Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Umlani Bushcamp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve · Kruger
Eight reed-and-thatch eco huts (four double, four family) with open-air bush showers, solar power and a treehouse sleep-out, on the Timbavati with three meals, drives and local drinks included.
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The stay
A Timbavati eco camp with substance behind the label
Umlani is a camp of eight reed-and-thatch huts on the Timbavati, four for couples and four for families, each with an open-air bush shower. It runs on solar power with a standby generator, has a pool, a bush bar on a deck above a waterhole, and a treehouse 2.5 km from camp for sleep-outs. What sets it apart is how long its responsible-tourism claims have been audited: Fair Trade Tourism certification for 15 years, at least 80% of staff from the local community, an apprentice programme that has produced its own rangers and trackers, and 10% of conservation levies passed to the Timbavati Foundation. Two drives a day in open 4x4s, optional walks, three meals and local drinks are all in the rate. Hut 6 is a designated accessible double hut with grab bars and an entrance ramp.
Why Umlani
Umlani is for guests who rank authenticity, community benefit and value above polish, and for families who want their children in the Timbavati without a lodge full of rules. It is also one of very few Greater Kruger camps with a hut built for wheelchair users. Expect simplicity: canvas, thatch and bush showers rather than air conditioning and minibars.
Rooms & Suites
Double Eco Hut
Max 2 adults
Accessible
One of the four (Hut 6) is the accessible unit.
Family Eco Hut
Family suitable
Two huts sleep 4 (double + two singles); two sleep 3 (double + one single).
Safari & Experiences
Game drives
Two drives a day in open 4×4 vehicles: dawn, and late afternoon into the night.
Bush walks
Optional guided walks, included in the rate.
Optional; included in the rate
Treehouse sleep-out
A night in the camp's exclusive treehouse 2.5 km from camp.
Good to know
Families
Family huts sleep 3 or 4; babysitting can be arranged.
Power & connectivity
- Solar powered
- Generator backup available
100% alternative energy: solar power with a standby generator.
Getting there
- Nearest airport: Hoedspruit (Eastgate) Airport
- Nearest airstrip: Rock Fig airstrip (1,000 m tarred) for charters
- Drive time: About 35 minutes from Hoedspruit; 2-3 hours from Mbombela; 6-7 hours from Johannesburg
Daily Airlink and CemAir flights to Hoedspruit from Johannesburg and Cape Town. A shared shuttle runs from OR Tambo to the Timbavati gate. Self-drive guests pay a vehicle permit at the gate.
Accessibility
Hut 6 is a purpose-designated Accessible Double Hut with grab bars and a ramp to the entrance. Guests with specific mobility requirements should discuss camp paths, vehicle boarding and bathroom layout with the camp before booking.
Sustainability & Conservation
Fair Trade Tourism certified for 15 years (the 14th property in South Africa to be accredited) and SATSA approved. Solar power with standby generator; low-flow fittings; EM-based septic and grey-water management; eight indigenous trees planted monthly with Greenpop.
10% of the conservation levies collected go to the Timbavati Foundation.
At least 80% of staff are from the local community, with an in-house ranger and tracker apprentice programme; ten former apprentices now work as rangers, trackers, chefs and managers.
Add the road leg
Private transfers, arranged with the stay.
Spurwing can arrange private road transfers from Johannesburg, O.R. Tambo, regional airports or another lodge where the routing is practical, or build the road leg into a wider South African itinerary.
Tell us where you are coming from and where you are going next. We confirm the practical route, vehicle and timing before anything is booked.
Request This Stay
Rates on request
One trusted partner for the whole journey — speak to us and we’ll help plan the stay alongside the rest of your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Umlani have electricity?
The camp runs on solar power with a standby generator.
Is Umlani suitable for wheelchair users?
Hut 6 is a designated accessible double hut with grab bars and a ramp to the entrance. Discuss your specific requirements with the camp before booking.
What is included in the rate?
Accommodation, three meals a day, game drives, optional bush walks and all local-brand drinks. The Timbavati conservation levy, transfers and the self-drive vehicle permit are extra.
How do I get to Umlani?
Fly to Hoedspruit (about 35 minutes away) or self-drive: 6-7 hours from Johannesburg, entering the Timbavati at the gate where a vehicle permit is paid. A shared shuttle from OR Tambo to the Timbavati gate can be booked.