Umlani Highlights

Timbavati Game Reserve
Best value ever
Wildlife and birdlife
Dinners
Cold beers and great wine
No electricity
A fantastic rustic camp

Umlani Bush Camp Information

Lodge type; Safari Lodge
Location; Timbavati Game Reserve
Lodge size; 8 Thatched huts
Recommended stay; 3-7 nights

Introduction

Deep within the Timbavati Game Reserve (renowned as the home of the White Lions of Africa) lies the understated and rustic Umlani Bush Camp. the is synonymous with its guests for the goals of getting back to nature and escaping the modern world.

Within question or hesitation, Umlani is one of our absolute favourite camps in the whole of the Kruger area. It is about getting back to nature and experience Africa as it should be. friendly smiling staff, brilliant guides, home cook meals, no electricity all topped off by some of the best wildlife and birdlife in Southern Africa.

What could be better?

Reserve Information

Umlani offers guests 10 000 hectares of Timbavati wilderness to explore with over 40 mammal and 360 bird species, including the "Big 5" and the famous "White Lions".

True to its ecological ethos, Umlani is one of the few camps in the Greater Kruger National Park that functions without electrical power. More than just being ecological, the ambience of candlelight and oil lamps rekindles the romance of the African bushveld with a time long lost.

Rooms and Suites

Umlani Bush Camp accommodates only 16 guests in rustic yet comfortable Shangaan styled, thatched chalets all with en-suite facilities including open-air bush showers.

Four of the chalets can sleep up to four people, enabling Umlani to accommodate families.

Cuisine and Wine

From breakfast to brunch and lunch to dinner, Umlani offers up award-winning and locally sourced, African influenced cuisine.

A particular highlight is pre-dinner drinks served around an open fire followed by dinner in either the candlelit dining room or out in the riverbed under the African stars.

Lodge Facilities

A raised public area overlooking the Nshlaralumi River and a waterhole offers guests not only views over the surrounding bushveld and her wildlife but also an area where you can just simply read a book or relax.

A swimming pool furbished with hammocks is located close to the river under a canopy of trees protecting bathers from the burning African sun.

Umlani also offers on request a "tree house" overlooking a dam, approximately 3 kilometres from the lodge. This is your personal hide where you can be dropped off for a few hours and observe prolific wildlife.

Safari Activities

Morning, afternoon and evening game drives into the surrounding Timbavati accompanied by experienced rangers and trackers in open 4x4 safari vehicles. Optional morning bush walks are available on request; these trails come highly recommended by us at Uyaphi.com (remember to pack comfortable walking boots).

Umlani offers up the complete safari experience with game drives, walking safaris and the "tree house" adventure; all of this one of Africa's famed reserves.

Family Friendly

Children are more than welcome when sharing with parents. We do recommend that kids are over the age of 6 years, as this is a wildlife camp.

Kruger Family Friendly Lodges

Romantic Kruger Park Lodges

Best Spas in the Kruger

Timbavati Fly In Safari

4 Days / 3 Nights

A 4 Day fly-in Safari to what is without a doubt our favourite lodges in the Timbavati Reserve, and that is Motswari Lodge, with the chance to spot the Big 5 including Lion, Rhino, Leopard, Elephant and buffalo as well as Cheetah amongst others.

Walking South Africa

14 Days / 13 Nights

14 Days discovering the wildlife of the Kruger National Park, hiking in the Swaziland mountains, Zululand and her wildlife as well as shorelines connected with KwaZulu-Natal, in advance of heading into the Drakensberg mountains.

Kruger Big 5 Camping

4 Days / 3 Nights

A 4 Day overland Budget Kruger safari with a maximum 18 occupants that takes in the very best of this area of South Africa, that starts and ends in Johannesburg, explore the Kruger National Park and Panorama Route.

Timbavati Self Drive Safari

6 Days / 5 Nights

A six-day safari to without a doubt one of the best private games reserves in Africa, this being the famous Timbavati (famed for the "White Lions") as well the Mpumalanga Scenic route.

Sabi Sand Self Drive Safari

6 Days / 5 Nights

A 6-day safari to without a doubt one of the best private games reserves in Africa, this being the famous Sabi Sand (including the Mpumalanga Scenic route). All within a comfortable drive that will not leave you tired or drained.

Kruger Bush Walking

5 Days / 4 Nights

5 days of bushwalking with highly qualified guides in the Greater Kruger National Park offer a combination of walks, day and night game drives and sunset drinks, this is what Africa is about right down to those photo opportunities.

Ngala Walking Safari

Minimum of a 2-nights

Ngala's walking safari offers an incredible up close and personal experience of the Ngala Private Game Reserve bordering the Kruger National Park and Timbavati Game Reserve, this is an incredible 'Big 5' walking safari.