We may be biased but we think South Africa is an incredible family destination. There is so much to see and do as a family in South Africa that it will take a few trips for you to really experience it all.

South Africans are a very family friendly nation so you will not be wanting to find activities for the kids to see and do during your stay. From the world-class beaches of the Western Cape to the nature reserves spread across the country, your children will not utter the words “I am bored.”

There are a few other reasons why South Africa needs to be on your family travel bucket list.

1. Travel from Europe means not jetlag

The time difference between Europe and South Africa is an hour in winter and 2 hours in summer which means that there is no jetlag. This is a big consideration when travelling with children – it means no tired or cranky kids and no time spent trying to adjust, you can land and start enjoying everything South Africa has to offer…

2. The list of family friendly activities is endless

South Africans enjoy a lot of time outdoors because the weather is fantastic pretty much all year round. Even the winters are mild and outdoor activities are still popular. There are incredible beaches running along the entire coast of South Africa, perfect to enjoy some beach time. Hiking can also be enjoyed across the country with trails available suitable for all ages. And of course, no family trip to South Africa is complete without a visit to one of the countries nature reserves, like the Timbavati Nature Reserve. All of the reserves in South Africa cater for children and many have swimming pools and other family-friendly activities. Kambaku Lodges offer visiting children the option to join Kambaku Kubs where they can learn more about the flora and fauna of the area.

3. There are malaria free options

If you are visiting South Africa as a family to enjoy a safari holiday it is possible to avoid malaria areas. The Timbavati Nature Reserve is a low-risk malaria area but lodges in the Western and Eastern Capes are also malaria free.

4. South Africa is a budget friendly

The exchange rates make travel to South Africa really affordable, especially when travelling as a family. Accommodation, even luxury accommodation, like Kambaku River Sands is reasonably priced when you consider the exchange rate and eating out is also very affordable. This makes South Africa very attractive as a family friendly holiday destination.

5. Escape the cold

If you want to escape the icy, snowy winters of the Northern Hemisphere then South Africa is perfect. If you are looking to head to South Africa, the best time weather wise is between November and March but if you are heading on safari, then you can visit at any time of the year, the winters in South Africa are relatively mild. The reason this is a benefit to families travelling means you can pack light and avoid thick jackets and boots.

6. South Africa has a diverse landscape

The flora and fauna of South Africa is so diverse, you can expose your family to a range of different types of topography. The coastline is spectacular and has an abundance of birdlife, the mountain ranges of the Drakensberg, Blyde River Canyon and God’s Window are breath-taking, the Karoo dessert has more to often than you might think.

7. World class beaches

Nothing says family holiday like a beach holiday, right? South Africa has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world for you to choose from. Camps Bay in Cape Town is one of the most popular beaches and it is definitely spectacular, even if the water is a little cold. The beaches along the Garden Route are quieter than the main beaches but just as stunning.

8. There is a great selection of world class food.

South Africans enjoy good food which means you will find a wide range of different types of cuisines, ranging from fresh from the ocean seafood to traditional South African meals like pap and wors. You will not have to look hard for family-friendly restaurants, most wine farms are accommodating of children, and many have special alcohol-free tastings for children. Even if you are travelling with the fussiest of eaters, you will find meals easily for them when travelling as a family to South Africa.

9. South Africa are a friendly people

When you travel to South Africa with your children you will find the people very welcoming and accommodating of children. South Africans in general appreciate tourists and as such are very friendly to tourists.

10. English is the main language

South Africa has 11 official languages, but English is the most widely spoken which means that communication is fairly easy. Travelling to a country where you understand the language does make it a little easier when you have children with you.

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When is the best time to travel to South Africa for a safari holiday?

There really is no right or wrong time to travel. The Timbavati really is beautiful all year round (but we might be biased).

If you spotting wildlife is your main focus, then winter (June to September) is ideal. During winter the bush is less dense as most of the trees and shrubs have lost their leaves, so spotting animals is a little easier.

