Simbavati River Lodge, Kruger National Park

• You'll stay within the 123,600-acre (50,000 ha) Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, home to Big Five wildlife like lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo.
• Choose between luxurious tented accommodations or glass-enclosed suites—both with private plunge pools, wildlife-viewing decks, wood floors, air-conditioning, and large bathrooms.
• Meals are included in the rate and served overlooking the river or around the bonfire in the traditional open-air boma enclosure.
• Between daily game drives, guests can unwind around the pool, head to the on-site spa, or fit in a workout in the gym.
• Families are well catered to here, with spacious two-bedroom chalets, kid-friendly activities, and an on-site Cub's Club for arts, crafts, and games.

• WiFi is only available in the main lodge area.
• Some of the private plunge pools are unheated; book one of the solar-heated options if you're visiting during cooler weather.

Authenticity

Named by South Africa's Indigenous Shangaan people, Simbavati translates as "the place where the lions come down from the stars"—likely a reference to the region's rare white lions. This is a smaller, more relaxed safari experience, with just 11 tented and chalet-style accommodations dotted along the banks of the Nhlaralumi River, and a central thatched-roof lodge shaded by ancient jackalberry and leadwood trees. The bush camp ambience is at its finest during the traditional boma dinners, served under the stars in a lantern-lit circular enclosure surrounding a roaring bonfire.

Location

You'll stay in the northern sector of the 123,600-acre (50,000 ha) Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, which shares an open border with the western edge of Kruger National Park. The lodge is accessible by rental car, and it's an hour's drive east of Hoedspruit Airport via paved and gravel roads. Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport is a 2.5-hour drive south; a scenic detour along the famous Panorama Route adds a couple of hours but passes spectacular natural landmarks like the Three Rondavels and Blyde River Canyon.

Rooms & Bathrooms

Each of the individual, air-conditioned guest units overlooks either the river or the surrounding bush, with interiors that channel a breezy, safari-inspired aesthetic with wood floors, net-draped king beds, handcrafted furniture, woven sisal rugs, and traditional art. Safari Tents offer a luxurious take on camping, with canvas walls, indoor and outdoor rain-style showers, furnished viewing decks, and private plunge pools. Glass-encased Tented Pool Suites add more space in a more secluded setting, while Family Chalets include two bedrooms and large, freestanding soaking tubs.

Amenities

Bookings at Simbavati River Lodge are all-inclusive: expect all meals, most drinks, and two daily safari activities during your stay. The main lodge and its viewing deck overlook the river and a busy watering hole; guests can gather here for evening sundowners, stroll to the nearby boma enclosure for traditional dinners around the campfire, or settle into the cozy sitting room with a book or board game. Follow a dirt path between the accommodations and the lodge to find the pool (surrounded by loungers and umbrellas), the gym, and the on-site spa (where you can book a massage or pedicure in between game drives). 

Family-Friendliness

Children are welcome at Simbavati River Lodge. One of the reserve's most family-friendly properties, it offers three two-bedroom Family Chalets, which sleep up to two adults and three children. Kids six and up can join game drives (younger ages are accommodated by booking a private drive in advance), and little ones will find arts, crafts, and games at the on-site Cub's Club. Parents looking for a break (or some spa time) can arrange for other guided, kid-friendly activities like treasure hunts, scrapbooking, archery, and nature walks.

Wildlife

The lodge's setting makes it a prime spot for wildlife viewing—particularly during the dry season of May to October, when animals are drawn to the property's permanent watering hole. Elephant sightings are common, and antelopes, zebras, wildebeest, and warthogs frequent the riverbanks. Game drives in the surrounding reserve offer excellent chances to spot the famed Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo) as well as the rarer "Timbavati Secret Seven" (aardvarks, civets, African wild cats, pangolins, large spotted genets, porcupines, and servals).