Tanda Tula Safari Camp

Me wife and I stayed in 5 camps/lodges on our trip to Southern Africa (our first visit to Africa). Tanda Tula was our first, and it was the best accommodations of all five. This would be a great way to end a trip to Africa on a luxurious note. Our travel agent would no doubt have scheduled that, but it wasn’t possible given our unavoidable last-minute trip planning. Tanda Tula has huge guest suites that are only cosmetically resemble tents. Each suite is air conditioned and has its own private pool, indoor and outdoor showers, mini fridge, coffee, etc. The game drives are led by a two-person team (guide/driver and tracker). The morning drive rolls out at about 6:15, so you get all the best light and the most active animals. It is possible to view the entire “big five”: Lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo. The only one we missed on our three-night stay was the leopard (though other groups had better luck and viewed a leopard). My wife and I had the rare pleasure of viewing a black rhino. This animal is seen at Tanda Tula only once every few years — our guide had five years at Tanda Tula, and this was his first black rhino. White rhinos are more plentiful — we had several rhino sightings, including a group of 13. In addition to 4 out of the big five, we saw giraffes, zebras, impalas, kudus, warthogs, a jackal, hyenas, and various other animals. Every game drive was loaded with sightings. Tibuvati Reserve is well organized. The guides share sightings over the radio, and rotate vehicles so no more than two vehicles at a time are at a particular sighting. We consistently got great views. At the end of each morning drive there was a huge “bush breakfast.” The bar was fully stocked with premium bottles (for instance, Blanton’s bourbon). Wine was excellent South African. The food overall was quite good, but not the gold medal on our trip (our food gold medal goes to Savute in Botswana). In addition to the small private pool for each suite, there is a large pool in the common area, It faces a very close watering hole which normally had many elephants drinking and splashing.

What an amazing place! From our first greeting to our last goodbye, we loved every moment. We are a family of five and have travelled a lot and to many prestigious locations, so we are rather spoiled and picky and therefore not easily impressed. But Tanda Tula is a true gem. All common areas are spacious, clean and beautifully designed, the rooms (we stayed in a large family suite), feel huge and very luxurious with a lovely plunge pool and ample opportunities to see wildlife just outside your room. The in room bar is well stocked and had we wanted to, we could have had free cocktails and wine in the room 24/7. But the main purpose of going to Tanda Tula is the safari drives, one in the early morning and one in the late afternoon. We were privileged to be driven around by Scotch and Eric, to see a bit of their fantastic tracking and wildlife skills but also enjoy their charm, warm friendliness and super service, as they treated us with morning coffees or sunset cocktails in the bush and otherwise made everything they could think of to make us love the drives. Regardless of what animals you actually see - and we saw almost everything very close by - the drives in the beautiful and peaceful nature are a lifetime experience. Food is important to us and at Tanda Tula we had the best food during our South Africa trip. It amazes me that they manage to arrange a clearly better breakfast buffet in the bush than the one we had at a five-star hotel in Capetown. And all meals we had were fresh, healthy and very well composed. We also love good wines and although the wines included were not super exclusive, they were still of very good quality and the staff - particular thanks to Harry - guided us to great pairings. We were never hungry between meals but when our kids asked for milkshakes they got it within a few minutes, despite it not being on any menu. Overall I think the main reason for our wonderful impression of this place was the staff and their personal and very warm service. You could tell that they took pride in their work and that they actually have fun working with each other. It started with Smiling's very casual but still professional way of welcoming us and showing the room and then it just continued that way with everyone we interacted with - sorry for not remembering all names - being so warm in a very genuine way. I struggle to find anything to give negative feedback on and I cannot recommend this place any higher. I just wish all who work at Tanda Tula the best and hope that you have great guests that treat you well and tip you a lot :D, you deserve it.

A luxurious retreat after busy, busy safaris. The rooms were vast and luxurious with comfy beds and a bath with a view. The dip pools attached were a treat being able to use and see the wildlife opposite ; zebra and giraffe. Alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks , coffee and teas avaislble in the room. Efficient laundry service. Steven & Jack were our safari team and were brilliant . We saw plenty of rhino and 4 leopard sitings. Ryan , the Chef delivered the most delicious meals with an air of wit and repartee .; truly memorable having lunch in the pod by the watering hole.

Loved absolutely everything about this Tanda Tula. Luxurious accommodations, attentive and very high levels of warm and welcoming service, and delicious food. Scotch and Jack - the dynamic duo! Thank you for showing us around and for the stargazing session and the life lessons. We had the most memorable and beautiful sundowner camp surprise during our stay. Every nook and cranny of the structures were sparkling and clean. Already planning a return trip!

Oh, Tanda Tula! How much do I love thee? We returned to the Timbavati after almost a year. Last time, we had a wonderful trip to the temporary Plains Camp while the new Safari Camp was being built and we were excited to see what had been done, although slightly apprehensive that perhaps some of the Tanda Tula magic may have been lost in the update. This apprehension disappeared as soon as Monique and Smiling met us as our car arrived, welcoming us with cold cocktails and towels and excited to share the new camp. What an achievement this re-build is; a wonderful, spacious and comfortable main building making the best of the view onto the river bed in front and across the lawn (bushbuck nibbling on the grass) to the water hole (where a small herd of elephants were drinking) on one side. There is a lovely infinity pool with loungers next to the lawn where one could easily spend the rest of one's life reading and swimming and watching the passing parade at the water hole. These suites are huge, very comfortable and tastefully decorated to reflect the colours of the surrounding bush, and almost invisible from the main building nestled as they are among the marula and mopani and boerbean trees on the edge on the river bed. Each room with high ceilings and three walls of sliding glass allowing one to feel as if you are living right in the bush. The front and sides have fine mesh doors as well to keep out insects without spoiling the view; we never closed the curtains and left the doors open so we could enjoy the lions roaring (every night) and the leopard chuffing as it wandered somewhere across the river bed most early mornings. Each suite has its own deck and plunge-pool overlooking the river bed - such a great place to spend a hot afternoon reading and listening to the birds all around. There is a well-equipped gym with running and rowing equipment as well as free weights and a lovely spa overlooking the water-hole where Claire enjoyed a couple of superb massages from Portia in the afternoons. Our guide was Chad, someone we have known for years and our tracker was Glen, a wise finder of things nobody else can see! These trackers are just amazing. We were also fortunate to share the vehicle with a lovely couple from Las Vegas as well as two childhood friends of ours from Jo'burg. The six of us had a lot of laughs together in the vehicle and out of it and were so fortunate to share our week with them. I seem to have spent a lot of this review talking about the camp but of course we are here for the bush. Our new American friends joined us for their first ever game drive and Chad and Glen found them the 'big five' before we even stopped for sundowners! And over the course of the next four days we saw everything that the Timbavati has to offer - birds and small grazers, rhino, elephants galore, leopards, buffalo, zebra, giraffe and lions.....fifty one different lions! The game viewing was just what one would expect. Chad and Glen took Claire and I

Beautiful lodge, reminds of Tony's Stark's villa, a nice mixture of modern and jungle. Plunge pool in the room, empalas in the main area. Scotch and Jack were our guide and tracker, knows everything about birds, and also you can run with Scotch in the jungle if you are a runner. We saw lions, elephants and rhinos