Situated to the east of the town of Hoedspruit, the Timbavati Reserve extends for an impressive 500 square kilometres and offers an option to the Sabi Sand Reserve further south. Timbavati gained fame through the presence of white lions, but that is long since.

There are no fences between Timbavati and Kruger National Park, allowing the animals to move freely between Kruger National Park and the private nature reserve.

The journey is often made via Hoedspruit, with national flights coming from Cape Town and Johannesburg, followed by a relatively short drive to the reserve. Small planes connect the Timbavati Lodges with the Sabi Sand Reserve. A drive is possible too, taking approximately 3 hours.

Wildlife sightings in the Timbavati Reserve are very good, but maybe not as reliable as in the Sabi Sand Reserve. Having said that, the lodges in the Timbavati Reserve are usually quite a bit less costly than the camps in the Sabi Sand Reserve.