Summer in South Africa (December to February) is when the bush is at its most dense and lush which makes seeing animals a little more challenging but not impossible, especially when you have an experienced tracker.

What to pack when going on safari in South Africa? 

• Lightweight, cool, and comfortable clothes made of a natural, “breathable” fabric.
• A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen – even in the winter months.
• Walking shoes.
• Binoculars
• Camera and accessories
• Lip balm and insect repellent

What is the best time for a game drive?

While the wildlife of the Timbavati don’t stick to a schedule, generally the best time for a game drive is in the early morning.

So be prepared for a few early mornings during your stay with Kambaku, but we promise that the early mornings will, without a doubt, be worth it.

Be Open-Minded

A safari in South Africa is never predictable.

If you are visiting for the time, be open-minded and flexible.

You might see all of the big 5 in one drive but you also might be out for a few hours and spot some impala.

While we do our best to show you the best of the Timbavati, sometimes the animals have other ideas. Sometimes it is equally special to shift focus from the big animals to the smaller, but equally special animals like the abundance of birds.

Game Drive Etiquette

Game viewing is one of the biggest reasons you visit the bush which makes game drives the highlight of each day.

There are a few things to keep in mind when you are on your daily game drives.

• Do not stand up in the game drive vehicle.
• Do not hang over the side of the vehicle.
• Do not call, whistle or throw things at the animals in an attempt to get them to react.
• Noise level on the vehicle is to be kept to a minimum, this is for the benefit of both the animals and any other vehicles.
• Never hang out of the vehicle while it is moving.
• Respect the environment you are in.

Expect the unexpected. 

Book a safari in South Africa and explore the Timbavati Nature Reserve with a stay at Kambaku Lodges. You can book your adventure at Kambaku Lodges or Kambaku River Sands – both offer luxury accommodation.

South Africa is a beautiful country to visit, there is so much diversity – from the beautiful oceans of the Western Cape to the bushveld of Mpumalanga to the bustling city of Johannesburg. You can plan the adventure of a lifetime while travelling South Africa. 

English is Widely Understood

South Africa has 11 official languages including English and it is the most widely spoken and understood language across the country. If you can communicate in English, even as your second language, you will be easily understood. 

South Africa is Large

South Africa is a large country – roughly double size of France. You won’t be able to explore it in a week – in fact, you may need a few trips to really experience everything that South Africa has to offer. When you are planning your trip decide what type of holiday you would like and which cities you would like to see. At Kambaku Lodges, we can help you plan your trip to make sure you get the most out of your time in South Africa. 

South Africa Has What You Need

When you land at any one of South Africa’s international airports, you will notice similarities to airports around the world. You will find shopping malls and familiar retail outlets all over the country. This means if you need electronics, toiletries or clothing, you will easily find them. 

Budget Travel is Easy in South Africa

The South African Rand is the monetary unit used in South Africa and you will find that food and accommodation are very affordable – even luxury accommodation can be enjoyed at a reasonable price. You will also find a diverse selection of restaurants in South Africa including fine dining to markets.

It is Safe if You Are Aware

South Africa is a tourist-friendly, but it is important to stay aware and look after your belongings especially when travelling through larger, busy cities as pickpockets and scammers will try their luck. 

Rent A Car

While South Africa has a pretty decent transport system, it does not have a great public transport system. Renting a car is the best way to explore the country, especially if you are exploring different cities. A road trip through South Africa is an adventure in itself. That said you will find ridesharing services in the major cities and the Gautrain runs through Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Water is Safe to Drink

When you are in the bigger cities of South Africa, the water is safe to drink. It is advisable to check with the smaller towns whether or not you drink the water.

A look back at 2021 in photos!

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The Cape Rockjumper was chosen, by BirdLife South Africa as the Bird of the Year 2021. The main goal of this initiative is to raise awareness about this interesting little bird and in doing so contributing the conservation of the rockjumper. 

