If you’re a luxury traveler or a safari enthusiast, you’ve likely heard whispers about the award-winning Tanda Tula Lodge, one of South Africa’s premier safari destinations. Nestled in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, bordering the famed Kruger National Park, Tanda Tula promises an unparalleled blend of rustic charm and modern luxury. This East African style tented camp in South Africa features secluded, en suite, canvas tents, each with a private deck overlooking the Nhlaralumi riverbed and shaded by majestic trees.
In this review, we'll explore Tanda Tula’s opulent features, unique wildlife encounters, and commitment to conservation and community upliftment. Let’s delve into what makes Tanda Tula a standout destination for an unforgettable safari experience.
First Impressions and Hospitality
First impressions count, and Tanda Tula nails it! From the moment you drive in, you are greeted with radiant energy and warm smiles. The staff's enthusiasm is infectious, making you feel welcomed and valued.
Tanda Tula has held onto the atmosphere of its once rustic bush camp routes where guests were made to feel like family. This has created the perfect blend of an ultra-lux lodge with all the bells and whistles, coupled with authentically friendly and helpful staff and that pulpable African ambiance in camp that we all love so much! Personal touches like a welcome letter in your suite, personalized water bottle, and staff greeting you by name as you enjoy meals catered to your specific dietary requirements are the order of the day.
Luxurious Tented Suites
The first thing that sets Tanda Tula apart is its luxurious tented suites. Tanda Tula Safari Camp features 12 elegant, tented suites, each secluded in its own thicket of trees and covered by a thatched roof. The suites are a hybrid canvas and glass design with walls that disappear, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in nature.
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The benefits of inviting the outside in with both views, sounds and even smells, and the added security of sturdy walls around you certainly speaks to all guests wanting to get the most out of their safari experience. The suites are extremely spacious, well-spaced apart for privacy, and come with a whole host of amenities and facilities. Top of this list is the heated private plunge pool with views over the riverbed below, a treat all year round!
Each tent has fans and an en-suite bathroom, Victorian bathtub, and outdoor shower, and guests have access to a main lounge with a pool. A private deck extends from each bedroom, overlooking a riverbed alongside the camp, and every en suite bathroom offers a Victorian tub and both indoor and outdoor showers.
The idea is that if a guest had to spend the entire day in their suite, they’d be able to do so very comfortably. They have certainly got that right! You won’t want to leave your stunning suite or even your heavenly bed with linen as light as air. And we haven’t even mentioned the bathroom! In all honesty probably the most beautiful and impressive we’ve seen with it’s jade green walls, gorgeous central bath tub with a view, and indoor/outdoor shower. It is serenity envisioned where tranquillity and beauty abound.
With only 12 suites, Tanda Tula offers an intimate setting that ensures personalized service and a sense of exclusivity. Unlike larger lodges, where you might feel like just another guest, here you are treated like royalty.
Culinary Adventures
Food at Tanda Tula is nothing short of a culinary adventure. Focusing on local ingredients sourced from within 50 miles of the camp, the chefs prepare mouth-watering dishes that cater to a variety of palates. Every few days, they arrange a communal dinner within the boma.
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Dinners are held either in the atmospheric boma, extensive deck and indoor dining room, or even in the riverbed on occasion. They like to mix it up to offer guests unique experiences, and you can be assured all are magical! We thoroughly enjoyed our bush breakfast at the end of our morning game drive, not too far from a herd of elephants and surrounded by nature and the sounds of birds, the setting is truly dreamy.
Tanda Tula describes the food themselves as follows: “Old school traditional family favourites with a quirky flavour-full contemporary twist.” We found it hearty, extremely flavorful, and beautifully presented. Again, from the team at Tanda Tula: “At Tanda Tula, dining is more than a meal. It’s a celebration of togetherness, a moment to be fully present, and a way to honor life.
Every dish is explained with detail and passion, enhancing the dining experience. It isn’t just the dinners that are delicious. Lunch upon arrival is also a treat!
Wildlife Encounters and Ethical Game Drives
Of course, if you are on safari, you want to see animals! And at Tanda Tula, you have the opportunity to see the Big Five. Timbavati is a premier Big Five wildlife destination, featuring lion, leopard, elephant, huge breeding buffalo herds, rhino, as well as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, hyena and the occasional cheetah or wild dog. There are naturally occurring white lions on the reserve, and these may be spotted sporadically. The white lions display a recessive, color inhibiting gene.
Two-a-day game drives with a maximum of six people means you have the rangers, ostensibly, to yourself, and if you see or hear something, they follow. There's a great chance you'll see the Big 5, along with wildebeest and perhaps a wild dog. You can also go on a guided safari walk after breakfast.
