WHY YOU’D LOVE IT!
South Africa Cape Buffalo hunt & photo safari combo!
Hunt in the game-rich North-West province, home to the infamous Cape Buffalo and a long list of top-quality plains game species.
When it comes to observing and encountering wildlife, Timbavati Game Reserve stands out as unparalleled. Housing the renowned ‘Magnificent 7,’ consisting of the lion, leopard (with a substantial population in the Timbavati Reserve), elephant, rhino, African wild dog, buffalo, and cheetah, Timbavati Game Reserve has firmly positioned itself as a premier destination for African wildlife and Big 5 safaris. It is highly coveted by both local and international wildlife enthusiasts, solidifying its status as a top-choice safari destination in
A truly astonishing safari adventure, filled with magical experiences that you won’t find anywhere else in the world!
OVERVIEW
Itinerary at a glance
◽️ DAY 10 | Travel
Departure
◽️ DAY 1 | South Africa
Johannesburg arrival
◽️ DAY 2-8 | South Africa
Cape Buffalo Hunting
◽️ DAY 9-11 | South Africa
Timbavati G/Reserve
◽️ DAY 12 | Return
Departure
MAP
MAP
Visualize your journey!
DAY 0 | May 8, 2025
DEPARTURE
Travel
DEPARTURE
Your adventure starts now!
Embark on an African safari and anticipate breathtaking landscapes, encountering diverse and majestic wildlife in their natural habitats, and immersing yourself in the rich cultural experiences of the continent.
* See your safari itinerary for transfer logistics
DAY 1 | May 9, 2025
JOHANNESBURG
Overnight
📍 African Sky Boutique Hotel
AFRICAN SKY HOTEL
Guest House Overview
Dinner & Breakfast (drinks excl.) | Wifi available | No Laundy service
Welcome to South Africa! Johannesburg (JNB / OR Tambo) Airport arrival with meet & greet service.
Your arrival night overnight accommodation: AfricaSky Boutique Hotel is conveniently located only 10 minutes from Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International airport. A short drive will have you arriving at an oasis, rooms beautifully appointed and nestled in a peaceful lush garden. Enjoy dinner, bed & breakfast all on-site. True African hospitality and service excellence.
Just look out towards the information desk located in the arrivals hall for your pick-up with your name on it. 10 Minute road transfer to your overnight accommodation.
DINNER, B&B
GUEST HOUSE
OVERNIGHT
DAY 13 | Dates to be updated
HUNTING
Plains Game hunt
📍 North-West Camp
NORTH-WEST CAMP
Overview
Cape Buffalo hunting take place in the Malaria free North West province of South Africa, between the small towns of Schweizer-Reneke and Vryburg.Driving time from Johannesburg is approximately 4 hours.
Proud home of Buffalo, Sable, Roan, Tsessebe, Eland as well as 45 other wildlife species. Also rich in birdlife and indigenous flora, making it a hunting, photography and safari paradise.
Hunting days
A typical day of hunting begins by waking up before sunrise and gathering for breakfast and coffee. Following this, the hunting party leaves the camp in vehicles to engage in spotting and stalking for the day. The hunting activity continues until mid-day, at which point everyone returns to the lodge for lunch and a break.
After a brief rest or siesta, the afternoon hunt commences. For those exploring remote areas, packing a lunch is likely. At the end of a successful day of hunting, participants convene at the campfire to share their experiences. A delightful dinner is served once all hunters have returned, and many choose to unwind by the fireplace with post-dinner drinks before retiring for the night in preparation for the next day's hunt.
Accommodation
Luxury accommodation, 5 star catering and epic Africa sunsets! Welcome!
The bushveld with its scattered thorn trees and shrubs will make your African safari dreams come true…bring your family and friends and let's give them a hunt of a lifetime. Whether you choose to lounge by the pool area with a drink in hand after a successful hunting day or sit by the fire at the boma and exchange stories with fellow hunters, is totally up to you. The exclusive luxury safari lodge will serve as an awesome African destination with a homely atmosphere. Two chefs that prepare and serve world class cuisine of your choice. Furthermore, the lodge feature 8 air-conditioned rooms, Wi-Fi, satellite TV, a lookout Lapa with boma and a large fire pit, a beautiful swimming pool with sundeck, indoor fireplaces and lounging areas as well as a Gym, Spa and an indoor man-cave with bar and snooker (pool) table. A place where we aim to amaze! Africa awaits you!
FULL BOARD
LODGE
HUNT
DAY 12 | Dates to be updated
TIMBAVATI GAME RESERVE
Safari days
📍Bateleur Safari Camp
TIMBAVATI GAME RESERVE
Area Overview
Positioned to the west of Kruger and north of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.This private game reserve (adjacent to Kruger) has over 40 mammals roaming freely. Covering 75.000 hectares of bush, you will experience a more intimate and personal affair with wildlife than anywhere else.
Timbavati Game Reserve is renowned for the presence of the rare white lion. A colored coat, ice blue eyes; their beauty is captivating. Although born with a snow-white coat, white lions are not albinos; it is the result of a rare colour mutation. White lions are indigenous to the Timbavati Game Reserve and the earliest records of sighting them in this region date from 1938. Luckily, their coloration doesn’t appear to be of disadvantage when it comes to survival. The Global White Lion Protection Trust (GWLPT) reintroduced white lions into their natural habitat in 2009, and they have been hunting and breeding successfully ever since.
Safari Activities
Each day on safari in Africa is a magical experience, whether you’re exploring the savanna on foot or in a 4x4 vehicle in search of the Big 5 or taking to the sky in a hot-air balloon to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration. Every single day is steeped in the promise of a unique adventure and cherished memories.
