Shindzela Tented Safari Camp offers a back to basics, affordable Kruger safari holiday, without compromising on important safari experiences; the thrill of viewing African wildlife, marveling at a beautiful sunset, or relaxing around the camp fire with a drink.
The camp has no power – it runs on solar energy. We are undisturbed by modern conveniences such as television and cell phones, preferring to immerse ourselves in the African wilderness.
Shindzela provides guests with a true safari experience in a private game reserve – an ideal way to make the most of your Kruger safari holiday. Shindzela is your home whilst on your safari – we pride ourselves on offering a relaxed, informal atmosphere; a trademark of genuine South African hospitality. We do have a swimming pool in camp, and the camp overlooks a waterhole, from where you can watch animals come down to drink – particularly in the drier months of the year.
More about and be assured of best rates at Shindzela …
In an effort to offer an affordable safari in South Africa, we have deliberately chosen to forego some of the features that add to the costs of running a safari camp:
We don’t have an African spa… we think that fresh air and
the sights and sounds of the bush constitute a spa
experience second to none anyway…
We don’t have a high
staff / guest ratio: If you fancy some tea or coffee, please
help yourself at the tea station in the dining room
Our menu’s don’t feature dishes with culinary terms like
“jus”, “compote” or “lightly seared”. Our meals are tasty
and homemade, with lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and
salads.
Enjoy a traditional South African braai (BBQ) with
freshly baked safari bread, or a potjie (stew), cooked
slowly over the fire.
Our camp is not built by an award
winning architect, nor is it furnished by an interior
designer.
What you will find though, is a comfy bed,
freshly laundered linen, and decor from local crafters and
artists.
Shindzela is not a luxury safari lodge; instead it is a comfortable tented bush camp, where you can relax, enjoy our hospitality and immerse yourself in the African wilderness. We love our informal, relaxed atmosphere…..
Our rates include your accommodation, all meals, game drive snacks, tea/coffee, complimentary soft drinks, and two safari activities daily (game drives, and / or walking safaris, night game drives with spotlight)
Tented Safari Camp
A safari under canvas. Authentic, comfortable and very much
part of the wilderness…Shindzela tented lodge is a simple but comfortable South African bush camp, offering an authentic African safari experience in an unfenced, natural wilderness environment. This tented camp is our safari base for our wildlife activities – game drives and walking safaris. If you are looking for an affordable safari in a private game reserve, consider visiting Shindzela for a true wilderness experience.
Our camp accommodates just 16 guests in either twin or double bed tents. Each tent is housed within a wooden and thatch structure, incorporating a porch and en suite private reed bathroom. The general Shindzela camp area encompasses a swimming pool, dining / lounge area, kitchen, staff tents and a central African fireplace – a perfect spot to relive safari experiences around the fire.
And……
Guests choosing a tent lodge safari wish to remain as close to nature as possible whilst on safari. Staying in a canvas safari tent is reminiscent of an authentic safari from a bygone era, when Africa was still being explored and a safari was all about the sight’s, sounds and smells of Africa. A safari under canvas brings this back and lets you experience Africa up close and personal.
We have deliberately decided to keep Shindzela undeveloped, so as to better blend in to the environment, and offer guests an undisturbed wilderness experience. The camp is an ideal tented camp for your African safari, providing you with prime game viewing in the greater Kruger National Park.
Acommodation:
We offer comfortable safari accommodation in the Timbavati Game Reserve. We have eight tent units, sleeping a maximum of 16 guests. All tents are set on wooden platforms, and are covered by a thatch (grass) roof – all designed to cool the tents in summer.
Each tent has a wooden entrance door, adjustable canvas flaps for windows, and mesh to keep insects. Main camp area Safari tents are equipped with 2 x 3/4 beds (made up as Twins or Doubles), solar lighting, all bedding, and towels, private shower (hot & cold water), hand basin and flush toilet. In summer, mosquito nets are fitted above the beds.
During the winter months, we use winter down duvets and offer hot water bottles to guests. Swimming pool towels are provided in camp. Your safari accommodation are attended to by housekeeping each day, and we do provide guests amenities – shower gel, shampoo and soap Unfortunately we do not have triple tents. Contact us today for safari accommodation in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
Catering:
Your safari fare includes three meals per day – breakfast
/ brunch, lunch and dinner. Our meals are not fine dining,
but are home made and tasty, and we use a lot of vegetables
and salads.
Typical brunches include cereals, yoghurt,
fruit and an English cooked breakfast. Lunches are dishes
such as quiches, varieties of salads, cold meats, macaroni
cheese, and savory tarts.
In the evenings, dinner is a main course, accompanied by home made bread, or a soup, and followed by dessert. Dishes include roast chicken with all the trimmings, traditional lamb potjie (slow cooked stew), lasagna, curries, traditional South African BBQ, or Boboti (South African dish which originated in the Cape)We can cater for most specific dietary requirements (vegetarian, gluten free and so forth) but as the camp is only supplied twice a week, we do need advance warning. Please let us know of any special dietary requirements at the time of booking. (Regrettably we cannot cater for Kosher diets.)
Tea, coffee and fruit is available in the dining room throughout the day – please help yourself or ask our kitchen staff.
In addition, we stop for tea & biscuits during the morning game drive, and snacks during the afternoon game drive.
All drinks apart from tea and coffee are for your own account and must be settled at Check Out.
Activities / Game Drives:
Twice daily game drives are conducted in 10 seater 4 wheel drive Landrovers. Game drives are taken by experienced Ranger’s who have had extensive experience guiding in the bush – they share their passion and knowledge of all fauna and flora. Each game drive is an exploration of the wilderness – to witness nature at it’s best.
Safaris generally begin early in the morning with a wake up call at 05h30. Enjoy tea and coffee before departing on a safari drive. Return to camp mid morning for brunch. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to relax in camp, and perhaps have a nap! After lunch, we go out on an afternoon safari drive and stop at a spot in the Reserve for sundowner drinks. The game drive then becomes a night safari drive, in search of nocturnal creatures with the aid of a spotlight.
The best times to view game on your African safari, are the early hours of the morning and during the late afternoon. This is when most game is active – during the heat of the day, many animals tend to seek shade and are less active. Night game drives with a spotlight bring you in to contact with nocturnal animals such as Bush babies, Civets, Genets, African wild cats, Porcupines and so forth.
Whilst we make every effort to seek out the “Big Five” animals (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino), we focus on the whole safari environment, showing appreciation for all aspects of the wilderness – animal behavior and habitat, trees, insect and plant life, as well as viewing all the other species of game found in the bush. Our safari activities and timetable is generally planned around the movements of game in the area – this allows us to be flexible, and to maximize your safari experience.
Accommodation Rates:- From $250 per person per night. Please contact us for a quote and suggested itinerary.