The Cape Rockjumper is endemic to the mountain fynbos region of South Africa. This medium-sized bird is aptly named and can often be seen jumping across both rocks and grassland. The black and orange rockjumper seldom actually takes flight. 

They are facing some challenges and are particularly vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss and are currently classified as ‘Near Threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Cape Rockjumpers forage on mountains and slopes for insects like caterpillars, moths, grasshoppers and beetles. They will also eat geckos, scorpions and spiders. 

You can find the Cape Rockjumpers in family groups consisting of a breeding pair and one or two of the offspring from the previous season. The breeding pair build the nest together and share incubation responsibilities. They generally build their nests on the ground under rocky overhangs.

While you are not likely to spot this pretty little bird at Kambaku Lodges, if you are in the Western Cape are, be on the look out for them!

“Before you, the mountains. Behind you, the forest. On this expanse of forty hectares, our boutique hotel waits to envelop you in the beauty of this rich, natural environment.”

At Kambaku @Sea you are not simply a guest, rather you are family we are proud to host.

Located in Sedgefield along the Garden Route, Kambaku @Sea is the perfect getaway for anyone look to escape the madness.

We are so proud of our team at Kambaku @Sea who have won a few prestigious awards over the last 2 years.

We won in 2019:

Kambaku At Seahas won an Haute Grandeur Excellence Award for:

• Best Boutique Honeymoon Hotel in Africa
• Most Luxurious Suite in Africa (Honeymoon/Family Room 5)

And in 2020:

Kambaku @ Sea has won an Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Award for:

• Best Bed and Breakfast Hotel on a Global level
• Best Boutique Hotel in Africa
• Best Romantic Hotel in Africa
• Best Boutique Honeymoon Hotel in South Africa 

There really is so much to do when you stay at Kambaku @Sea. From sunset cruises to adventures on kayaks – there is something for both the adventure seeker and those who need to rewind and relax.

There is also an abundance of things you can do in Sedgefield.

Gerick’s Point beach walk 

Sedgefield Beaches – there are five of them to explore, each one as beautiful as the next.

Boating – the Swartvlei and other waterways – from Kambaku @Sea

Cloud 9 Paragliding – Soar with eagles and get a bird’s eye view of the Garden Route

Horse  Riding –  riding opportunities

Wild Oats Farmers Market

Scarab market

Timberlake

OystersRUs Restaurant

Sedgefield’s Slow Festival in March / April every year

Oudtshoorn – ostrich farms and vineyards

Knysna Oyster festival

George Transport Museum

Wilderness –  Eden Adventures :  Kloofing, Kayaking, canoeing  

Acrobranch Tree Adventures

Dolphin Point

If you want to experience this award winning accommodation, book here.

The world is opening for travel again and we are so excited! We know that COVID-19 is still very much a concern for everyone which is why we have put all the safety measures in place to make sure your stay with us is safe and memorable.

Kambaku is an exclusive game lodge

Kambaku River Sands has only 10 luxury thatched chalets, each with its own private en-suite with a bath and both an indoor and outdoor shower, offering you the perfect place to relax and unwind in between game drives. This means that even if we are fully booked, we keep to a max of only 16 people in the camp at any one time, affording you an exclusive getaway in one of the most beautiful locations in the world. Exclusive use rates are also available and affordable.

We have a remote location

The Timbavati really is far from the maddening crowd. Kambaku Lodges are located in the Timbavati Nature Private Nature Reserve which is around 450km from Johannesburg. Not only are we far from the big cities in South Africa but because we are a private reserve, we are able to limit the number of people who enter the reserve. Further ensuring your safety and guaranteeing a wonderful safari experience.

We have wide open spaces

One thing we have in abundance at Kambaku Lodges is wide open spaces. Our lodges are unfenced which means the animals are free to come and go as they please – it is possible for you to view some of the big 5 without even leaving the comfort of the lodge. The Timbavati covers an area of 53 392 hectares of land which is a lot of wide-open space that can be enjoyed and explored. 