Although each day is unpredictable to a certain extent, based on the time of year or location, there is a general format or schedule that safaris tend to follow, but, as a rule, safaris do follow a familiar rhythm that combines thrilling game viewing with ample time to relax in between—a dream vacation in anyone’s book. One rule of thumb is that there are usually two game drives a day: one in the early morning and one in the late afternoon, when animals are at their most active.
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BATELEUR SAFARI CAMP
Lodge Overview
Bateleur spans across 10,000 hectares within the Timbavati Reserve, with all man-made barriers removed between Timbavati and Kruger National Park. The Bateleur Safari Camp, situated on an exclusive 3,500-hectare property at the heart of the renowned Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, offers a luxurious 16-bed safari experience. Its strategic location and unfenced borders with Kruger ensure unparalleled wildlife and bird sightings in the Greater Kruger Park. The camp goes beyond expectations with top-notch accommodation, guided activities, bushcraft, and a variety of included and optional extras.
In this pristine wilderness, you'll encounter the Big Five, a rich variety of antelope, a full spectrum of smaller predators, over 500 bird species, and an extensive array of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
FULL BOARD
TENTED CAMP
GAME VIEW
DAY 14 | Dates t be updated
RETURN
DEPARTURE
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end! Goodbye to the safari life, feeling relaxed, mesmerizing scenery, great food, family time, and romantic memories.
Morning road transfer back to the airport for your outbound flight... dreaming of the trip of a lifetime!
SAFARI COST
Click button below to DOWNLOAD the PDF
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*pps=per person sharing
Minimum of 2 pax traveling
SAFARI DATES & DETAILS
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* Always check the document date and refer to the latest version
◽️ Preparing for your trip
PREPARING FOR YOUR SAFARI
Pre-Travel Information
Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date of your arrangements and have a minimum of three blank visa pages excluding endorsement pages. Travellng with minors - in addition to having a valid passport and valid visa (if applicable), children under the age of 18, traveling through Botswana’s borders, must be in possession of a certified copy of their unabridged birth certificate (one that shows the particulars of a minor and those of both parents). A child under the age of 18 traveling to Botswana and/or South Africa with just one parent must carry an affidavit signed by the other parent consenting to such travel. Failure to produce the necessary documentation may result in travelers being turned away at port of entry. Insider Tips Zimbabwe and Mozambique visas each use up a full passport page. If you are visiting both countries we recommend a minimum of four blank pages. Post Covid passport renewals are taking much longer than in the past so don’t leave applying for a new passport until the last moment as there iust a chance you won’t receive it in time to travel. Keeping your passport safe is key as there is nothing worse than having to spend precious holiday time replacing it. Make at least two copies of the ID page of your passport, visa (if obtained in advance of travel), Covid-19 vaccine passport, travel itinerary, travel insurance, credit cards and any other travel documentation. One copy can be an image scan and the other a hard copy which you can give to a family member, business associate or close friend for safekeeping When it comes to health risks and medical precautions, Machaba Blue is only able to offer limited advice as outlined below. Those with underlying chronic conditions should ideally seek medical advice prior to planning their journey. Prior to traveling to Africa, we highly recommend you visit a medical professional such as your GP or local travel clinic for advice on what health precautions need to be taken. This visit should take place at least 4-8 weeks prior to departure as it will determine the need for any vaccinations and/or antimalarial medication as well as identifying any other medical precautions. Currently no mandatory vaccinations are required when entering Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. Please check if this is still the case when visiting your GP or travel clinic. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required by visitors coming from a country where yellow fever occurs, or if they have been in transit for more than 12 hours at an airport in a country here yellow fever occurs. Malaria is present throughout southern Africa and in certain areas of South Africa. Insider Tips INCLUDED ____________ * As indicated on your detailed safari itinerary EXCLUDED ____________ * Unless otherwise indicated on your itineraryPASSPORTS
HEALTH
VISAS
GRATUITIES
PACKING LIST
BAGGAGE
TRAVEL INSURANCE
SAFETY GUIDELINES
INCLUDED & EXCLUDED
GORILLA TREK PACKING LIST SUGGESTION
Kindly note that the packing list below is just a mere guideline as you may have your own preferences
- 1-2 long sleeved shirts
- 3 short sleeved t-shirts
- 2 –3 pairs of light weight slacks/trousers – that can dry quickly (if wearing on treks)
- 1 pair of shorts
- 1 sweater or sweatshirt
- A waterproof and windproof jacket
- 1 skirt ( for women)
- Gloves – gardening or similar (for gorilla trekking)
- Strong waterproof walking boots – pants should be tucked into socks and boots while trekking
- (heavy soled rain boots also work well)
- Pair of sports sandals like Tevas
- Hat-wide brim or with a visor for sun protection
- Sleepwear
- Underwear
- Lightweight wool socks
- Swimsuit (and a plastic bag)
Miscellaneous
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses with neck strap
- Insect repellent with DEET
- Small day pack
- Flashlight
- Binoculars
- Extra batteries
- Camera and extra lenses
- Film particularly fast film for the gorillas.
- Personal toiletries
- Prescription medicines and possibly prescription itself
First Aid Kit including rehydration sachets, anti-diarrhea medicine, aspirin, cold medication, antiseptic cream, band-aids, motion sickness pills, lip balm, eye drops and personal medication.
PAPERWORK
PASSPORTS
- Email or Whatsapp a clear color copy of your passport
- Expiration date valid at least 6 months past return dates
- Please check the number of blank Visa pages required by each country
CONTRACT
- Download the Safari Contract
- Take a picture with your phone of the first & last page and email back
- A signed APPENDIX C / Indemnity is required for each person going on the safari. Click here to print more copies if needed)
GUEST INFORMATION
- Download the Safari Guest Information sheet
- Fill out for each person going on the safari
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Email back to Africa Photo Safaris