South Africa is renowned for its safari offerings; there are few things better than experiencing the thrill of the wild up close and personal.

In South Africa, safari lodge accommodation doesn't get much better than it does at Umlani Bushcamp. Umlani is set in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, which forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park. Due to its amazing location a South Africa safari from this lodge is absolutely fantastic. 

Umlani is renowned for their outstanding Shangaan rangers and trackers, who will not only find you the game, but will also introduce you to the wealth of flora, fauna, bird life and cultural heritage of the region.

During the day you can go on short walks with the ranger after breakfast, or lounge in the double hammocks around the swimming pool sipping your favourite drink. Alternatively, laze away the day in our spacious bush bar and deck overlooking the riverbed and watering hole.

In the evening you will be treated to pre dinner drinks in the traditional boma around the fire, followed by one of Umlani's award winning meals in the candle lit dining room, or out in the open riverbed surrounded by flares and cauldron fires.

• The direct route when driving to Umlani Bushcamp in the Kruger National Park from Gauteng will take safari travellers approximately 5 hours.
• If driving to Umlani Bushcamp from Pretoria, take the N4 from Pretoria to Witbank, which then joins the N12 from Johannesburg at Witbank.
• If driving to Umlani Bushcamp from Johannesburg, take the N12 from Johannesburg to Witbank, which then joins the N4 from Pretoria at Witbank.
• Go past Witbank and Middelburg on the N4 (main route to Nelspruit and Maputo).
• After Middelburg take the Belfast turnoff off the N4 (there is an Engen One Stop on the RHS of the N4 just after the offramp).
• Turn left from the offramp and go into Belfast.
• Go through 1 stop sign before going into town.
• At the second stop sign in town (1 block after the Spar shop on the LHS), turn right towards Dullstroom.
• Go about 35km from Belfast to Dullstroom.
• Continue straight through Dullstroom to Lydenburg (approximately 50km from Dullstroom).
• On reaching Lydenburg, you will come to a T-junction where you need to turn left to go through town.
• Go straight through town, past the Wimpy on the left.
• At the next stop sign after the Wimpy turn left.
• Go down to the second stop sign. At the second stop sign turn right toward Ohrigstad.
• Go about 50km from Lydenburg to Ohrigstad.
• Go straight through Ohrigstad and continue on to the JG Strijdom Tunnel via the Abel Erasmus Pass (approximately 40km from Ohrigstad).
• After the Tunnel continue straight on to Hoedspruit (approximately 40km from the tunnel).
• On entering Hoedspruit, go straight over the first stop sign, straight at the second stop sign, over the railway bridge and at the third stop sign turn right.
• Travel for approximately 7km from Hoedspruit and you will see a number of signs for lodges, as well as a sign for Eastgate Airport, to the left.
• Turn left towards Eastgate Airport, and you are on the road into the Timbavati Nature Reserve.
• Travel 19km on tar and cross the Klaserie river, where the road becomes a dirt road.
• Continue for 10km on the dirt road and you will reach the Timbavati Control Gate. Please drive carefully.
• You will need to pay R80 for vehicle entry into the reserve and R100 per guest conservation levy. (Subject to change)
• After the Control Gate, travel past one turning to the right (with a large stone and concrete sign-post, like in the Kruger Park, indicating the direction to various camps).
• Turn right at the second turning to the right (again, there is a large stone and concrete sign-post, like in the Kruger Park, with Umlani indicated at the top of this sign-post).
• After about 30m, there is a Y-fork in the road, with a wooden sign to Umlani. Follow the left hand fork (the one which goes almost straight ahead).
• From here, follow the wooden signs to Umlani, and these will lead you straight into the camp.

Panorama Route

Driving to Umlani Bushcamp via the Panorama Route is a scenic pleasure. A wonderful self-drive holiday route the Panorama route encompasses Pilgrim's Rest, God's Window, Blyde River Canyon, Mac Mac Falls and other wonderful places. This trip is well worthwhile, taking in spectacular scenery as well as some quaint towns and villages. Driving to Umlani Bushcamp via this route adds about 3 hours onto your travelling time, but the scenery is so spectacular that it is well worth it. Contact us for details. 

Transport with Driver

Driving to Umlani Bushcamp from Johannesburg International Airport is easy. We can arrange your transportation to the bush camp via the Panorama Route, with lunch on the way. Contact us for details.

Self-Drive Safari Car Hire

Where possible, we will assist in booking a hire car for your self-drive safari. Hire cars can be collected at an airport by arrangement.

Flying to Umlani Bushcamp
Daily (scheduled) Flight

Fly-in safaris are extremely popular amongst those who don't have as much time as they would like or need to spend on their South African safari. Flying to Umlani Bushcamp is easy as SA Express runs two daily return flights to Eastgate Airport (formally Hoedspruit) from Johannesburg every day, Monday to Sunday. For guests flying to Umlani Bushcamp to and from Cape Town, the nearest direct flight will be to Nelspruit (MQP airport), two and a half hours drive from Umlani. Transfers from Eastgate and MQP Airport to Umlani Bushcamp are available. Contact us for details on fly-in safari options.

Charters

There are several air charter companies who service the area. If you would like us to help you with arrangements for flying to Umlani Bushcamp, please contact our reservations office.

Our nearest landing strip is the Kings Camp / Tanda Tula airstrip, which is at the following GPS co-ordinates:
S 024° 17' 824" x E 031° 17' 197"
The runway is tarred and is 1000m in length. Landing fees are payable and permission must be obtained first!

We can collect you from the airstrip