We have strict COVID-19 protocols in place

We have all the necessary COVID-19 protocols in place to ensure your safety. Our staff have all been fully vaccinated. Masks are worn at all times. Our game drives are limited to 6 people per vehicle and all the tables in our dining areas are the correct distance apart. We have been given the TBCSA’s certificate of approval that we comply with the recommended industry protocols.

Less people means better sightings

Due to the months of lockdown, the Timbavati has been a lot quieter than normal. This does have some advantages in that we have been treated to some incredible sightings. 

Remote working is possible

We have wi-fi at our lodges which means you are able to work remotely during your stay with us. You can really have the best of both worlds – gorgeous early morning and evening game drives, lazy afternoons at the spa and some work in between. 

If you are looking for your next adventure, book a stay with Kambaku River Sands or Kambaku Safari Lodge.

Elephants are a huge part of life at Kambaku Lodges. They spend a lot of time using our swimming pool at Kambaku River Sands as their local watering hole which is always such a treat to experience.

Elephants are a keystone species. This means that they create and maintain the ecosystems that they live in which makes it possible for other plants and animal species to live in those environments. The loss of elephants to an ecosystem has a deep impact and can cause lasting chaos to the habitat, weakening the structure and the diversity of the ecosystem. 

The focus of World Elephant Day is raise the awareness around the plight of the elephants around the world. Elephant numbers have dropped by 62% over the last decade. An estimated 100 African elephants are killed each day by poachers seeking ivory, meat and body parts. If more is not done to protect these gentle giants, they are at risk.

Today we celebrate these incredible creatures and the joy that they bring to life in the Timbavati.

“You know… they say an elephant never forgets. What they don’t tell you is, you never forget an elephant.”

– Bill Murray.

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The Origins of Kambaku

Kambaku is a Tsonga word for Great Tusker or Old Elephant Bull. It was also the name given to one of the Magnificent Seven. These seven elephants all had tusks weighing over 50kg.

Kambaku moved over a large area ranging from Satara, the Timbavati and Crocodile bridge but he was most commonly spotted around the Kingfisherspruit area, always alone.

It was easy to identify Kambaku, he had a perfectly round hole in his ear, close to the outer edge. His trunk was also unique in that it had markings that looked like round patches of smooth skin.

You can view Kambaku’s tusks in a display at the Letaba Elephant Hall.

Lions in South Africa

Lions used to naturally occur all throughout South Africa but due mainly to hunting and other human associated behaviours, they are now largely restricted to protected areas. Lions can now be found in the greater Kruger National Park and the surrounding farms and reserves that border the park, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi in KwaZulu/Natal.

For any species to survive, genetic diversity is essential for survival but in some reserves in South Africa there is evidence of inbreeding, which reduces genetic diversity. Inbreeding has been shown to not only impact on reproductive success but also increases the susceptibility to disease.

In large, open wildlife systems, such as the Greater Kruger National Park, young males leave their prides to find new mating partners and in doing so prevent inbreeding. The main reason that conservation genetics is important is because it involves conserving the maximum genetic diversity which in turn preserves the evolutionary potential of the species. If a population does not have the necessary genetic diversity it needs, it runs the risk of not being able to adapt and survive environmental changes.  

Genetic analysis jas been conducted on the lions of the Timbavati  by Dr Desire Dalton and Susan Miller. Their analysis found that the lion population in the Timbavati has a high genetic diversity and the risk of inbreeding is low, due largely to the high number of lions available in the Greater Kruger National Park open system.

The Lions of the Timbavati

The Timbavati Private Nature reserve is the only reserve in the world where white lions occur naturally. These beautiful lions have intrigued people for many years with some believing they have mythical powers. Many also assume that these lions are albinos but this this not the case. You can read more about the genetic makeup of White Lions here.

Today, on World Lion Day, we take a look back on some of the Legends of the Timbavati.

