Name: Shindzela Tented Safari Camp
Address: 1 Jonniesdale Farm, Timbavati, Timbavati, Timbavati, 1360, South Africa
Rating: 10

24-hour reception

Smoking areas

Smoke-free property

Gift shop

Express check-in/check-out

Garden

Terrace

Private check-in/check-out

Outdoor furniture

No elevators

General

Non-smoking rooms

Shower/Bathtub

Shower

Linens

Mosquito net

Toiletries

Rooms

Laundry

Safe-deposit box

Services and amenities

Diet menu (on request)

Breakfast

Restaurant

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet access

Internet

Airport transportation

Transfer

English

Languages Spoken

Library

Sun Deck

Recreation

Parking

Swimming pool

Outdoor pool

Beach/pool towels

Pool and beach

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Location

At the hotel

Room amenities

Hoedspruit Airport

Londolozi Airport

Phalaborwa Airport

Shindzela Tented Safari Camp

Timbavati

We stayed 4 nights at Shindzela and enjoyed our time there.  Everything was quite informal, with a large open communal area with plenty of seating, always someone around to get your drinks from the bar and dining at a table with the people from your vehicle.  Weather permitting, dinner was served in the boma and we ate there 2 of the 4 nights.  A choice wasn’t offered for lunch so it’s take-it-or-leave-it but there were a couple of options for dinner; you chose your dinner and breakfast options at lunch and pre-dinner respectively. 
The tents were comfortable, the bathroom huge, the bed cosy.  It was cold during our stay in June and they did place hot water bottles in the bed, very welcome, and the duvet was lovely.  There was a wake-up call half an hour before the morning game drive, with hot drinks and rusks in the main area prior.
Drives with Ruben and Oxide were an adventure.  This is our first time in Timbavati so the traverse was all new to us and there were some eye-openers.  Much thanks to Oxide for spending time with us during phuza stops to brush-up our track-and-sign.  Loved that there were so many hyenas around and I couldn’t get my head round the lion prides’ dynamics.  Sadly we didn’t get to see any wild dogs, apart from the denning up north they must have been across the road in the Klaserie as we subsequently saw them a few times in the following days on that side.  Our highlights were probably the white lion (after the water-hole excitement before the morning drive) and then the young male lions stalking and making a run for the buffalo, that was an adrenalin rush and a huge sigh of relief from me that they missed that time!
Andries was a great host at the camp.  The ‘shop’ had a better variety of items than a lot of places we have been and we bought a few things (the beanie/neck-warmer was worth every penny on the cold morning drives).
We’ve already booked our return for next year so it must have been good!


Everything that you want!

Another exceptional experience at Shindzela! Sam and Oxide were an incredible team. Love this basic camp as it feels like "home" - comfortable and laid back with awesome game viewing. This was my fourth trip here and it never disappoints. They continue to improve - this time there was electricity in the tents and they added cubicles in the common area for charging all of your devices. Love the hot water bottles in bed and on morning game drives! Well run camp with amazing and passionate staff. Can't wait to return!

Exceptional experience

We loved our experience at Shindzela. The concept of being in a group and having a guide who hosts you for your stay was really special. Seeing 4 of the big 5 within 24 hours was also fantastic! Every meal was delicious and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay!

Beautiful 2 nights stay at this incredible lodge

Fantastic camp nestled in the heart of the wilderness. Game viewing was fantastic with hundreds of buffalos, elephants and general game - plus the exciting additions of lions, leopard and hyena. Every day was an adventure made all the more informative and personable with the expert guidance and tracking of Ruben and Oxide who we were blessed to have leading us on game drives.

For the price, you can't get any better. Food is good, the accommodation is the perfect mix of African rustic whilst being extremely comfortable and well maintained - any stay here will result in big smiles and full memory cards. Looking forward to visiting again!

A Great Discovery

I think the trip advisor rating speaks for itself. What a place!! The whole location is just exciting and thrilling. The luxury tents are just fabulous. The waterhole is in a perfect location for seeing animals so clearly. The game drives are professional and exciting without putting you in danger. The 2 guides we had, Sam and Ruben were so brilliant. Both very different, but both as fabulous as each other. Johan also deserves a mention as he was great too. Andries the host was always ensuring everything was going well. Shindzela honestly exceeds with their Guides and game drives. We stayed 4 nights and guests were always changing, so the dynamic was ever evolving. All seated around 2 big tables, conversations were great fun.  A hot drink and muffin were welcome in the cold mornings out on the drive and the sundowner so much fun also out on the evening drive. We were lucky enough to see the big 5 within 2 days! What a treat. The waterhole delivered superbly on our last day as a herd of elephants came to the waterhole and then down into the dry riverbed meters away from us. Our only advice is to take layers because we were much colder on the drives than we thought we would be! Oh and we had lovely hot water bottles waiting in our beds at night!!

50th birthday treat! And what a treat it was!