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Tanda Tula conducts its game drives with high ethical considerations and with conservation always at the forefront. This is the kind of lodge guests from around the world should be supporting as we all strive to preserve the wildlife we love so much. The guides are exceptional, experts in their field, and to learn from them as they guide you through the bush, is such a privilege. They are able to take the game drive experience to another level with their insights and hospitality.
What we love about Tanda Tula and Timbavati is that there is are only 1-4 vehicles allowed at a sighting (depending on the sighting) giving guests more time to view the animal and of course creating less stress on the animal as well. Another benefit in this area is that Timbavati has a low lodge density and therefore there is not a lot of traffic around and the experience is a much more exclusive one.
One last thing to mention is the new game viewing vehicles at Tanda Tula are extraordinary! 2 outrageously comfortable seats per row (6 guests max on a vehicle) with a pair of binoculars to share per row, and personalized water bottles make drives about as comfortable as if you were sitting in your arm chair in your living room back home.
Bush walks provide an immersive and intimate way to experience the African wilderness. These guided walks, led by highly trained and knowledgeable rangers, offer guests the chance to explore the untamed beauty of the Timbavati Game Reserve on foot. You will learn about the unique flora and fauna, survival strategies of various species, and traditional uses of plants. The rangers also share insights into animal tracking techniques, providing an educational and thrilling perspective of the wild.
Birding enthusiasts at Tanda Tula are in for a treat, as the lodge is nestled in an area teeming with avian diversity. The Timbavati Game Reserve offers a wide variety of bird species, making it a premier destination for birdwatching. Guests can spot an impressive array of both resident and migratory birds throughout the year.
After the sun sets and the African sky transforms into a blanket of twinkling stars, Tanda Tula offers exceptional stargazing opportunities.
Facilities and Activities
In addition to your own individual plunge pools, there is also a communal infinity pool with the best views! A mere stone’s throw away lies a watering hole that attracts elephants, giraffes, impalas, and all manner of animals. But it isn’t just the pool that has this view. The gym and SPA also back onto the watering hole.
Most impressive for us was the gym and spa, very conveniently located right next to the waterhole where there are almost always some elephants splashing about. It’s impossible to beat a view like that whilst you exercise or enjoy a relaxing massage watching nature unfold outside. There is also a hide called The Bird Nest next to the waterhole where guests can relax, or even have a meal set up, and watch the activity at the waterhole up close.
The inviting swimming pool and deck also face the waterhole as guests can relax, cocktail in hand, and appreciate the beauty of the wildlife in front of them. And the facilities don’t stop there. Tanda Tula also has a library, wine cellar, a wonderful bar (human waterhole) and lounge area, and beautiful viewing deck overlooking the riverbed below. There are many options for filling your time between meals and drives and we even found some more active guests going for a run through the bush as a guide followed them in a vehicle for protection.
Commitment to Conservation and Community
Tanda Tula is part of a group of lodges focused on supporting a hyper-local supply chain that supports community businesses. The Tanda Tula Foundation embodies the lodge’s commitment to conservation and community upliftment. Additionally, the Tanda Tula Foundation champions wildlife conservation through projects that promote environmental awareness and protect the area’s rich biodiversity.
Tanda Tula Safari Camp has been one of the key benefactors of Save the Elephants-South Africa, since the camp was built in 2003. They are also highly involved in the community, and one of many projects is the Friends of Tintswalo Hospital project.
Location and Accessibility
Tanda Tula has two camps-Safari and Field-within the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, on the border of Kruger National Park in South Africa. There are driving directions from Johannesburg or Pretoria, or you can fly SA Express into the closest airport, Hoedspruit (East Gate Airport), a 45-minute drive from camp. Tanda Tula can help with transfers.
Pricing
At today's exchange rate, about US$1,290 a night, single occupancy, or US$1,719 double.
Wildlife Sightings Chart
Kruger National Park is a quintessential wildlife destination, featuring the Big Five and other big cats and large mammals. The below chart helps to illustrate major wildlife sightings often experienced in the area. Other typical sightings may include warthogs, baboons and a number of other mammals, birds and reptiles.
| Animal | Likelihood of Sighting | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lion | High | Timbavati is known for its lion population, including rare white lions. |
| Leopard | Moderate | Requires patience and tracking skills. |
| Elephant | High | Often seen at the watering hole near the camp. |
| Buffalo | High | Large breeding herds are common. |
| Rhino | Moderate | Requires skilled tracking. |
| Giraffe | Common | Easily spotted during game drives. |
| Zebra | Common | Often seen grazing in open areas. |
| Hyena | Common | Frequently heard and occasionally seen. |
| Wild Dog | Rare | Sightings are less frequent but possible. |
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