Shindzela Tented Safari Camp

Shindzela Tented Safari Camp is an authentic tented bush camp constructed from wood and canvas. It is located within the Timbavati Private Game Reserve, which forms part of the greater Kruger National Park in South Africa. The camp offers guests an affordable wildlife safari experience, where they can explore the African wilderness on game drives in open safari vehicles and on foot during bush walks. Safari activities are led by professional and knowledgeable safari guides.

The camp has an informal and relaxed atmosphere, characterized by warm African hospitality. It operates without modern conveniences such as electricity, television, and cell phones, instead relying on solar power, gas, and candles. This allows guests to immerse themselves fully in the African wilderness. The camp accommodates only 12 guests at a time and offers both walking safaris and game drives in open vehicles.

The Timbavati Reserve is home to a diverse array of mammal species, including Africa's Big Five animals: lion, leopard, rhinoceros, buffalo, and elephant. Visitors may also encounter hyenas, jackals, giraffes, hippos, wild dogs, zebras, kudus, impalas, and over 350 bird species. The Reserve is open to the Kruger National Park, providing animals with a vast expanse of wilderness in which to roam freely, without fences.

Game viewing activities take place in the early mornings and late afternoons, when most animals are active. Night game drives with spotlights allow guests to observe nocturnal animals such as bush babies, civets, genets, African wild cats, and porcupines. Walking safaris led by experienced armed trails guides typically last between 2 and 3 hours, with a maximum of 8 guests per trail.

Accommodation at Shindzela consists of twin or double safari canvas tents set on wooden platforms. Tents feature wooden entrance doors, adjustable canvas flaps for windows, mesh to keep insects out, and thatched roofs with porches designed to keep the tents cool in summer. Tents are equipped with solar lighting, bedding, and towels, and have private bathrooms made from reeds, wood, and canvas, with showers, hand basins, and flush toilets.

The camp's general area includes a covered dining area, swimming pool, kitchen, and central African fireplace, providing a perfect spot for guests to relive their safari experiences around the fire. The camp is owner-managed and operates an honesty bar where guests can help themselves to drinks and record their consumption on a bar tab sheet.

As a private concession within the Timbavati Reserve, Shindzela offers guests several advantages, including being the sole safari operator in the concession area, allowing for unrestricted opportunities for animal sightings and the ability to offer true walking safaris in a Big Five Reserve without fences. Guides can also drive off-road in search of predators or unusual sightings and stay out later on activities, including night drives.

While Shindzela makes efforts to seek out the Big Five animals, the focus is on appreciating the entire safari environment, including animal behavior, habitat, trees, insects, plant life, and other game species. Shindzela prides itself on offering true walking safaris led by armed guides and expert trackers, as well as providing a comfortable yet simple camp experience with excellent guiding and warm hospitality.