South Africa

Location: Timbavati Game Reserve

Umlani Bushcamp is an authentic African game lodge located in the Timbavati Game Reserve, one of the oldest private nature reserves adjoining the Kruger National Park.
Timbavati Game Reserve is situated on the Western boundary of the Kruger National Park and lies between the Klaserie, Umbabat, Manyeleti and Sabie Sands Reserves. In recent years, the fences separating Timbavati private game park from the Kruger National Park were dropped, thus forming a pristine wilderness area of approximately four million hectares.

Accommodation

This authentic African safari camp is the ultimate experience of true wilderness and seclusion, accommodating only 16 guests in traditional African reed and thatch huts. Umlani's philosophy of simplistic luxury and 'getting back to nature' is enhanced by the romance of operating without electricity. Enjoy the warm atmosphere of candlelight and oil lamps as well as open-air bush showers fuelled by wood fires. The accommodation offers you all the privacy and superior comfort you need for uninterrupted relaxation. Umlani's award winning cuisine will take you on a gastronomic tour of African styled food.

Eco Policies

Eco-Design - Umlani Bush Camp has been designed to blend in with nature, with the entire bushcamp built out of natural materials in a traditional African style. Umlani's traditional African reed and thatch huts will not only provide you with all the comforts you need, but will also provide you with an authentic experience of local tribal (Shangaan) architecture and style, which blends in naturally with the environment.

Energy – Umlani Bush Camp operates without electricity. The entire camp is lit by candle light and oil lamps and open-air bush showers are fuelled by wood fires made from dead wood collected from the Reserve or, when available, truck loads of dead wood purchased from bush clearing operations in neighbouring areas.

Ecological sustainability – Umlani recycle aluminum tins, glass bottles and plastic. Paper and cardboards, along with any other flammable waste, are used to help create hot water.
Run-off from the shower and sinks feeds straight back into the garden and into the natural eco-system and guests are encouraged not to have towels laundered every day or to have their sheets changed daily, to preserve water.
Locally grown produce is purchased from local buyers/suppliers.

Community – Umlani are registered for Skills Development contributions and strive to develop the skills and talents of all their employees. All staff members are offered and encouraged to attain promotion within the organization. Two trackers have been promoted to the position of Ranger and one of the Housekeeping staff has been promoted to Chef. The present operations manager started at Umlani as a Tracker, was promoted to Ranger, then assistant manager and now to his current position. A survey undertaken by Umlani showed that each staff member supports an average of 8 people.
Staff living on-site are permitted partners to live with them – not an industry norm and a known means of combatting HIV infection. Staff are provided with medical care, including the right to consult a traditional healer. This is in line with the FTTSA principles of respect for human and cultural rights, as well as the environment.

Umlani has also developed a Youth Leadership programme at Welverdiend Village, where the majority of staff are based. The programme is linked to the Wildlife College and Umlani Bushcamp encourages learners to visit the lodge, where they are hosted, to obtain insight into environmental issues and finding out about eco-tourism career opportunities. Some learners become involved in job shadowing at the lodge. The tracker learnership programme forms part of a Timbavati-wide initiative to provide learning opportunities for local black youth. Plans are afoot for learners to rotate between the various lodges.

In addition, guests are informed of local cultures and customs and camp Manager, Formen Mathebula, has compiled a music CD which Umlani Bushcamp actively markets to guests.

Facilities

Umlani has a swimming pool, a tree house overlooking a water hole, bush walks and game drives. Other activities such as cultural village tours, hot air ballooning and micro light flights can be arranged.

Things To See And Do

Umlani Bushcamp offers an authentic wildlife experience in Big Five territory. View lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, in over 10,000 hectares (24,000 acres) of traversing area, also home to over 40 mammal species and 350 bird species.
Here you can experience game drives in open Land Rovers, guided bush walks and tracking game on foot with highly experienced rangers and trackers. 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.

You will be taken out on two game drives per day, in open top land rovers. The morning game drive will leave at dawn and the night drive will leave in the late afternoon. There is always a ranger on stand-by for an optional morning bush walk.

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 the 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.

