Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Tanda Tula Safari Camp sits in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, bordering Kruger National Park. The camp reopened in 2023 after an extensive rebuild. It moved from a charming, rustic bush camp to one of the most design-forward properties in the Greater Kruger area. Owners Don and Nina Scott have run Tanda Tula for decades. As a result, the warmth and family feel of the original camp survives, despite the thoroughly modern rebuild.
Design and Setting
Every suite is positioned so interior and outdoor spaces share uninterrupted views across the Nhlaralumi riverbed. Seven Safari Suites suit couples or solo travellers, each with a private plunge pool, cosy sitting area and en-suite bedroom. Two Family Suites extend the offering further. These include two bedrooms, an en-suite bathroom each, a shared living area and a private plunge pool, suited to families with children or groups of friends. Sliding glass doors and canvas walls open fully to the surrounding woodlands. Every suite, in addition, runs entirely off-grid, solar-powered and fitted with water-efficient equipment.
Light, airy main areas include a lounge, dining room and bar with a wraparound covered patio. A communal pool overlooks a busy waterhole, alongside a library, gym and Wellness Nest. The camp’s traversing area covers roughly 12,500 hectares of the Timbavati. Off-road driving lets guides get genuinely close to wildlife, within a reserve known for naturally occurring white lions alongside the rest of the Big Five.
Dining and Family Fit
Tanda Tula’s kitchen has built a reputation in its own right, running up for the best safari cuisine in Africa in 2024. Dinners move between the atmospheric boma, the main deck, the indoor dining room, or occasionally the riverbed itself. Game drives run twice daily in open 4×4 vehicles, capped at six guests per vehicle, alongside guided bush walks and a bush breakfast after the morning drive.
Children aged six and over are welcome at Tanda Tula. Younger children pay applicable child rates and must share accommodation with parents. The camp has also supported Save the Elephants-South Africa since it was built in 2003, alongside community projects including support for the nearby Tintswalo Hospital. For travellers wanting a soulful, design-forward safari camp with genuine warmth behind the polish, however, Tanda Tula remains one of the Timbavati’s most distinctive addresses.
Why Stay Here
- A 2023 rebuild blending striking contemporary design with the camp’s original warmth and family feel
- Seven Safari Suites and two Family Suites, each with a private plunge pool overlooking the riverbed
- A 12,500-hectare traversing area with off-road driving and naturally occurring white lions
- Genuinely acclaimed dining, runner-up for Africa’s best safari cuisine in 2024
- A long-standing commitment to elephant conservation and community projects since 2003
Accommodation
Seven Safari Suites and two Family Suites overlook the Nhlaralumi riverbed, each with a private plunge pool. Safari Suites suit couples or solo travellers, while Family Suites add a second bedroom and shared living area for groups or families.
Dining
Meals move between the atmospheric boma, the main deck, the indoor dining room and occasionally the riverbed itself, with a kitchen recognised among Africa’s best safari cuisine.
Experiences
Twice-daily game drives in open 4×4 vehicles, capped at six guests, cover the camp’s 12,500-hectare traversing area, alongside guided bush walks and bush breakfasts. A communal pool, library, gym and Wellness Nest round out the facilities.
Best For
Families and couples wanting a design-forward, soulful safari camp, and travellers drawn to genuinely acclaimed dining alongside strong Big Five game viewing.