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#3 of 12 lodges in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Kambaku Safari Lodge is nestled in the heart of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, which can be found within the world renowned Greater Kruger National Park.The camp is well situated in this unspoilt natural wilderness area, home to an astonishing array of animals including the Big 5. Kambaku provides the ultimate escape from busy schedules, with eight well appointed thatched chalets overlooking our own private waterhole.Attracting guests from around the world, Kambaku offers superior standards in all of our facilities yet always maintaining a high level of environmental consciousness. Our dedicated staff will cater to the individual needs of our guests making for a truly memorable stay. With scrumptious bush cuisine in a relaxed, rustic setting our guests can truly unwind and immerse themselves in the restorative powers of nature.
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Kambaku Safari Lodge is widely celebrated for its comfortable and pristine rooms, which boast both charm and stunning views, according to guest feedback. Many visitors describe the lodge as a tranquil retreat, praising the clean and intimate setting enhanced by the friendly and attentive staff.
The service at Kambaku earns rave reviews for its personalized touch, creating a warm, family-like environment. Reviewers are also impressed by the array of amenities, including a variety of activities and exceptional dining, all contributing to the lodge's reputation as a welcoming oasis.
Atmosphere
Welcoming
Rooms
Comfortable
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Outstanding
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Our experience at Kambaku was spectacular - we can't wait to return! The staff was so accommodating and you can tell that they are truly passionate about what it is they do. Every time we saw an animal our guide and tracker (Ryno and Moses) were just as excited as we were to see them. We were lucky to see the Big 5 in one day two times!
The food was nothing short of amazing, we had the chance to try authentic South African food and we were blown away! The lodge itself is beautiful and has a very homey feel to it; during our stay we saw an elephant, monkeys, and warthogs at the watering hole. The rooms do not have air conditioning, however they have overhead fans that work just fine.
The entire team at Kampaku is wonderful! Our only complaint was we had to leave!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2019
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicola Naude, General Manager at Kambaku Safari Lodge
Responded 09 Mar 2020
Thank you so much for the wonderful review - your complaint is noted! We will have to address in the future and really hope that we see you again one day ! We love hearing that it was a trip of a lifetime !
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We loved every minute of our stay at Kambaku! Tessa and Cathrine were warm and welcoming and were great hosts. Gideon and Eric led our game drives and it would be an understatement to say these two were just the best, most wonderful guides/trackers! They were so informative and accommodating of our many needs. They planned the most spectacular locations for our sunset drinks and truly made our trip just perfect. The lodge itself is beautiful and peaceful and you feel just like family there. The food was delicious, the rooms spotlessly clean, and they did such a great job making sure everyone felt at home that we were truly sad to leave. If we are fortunate enough to visit South Africa again, we will most certainly stay at Kambaku again.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Rooms
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicola Naude, General Manager at Kambaku Safari Lodge
Responded 09 Mar 2020
Thank you so much for taking the time to review your stay with us !We hope to see you again soon !
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We stayed for 4 days and went on Safari in a private reserve twice a day (early morning and late afternoon) for 3 or 4 hours each time. CF our Ranger & Guide and Stanley our Tracker were both superb, they were passionate and very knowledgeable and clearly loved their jobs, During our time there we saw the Big 5 up so close we could almost touch them. We saw White Rhinos for the first time, a pride of Lions with 6 cubs only a few weeks old, a leopard, two cheetahs. Wildebeest, a family of elephants, hyenas, warthogs, giraffes, zebras and many other animals and birds. Our Lodge was perfect and had a great shower, we had a clear view of the waterhole and saw lots of different animals taking a drink. Breakfast was excellent but dinner in the evening was well below my expectations and the bar was rarely staffed. My wife left her a camera in a drawer, I contacted Wayde who found it and sent it back in the post to us in the UK.
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Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: I made sure I had Afternoon Tea in case dinner wasn’t to my taste. Get to bed early as it is a...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicola Naude, Owner at Kambaku Safari Lodge
Responded 19 Feb 2023
Thank you for the review - i am very glad to hear that your stay and the animals was amazing. Thank you for the comments on the bar staff - we have done extensive training with them since then !
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When we booked, the info about our package stipulated that drinks, including wine and spirits, were included in our value package, On arrival we were told that this does not apply to local guests however nowhere was this mentioned. The rooms need an overhaul. The decor is tired and dreary and consists of a hodgepodge of mismatched furniture and styles. There is no hairdryer in the rooms, no handy plugs next to the bed so that one can plug cellphones in at night, no dressing table to sit at to apply makeup/dry hair etc. In the bathroom, the quality of towels is great however there are only the very basic of toiletries- liquid soap and shampoo. No bar of soap, no lotion etc. The rooms are spread out in a "U" shape and if your room is at the bottom - it's going to be noisy as it's right next to the service areas (kitchen and yard) and you can hear the staff at work. One redeeming factor was the quality of the game drives - the ranger was very knowledgeable and friendly however the snacks on the drives were repetitive and uninteresting. The same applied to the food if you request vegetarian.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Request a view of the water hole.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicola Naude, General Manager at Kambaku Safari Lodge
oh my god this place is home away from home! Julius, Cordy, Stanly and everyone else became our family within an hour. I would stay here 10 time over and over again. the ride are so wonderful and out of this world. Julius and stanly make sure you see the animals you came to see. they drove us for hours to make sure we see the last of big five. they are so great at tracking the animals without disturbing the animals or interfering with their normal habitats. Cordy was just amazing kind and so attentive, she made sure we got the best room, placed rose pedals, wine chocolate and setup a romantic dinner/bath for our stay. also food is just delicious, like if your grandmother is cooking in the kitchen.
