Fly to Hoedspruit airport (own account) . When you arrive at Hoedspruit Airport, you will be met by a representative of Simbavati Hilltop Lodge to transfer you through to the lodge on an open safari vehicle. The transfer will take approximately 1.5 hours. After check-in at the lodge, you can enjoy a delightful lunch and get to know your surroundings before your afternoon/evening game drive. Once back from the game drive you will arrive on time for dinner on the deck, or around the fire in the open-air boma.

Big 5 game drives take place in the early morning and late afternoon/evening, ensuring game sightings at times when the animals are naturally most active. Nocturnal animals, including the big cats, are regular sightings at night. Currently over 40 mammal species are to be found in the Timbavati, including the Big 5 of Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Buffalo and Elephant. The area is also a bird-watcher’s paradise, as many as 360 species of bird life have been documented here.

Time to relax, enjoy a spa treatment at leisure before and after lunch or visit Mutimu, Simbavati’s community project. Each Luxurious Safari Tent has a beautiful game viewing deck, with a daybed and the option of river view or bush view to perhaps enjoy a cocktail in private and skip out on an afternoon game drive.

Enjoy the use of the infinity pool overlooking spectacular views of the distant Drakensberg Mountains. Alternatively, relax in the lounge/bar area, avail of the free Wi-Fi on offer, or simply allow your mind to wander while sipping a refreshing cocktail, and watching the wildlife at the Nhlaralumi River.

Morning & afternoon/evening game drives are conducted by experienced field guides and Shangaan trackers in open 4X4 vehicles, with excellent photographic opportunities. You traverse over 12,000 hectares of the big-5 game country, with lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo as well as other species such as wild dogs, cheetah, kudu, zebra, warthog, giraffe, and monkey to name a few. Bird viewing is spectacular, with over 360 recorded species including various eagles, vultures, kingfishers, woodpeckers, buzzards, herons, egrets, owls, weavers.

The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve was initiated in 1956 by a group of landowners who were concerned about the degradation of this once pristine wilderness area. Timbavati is dedicated to conservation by maintaining the biodiversity of species and is also involved in different research projects.

Enjoy your last full day in the Timbavati Private Game Reserve & at Simbavati Hilltop Lodge. Enjoy and soak up the magnificent views of the African Bush, the Nhlaralumi River and the distant foothills of the Drakensberg Mountain Range from the vantage point of the beautiful small koppie on which the lodge is situated.

Enjoy a relaxing morning at leisure and breakfast on the dining deck before your scheduled transfer to Hoedspruit Airport where hopefully on your way you can spot some more wildlife and take some last-minute pictures of the Big 5. Don't forget to stop at the curio shop before your departure from the lodge.