Apart from the wildlife safari's there are some optional daytime activities outside of the Timbavati Game Reserve that are accessible from Umlani Bushcamp - these can be arranged by camp management. A transfer service can also be organised to and from the Umlani Bushcamp to any of the following activities:
- A one hour microlight flight over the Klaserie Big Five Reserve
- Mafunyane Shangaan Cultural Village
- Early Morning Balloon Safaris
- White Water Rafting Trips
- Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
- Monsoon Gallery and Curios Centre
- Horse Riding
- Ringetani Acornhoek Village Tour which includes tribal dancing, tasting of traditional African foods, visiting a Sangoma (Traditional healer), a traditional Shabeen and a local family. After which you will head back to the camp for the afternoon game drive.

Room Description

Each hut has en-suite facilities including an open-air bush shower fuelled by wood fires. The hut is comfortably fitted with white mosquito nets, crisp white linen and towels as well as with standard bathroom amenities, bottled water (although the tap water is perfectly safe to drink) and insect repellent. Umlani's philosophy of simplistic luxury and 'getting back to nature' is enhanced by the romance of operating without electricity, so each hut and the entire camp is lit by candle light and oil lamps, providing a warm and romantic atmosphere.
The camp can take a total of 16 guests. There are five double huts, two huts that sleep four people, and one hut that sleeps three people.

Prices & Booking Policies

Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)
Prices and inclusions: Prices are based on 2 or 3 adults sharing a reed and thatch hut range from ZAR1650-1815 (approx £110-120) per person per night in low season (May-July) and ZAR2250-2475 (approx £150-165) for the rest of the year. Prices for sole occupancy of a hut range from ZAR2310-2541 (approx £160-170) in low season and ZAR2950-3245 (approx £200-215) for the rest of the year.
Prices include 3 meals per day, 2 game drives, optional bush walk, all local brand drinks, government taxes and service charges. Rates do not include a conservation levy of ZAR100 per person, and vehicle permit of ZAR80 per vehicle (both subject to change), when entering the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. These fees are payable either in cash or by credit card.
Child prices: Infants aged 0-2 years old go free. A child aged 3-11 years old sharing a room with parents pays from ZAR825-908 (approx £60) per night in low season and ZAR1125-1238 (approx £82) per night in high season. A child aged 3-11 years old in a separate room pays ZAR1210-1331 (approx £90) per night in low season and ZAR1690-1859 (approx £125) in high season.
Extra adult prices: A third adult in a room pays the same price per night as the first 2 adults.
Special offers: Stays of 3 nights receive a discount on the price of the 3rd night and stays of 7 nights only pay for 6 (excluding stays from 1st May – 31st July).
Check-in / Check-out times: Check in time is midday (12:00), check out time is around 10:30am.
Opening dates: Umlani Bush Camp is open all year round. Bookings are currently being taken until 30th September 2009.
Restrictions: There are no minimum night restrictions.
Deposit: A 50% deposit is required for confirmation of all reservations and full pre-payment is required a month before arrival. To pay by credit card you will be sent a credit card authorization form to complete, once your room availability has been confirmed.
Cancellation policy: A cancellation fee of 10% of the full value of the booking will be levied on cancellations made 4 weeks or more prior to arrival. A cancellation fee of 25% of the full booking value will be levied on confirmed bookings cancelled 2 to 4 weeks before arrival. The full 50% deposit will be retained for cancellations of bookings within 2 weeks of arrival. The full booking payment will be forfeited on confirmed bookings cancelled within 5 days of arrival or not arriving without prior arrangement.
Payment methods: Any extras on-site can be paid be credit card on departure. No surcharge will be charged.

Getting There And Around

Driving to Umlani Bushcamp from Johannesburg International Airport is easy. Umlani can arrange your transportation to the bush camp via the Panorama Route, with lunch on the way. If you’d like details of this, please mention this on your booking notes. Umlani can also assist you in arranging a hire car, which can be collected at an airport by arrangment.

Fly-in safaris are extremely popular amongst those who don't have as much time as they would like to spend on their South African safari. Flying to Umlani Bushcamp is easy as SA Express runs one daily return flight to Eastgate Airport (formally Hoedspruit) from Johannesburg on weekdays, and two daily flights from Johannesburg on Saturdays and Sundays.
For guests flying to Umlani Bushcamp to and from Cape Town, there is one direct return SA Express flight to Eastgate Airport three times a week - on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Transfers from Eastgate Airport to Umlani Bushcamp are available. Ask for details in your booking notes.