Our beautiful Blue Eyes white lioness. Her territory extended through Kambaku Lodges. We were privileged enough to follow her journey from a young cub through to a very confident and successful lioness.

Unfortunately she met her end whilst defending her cubs against two male lions during a pride take over.

Black Dam, a big male lion who owned the territory which makes up our area of Timbavati. He successfully defended his territory on his own for almost two years, which in this area is no mean feat, given that most territories are owned by coalitions of two or more males.

Unfortunately he was mortally wounded in a buffalo hunt. Isn’t he absolutely magnificent.

The life of a lion cub is tough. This little one got a short glimpse of what life held in store for him. Unfortunately this young male cub did not make it to maturity.

Younger sister to Blue Eyes – another stunning white lioness with hazelnut eyes. We also had the pleasure of watching her grow from a cub into a beautiful lioness.

She was unfortunately killed by rogue males who surprised the pride on a buffalo kill. It was a devastating loss of a very promising lioness.

Another legend of the Timbavati known as the Timbavati male. He was one of the areas dominant males for many years with many war stories, evident by the scars on his face.

This was one of the last images we have of him before he disappeared!!

Today we are celebrating World Ranger Day.

There are an estimated 100,000 reserves, parks and protected areas around the world, most of these are being protected tirelessly by rangers. World Ranger Day was created by the International Ranger Federation and was first held in 2007 as a way to honor these brave men and women who are committed to preserve the nature they are surrounded by.

We have decided to turn the spotlight onto Gideon Marvin Khosa, one of the long standing professional field guides at Kambaku Lodges.

Bryce sat down with Gideon and had a chat to help you get to know him a little better.

Q: Gideon how long have you been a professional guide and where did it all begin for you?

A: I started my career as a professional field guide over 20 years ago now in Kruger National Park under Dion Pienaar as my mentor.

Q: So your career started in Kruger – where else has it taken you?

A: After working in Kruger for a few years I spent some time in the North West of the country in Madikwe but returned to the Kruger region and found my home at Kambaku in the Timbavati.

Q: What’s your favourite part of guiding?

A: I have a passion for walking and sharing knowledge on trees, plants, birds and the smaller things that make up the bush.

Q: If you could choose a favourite animal to view which would it be?

A: A tough decision but it would be a close call between elephant & leopard.

Q: I am sure you have had some amazing sightings in your career which one stands out for you as one of the best?

A: We had a sighting not so long ago not far from camp which really stands out.

We came across two large male lions known as the Maposa males on a young buffalo carcass surrounded by 18-20 hyenas. The hyenas were continuously pestering the lions and the sounds from both where just as amazing as the sighting itself. When we thought it couldn’t get any better a pack of 16 wild dogs arrived obviously attracted by all the noise and everything went crazy, eventually the two male lions chased everyone off and returned to finish their meal.

Q: Obviously guiding is your passion but outside of guiding what else do you enjoy?

A: Soccer and traditional dancing.

Q: What’s your favourite team both locally and internationally?

A: Kaizer Chiefs and Barcelona.

Q: Who’s your favourite players?

A: Locally Siphiwe Shabalala and internationally Messi and Ronaldo.

Q: The traditional dancing what is that all about?

A: It’s a tradition of my family the Khoza’s known as muchongolo. Every Sunday we dress in traditional clothing, animal skins, sandals, head bands etc. and perform traditional dances past down from generation to generation. We also do it as a life celebration of a family member at funerals.

Q: You are a proud Shongaan man tell us about your family?

A: My wife Tembe is also in the industry and works as a chef. I have three daughters, Pardon who is 24 and a nurse in Johannesburg, Trinity who is 18 and studying human resource management and Imbali who is 10 and still at school.

Q: Finally Gideon is there anyone you look up to in life?

A: Yes my uncle Nelson Theko he is a famer in Buffelshoek and has always been there for me.

We not only honor and celebrate Gideon and all the other rangers who form a part of our team at Kambaku Lodges but also those rangers who work throughout the Timbavati Reserve.