nThambo Tree Camp

Overview

Location: Klaserie Private Nature Reserve–>Kruger National Park–>South Africa
Accommodation Type: Lodge
Comfort Level: Luxury

Good For: Solo, Couple/Romantic |

nThambo Tree Camp is an eco-friendly safari camp located in the Klaserie area of the Kruger Park. The camp is small and intimate and sleeps a maximum of 10 guests in five chalets raised up on wooden stilts.

The camp offers morning and afternoon/night game drives, as well as bush walks after breakfast. All activities take place in an area known for its quality of game viewing. Guests can expect to see all of the Big Five animals, as well as hyena, hippo, giraffe, zebra and a whole host of other wildlife.

nThambo Tree Camp really allows guests to feel a little closer to nature, and is a true hidden secret in the Kruger.

Accommodation

nThambo Tree Camp has only 5 chalets that sleep 2 people each, which creates an intimate and personal safari experience. The accommodation is unique with bedrooms at eye-level with the trees, offering a different perspective from the private balconies.

There is an outdoor lounge and dining area, under thatch, that offers guests beautiful views of the plain and small waterhole in front of camp, as well as the Drakensberg mountain range in the distance. A pool and deck with sun loungers and umbrellas completes the main area and offers a refreshing spot to relax all year round.

A traditional boma area with fire place captures the traditional bush camp safari experience. Open to the sky and surrounded by a wooden kraal, the boma is where the warm evenings are spent sharing stories of the bush.

Wildlife

Africa’s most superb predators are found in the Klaserie and are frequently seen by guests on game drive. Knowing that there are all of Africa’s most successful predators around nThambo, and knowing that it is unfenced, the feeling of being in the wild is ever-present.

Leopard and lion, Africa’s biggest cats, prowl the bushveld and their calls can be heard in the night when you are falling asleep. The lions are famous in the Klaserie and their pride has been followed for years.Other fantastic predators found here are the spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, side-striped jackal, caracal, crocodile, cheetah, serval, and African wild dog, to name but a few.

The camp is frequently visited by a pair of honey badgers, which is an exciting and eventful occasion. These are ferocious little creatures that are feared by most other big mammals in the wild because of their fearless attitude and tendancy to aim for the groin in an attack!

As there are no fences and wildlife roams free between the major reserves that form the Greater Kruger Park, which include the Klaserie, Timbavati, Manyeleti, Sabi Sand and the Kruger National Park. Just as is always the case on safari, you can never predict what you are going to see, but with such a variety of wildlife species, game drives at nThambo are rich in sightings.

Mammals one can expect to see in the area are aplenty: elephant, rhino, buffalo, impala, kudu, zebra, giraffe, steenbok, duiker, mongoose, baboon, vervet monkey, hippo, warthog, and many others.

The birdlife in the Klaserie is a stunning mix of migrant and resident species. Commonly seen (and heard) birds at nThambo are magpie shrike, lilac-breasted roller, yellow-billed hornbill, glossy starling, white-crowned shrike, blue waxbill, fork-tailed drongo, and francolin.

Some of the most superb raptor species are often seen soaring the skies and perching in trees surveying the land. Brown snake eagle, bateleur, martial eagle, African harrier hawk, African hawk eagle, dark chanting goshawk, black-chested snake eagle, Wahlberg’s eagle, and tawny eagle.

The Klaserie has some of the best viewing of white-backed vultures because it is a primary breeding area for these endangered birds. Circling carcasses in the Klaserie, guests can also expect to see lappet-faced, white-faced vultures, and hooded vultures.

More Info

Children:
No children aged 12 and under.
Children aged 13 and over pay the full adult price.

Excludes:
The Klaserie Conservation levy of R200 per person per stay (payable direct at camp in cash or credit card),
Timbavati Gate fee of R140 per vehicle if self-driving (payable direct at the Timbavati Gate in cash or credit card).
Please note that only Visa and MasterCard are accepted at the Camp and the Timbavati Gate.

No single supplement applies.

Directions

From Johannesburg/Pretoria:

Take the N12 or N4 highway to Witbank / eMalahleni (from Johannesburg Airport, follow signs to Boksburg to find the N12). Follow the N4 highway past Middleburg (Toll Plaza), Belfast and Machadodorp (Toll Plaza).

Follow the Schoemanskloof option on the N4 and then take the R36 to Lydenburg/Mashishing.

Follow the R36 to Ohrigstad, go through the Strydom Tunnel and take the R527 to Hoedspruit.

Turn right onto the R40 towards Klaserie, and continue along this road until you see the turning off to the left for Eastgate Airport.

Turn left here and after 300m you will go through a control gate and then head directly for the Timbavati Game Reserve Gate. 17km later look
out for Bush Pub & Inn on your left and Josmacs Bush Pub on your right hand side.

In front of you now will be the new Timbavati Gate (Nkhulu Gate). Enter at the Timbavati Gate and drive 6.4km, with the fence line on your left hand side.

Turn left onto the dirt road when the fence line ends. Drive a further 3.5km on the dirt road with a new fence line on your left hand side. You will come to a 4 way crossing.

Turn right at this crossway. Drive a further 2.5km until you see a sign for “Ross” and Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp. Turn left here and drive along the dirt road until you see the sign for nThambo Tree Camp.

Do not get out of your car until you reach the lodge. You may see some wildlife on your way – if you do, slow down and maintain a good distance. Do not drive off-road in any circumstances.

From Hazyview:

Follow the R40 towards Klaserie & Hoedspruit and about 6 km before you reach Hoedspruit itself, turn right at the signboard towards Eastgate Airport/Thornybush Reserve/Timbavati Reserve (Argyle Road).

After 300m you will go through a control gate and then head directly for the Timbavati Game Reserve Gate. 17km later look out for Bush Pub & Inn on your left and Josmacs Bush Pub on your right hand side.

In front of you now will be the new Timbavati Gate (Nkhulu Gate). Enter at the Timbavati Gate and drive 6.4km, with the fence line on your left hand side.

Turn left onto the dirt road when the fence line ends. Drive a further 3.5km on the dirt road with a new fence line on your left hand side. You will come to a 4 way crossing.

Turn right at this crossway. Drive a further 2.5km until you see a sign for “Ross” and Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp. Turn left here and
drive along the dirt road until you see the sign for nThambo Tree Camp.

Do not get out of your car until you reach the lodge. You may see some wildlife on your way – if you do, slow down and maintain a good distance. Do not drive off-road in any circumstances.