We started our tour with the Sindzela Tented Camp and we liked the nature experience. Overall, my stay at the lodge was great and we especially enjoyed the game-drives  with bush-picnics in the morning and afternoon. 
The lodge is situated in Nature Park and has an electric fence around it. It´s surrounded by wilderness and abundant wildlife and the accommodations / tents were spacious, basic and clean. The bed was equipped with a moskito net around and of a great quality were I felt very confortable. Also facilities for relaxation are offered, such as a swimming pool. All your devices are loaded at the reception centrally. The highlight of our stay was undoubtedly the wildlife experience with knowledgeable and experienced guides took us on thrilling game drives and we had the opportunity to see a wide range of animals in their natural habitat. The encounters with elephants, a lion, hyenas, and other magnificent creatures were truly unforgettable. The dining experience at the lodge was good, from my POV plates are a bit quickly taken off the table and not as hot I am used to.  In conclusion, my stay at Shindzela was an extraordinary experience and a truly memorable stay. I would highly recommend the lodge to anyone seeking a unique and unforgettable safari experience with a reasonable pricing.

Cozy Private Game Reserve with great wildlife

We spent a total of 7 nights in Kruger National Park: 5 nights self-driven around various camps and finished with 2 nights at Shindzela Tented Camp. What can I say... wow!

First off, the staff are fantastic. Staff are always happy to help, are very attentive and always making sure you have everything you need for your stay. Food was also excellent and it was a nice touch for the chef to come out every time just before food was served (usually kitchen staff are hidden behind the scenes).

The Shindzela setting overlooks a beautiful scene in the African bush. The tents give a really cosy feeling in the evening and the bed is very comfy.  There is a small water hole that is within viewing distance of the camp, and is illuminated in the evening so animals can be seen drinking at night. 

The game drives are amazing. There is a three-hour game drive at both 06:00 and 16:00 each day, so you get to see the best of the animals at dusk, dawn and nightfall. Sam was an amazing guide for the entre time we were there and Edward was also a great tracker for all our drives. We managed to see the 'Big 5' in just two drives (Leopard/Buffalo/Elephants/Lions on evening drive #1 and then the elusive Rhino on evening drive #2!). The guides are able to go off-road and get extremely close to animals, which is something we could not do in our own drives in Kruger. You also have short breaks during the game drives, allowing you to exit the safari vehicle in the bush and have a drink (of your choice) with the guide/tracker. 

I must say there is a big difference between doing self-drives in Kruger Park and a private safari within Timbavati; there is certainly a lot more quality in the private game drives that Shindzela offers. 

10/10, we would highly recommend. We hope to be back within the next couple of years!

Fantastic experience 10/10

What an incredible experience in these luxurious tents in the middle of the savannah. The atmosphere was very nice especially during the meals that we shared around a big table all together. The guides were great, they shared their experience with us and taught us many things. 

A fabulous experience

My husband and I (in our early 30's) stayed at Shindzela Tented Camp from November 21 - 25, 2022. We were looking for a safari experience without breaking the bank, and since we were coming from America to Africa, we wanted to also be more immersed in and connected to the wild. 

Shindzela was amazing - the tents were not "tents" but lovely small hut platforms, with a bathroom attached. The mosquito netting looked lovely around the bed, and there was even room to put our clothes and hang up our coats, etc. It was such a small place, I think max of 16 guests or so, and the main lounge/dinner area was only a very short walk away. The housekeeping staff cleaned up during the morning drive as well. 

It was very hot most of the time we were there - 100 degree F and over sometimes - so the pool was a nice cool off. There was one cooler morning which was nice (the trucks have little blankets, but dress warmly!) This experience was very chill in between game drives - they left you alone, there weren't scheduled activities other than the morning and evening game drives, and the meals. It allowed us to rest and experience the camp without feeling like we needed to be "busy" all the time.

This was our first safari, and our guide Sam & tracker Caswell were both incredibly knowledgeable, kind and patient. We saw the Big 5 while we were here - and they made sure that we were able to see a Leopard on our last drive. The 4x4 trucks without covers allowed for us to have a clear view around us. They track the animals and are extremely educated and familiar with the area. We typically went out for 2-3 hours in the morning, and the same in the evening. The wake up call, while early, wasn't so hard when you were excited about what was to come that day. 

The food was also amazing - they took into consideration any allergies, and provided a lot of great options. It was great to try new types of food and share a meal with everyone. We also typically had a couple of glasses of wine at dinner, but you could get anything you wanted at the bar. 

The camp is fenced, although it didn't used to be. However, the fence is very low to the ground and hard to see, and honestly made us feel safer knowing we weren't going to have hyenas or leopards roaming right next to the tent. There was a beautiful watering hole where elephants would come to during the day, which you could see from the pool. 

Shindzela was an amazing experience and we will never forget our trip there. To be able to go and immerse ourselves in the bush would have only been possible for us at a place like Shindzela who offered this experience at a price point that was reasonable for us, especially considering the extremely pricey surrounding camps. 

We can't wait to go back!

Chill, Affordable, Welcoming & Amazing African Adventure

An outstanding safari. Exactly what my family needed after a long year. Our guide Johan was a genius. This camp is perfect for a family with young teenagers. Not over-the-top glam but just the spot for a family wanting an authentic safari experience. I highly recommend. 

Shindzela Tented Safari Camp

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