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â You will truly feel at home, see everything you came to see and have yummy food. The waterhole...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicola Naude, Owner at Kambaku Safari Lodge
Responded 05 Apr 2022
Thank you so much for the amazing review - we will make sure all the compliments get to our staff !We hope to see you again soon !
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We spent four wonderful days, two families with two children, in a dream oasis. We were welcomed by Cordy and all the staff like princes. Gideon and Stanley were attentive guides who knew how to lead us through the bush and its surprises. They knew how to have special attention for the children, leading them on the tracks of the big fives. We ate divinely well in a warm family atmosphere with special attention to the different diets of each person. We shared our meals with the team which allowed us to share exceptional moments of exchange. The lodges are spacious, comfortable, decorated with taste and refinement and allowed us to rest between two safaris offered each day. After these four days we had the impression to leave a real family which we will remember for a long time. Love and tenderness from Switzerland: Victoria, Jules, Isabelle, Alexandra, Thierry and Eddy
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Date of stay: January 2022
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicola Naude, Owner at Kambaku Safari Lodge
Responded 18 Jan 2022
Thank you for the fantastic review - we are more than happy that you felt like family when you left - that is always very special for us to hear ! We hope that the kids had an amazing time during their Kids Kubs program and that they enjoyed every minute of it ! We will definitely pass on all your comments to our staff!
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We stayed at Kambaku Safari Lodge for two nights on our honeymoon, it was an amazing experience from the time we entered the reserve to the minute we left. Cordy, the manager greeted us and checked us in, explained our schedule for our stay and gave us a thorough and thoughtful tour of the breathtaking property. Every meal was incredible, the staff was kind and treated us like family, and the lodge & accomodations are so comfortable. Even though there’s no AC, so as long as you’re ok with a little sweat you’ll be fine. Every room has a fan and the temperature cools way off at night to make sleeping comfortable too.
Side note: we stayed two nights but I’d recommend staying at least three, not that we missed anything but the staff and experience were so great I promise you won’t regret staying longer
The game drives (safaris) we’re amazing, the guides are friendly, funny, and incredibly skilled and knowledgeable guides. They’re talented trackers as well and made sure we saw as much wildlife as possible. We saw everything: elephants, giraffes, leopards, hippos, lions, jackals, wild dogs, hyenas, wildebeest, kudu, Impala, water buck, baboons and so many more. Our guide Phanuel (aka Fanny) was incredible, he knew the answers to all our questions and made it a priority to get us the best experience possible with so many factors being out of his control (weather, wild animals, etc.) he and his team were communicating across the reserve while they worked together to track animals and get us to them. It was fun to watch and
I really truly couldn’t speak any more highly of Kambaku Safari Lodge. Even though it took 30 hours of travel to get there from the US I’d do it again and again. We will be back!!
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicola Naude, Owner at Kambaku Safari Lodge
Responded 10 Mar 2022
Wow- thank you for the incredible review - and congratulation once again from the Kambaku Team ! We are so happy that you chose to celebrate your honeymoon here with us. Thank you for all the comments on your game drives and experiences out there in the bush as well - I am sure they will be most useful for other potential travelers. We look forwards to seeing you again !
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What a fabulous safari experience! We stayed for four nights at this pristine and magical location. We were a party of 8 people that included 6 adults and two children (6 and 8). I had a difficult time finding a lodge that wanted to accept children and I loved the fact that the owners find it so important to expose children to the bush. From the minute we landed in Hoedspruit to the sad day we had to leave, Cordy and Wayde were beyond accommodating!! The rooms were spotless and beautiful! We had our 6 and almost 8 year old with us and we stayed in the family suite. It was perfect and I loved the fact that there was a bath for the children! The lodge in enclosed with a fence, which made me very comfortable allowing the children to run back a forth to the bungalows on their own. The food was amazingly delicious and they make everything they serve in the kitchen including catering to people who have dietary restrictions. We had a person in our group who is gluten, dairy and meat free, and she also loved every meal. But to top it off, the kitchen made my son a beautiful birthday cake for his 8th birthday and they sang the most beautiful birthday song!!!! We were all in tears! It was emotional and beautiful! The game drives were the best!!!!!! Gideon and Eric were fantastic and were patient with the many questions my son asked them. On top of the beautiful and spectacular game, Gideon took the children out on their own game drive one afternoon to make paw prints (continuing to educate them on their surroundings). I could go on and on about the amazing time we had at Kambaku lodge! Thank you Cordy, Wayde, Gideon, Eric and all the fantastic staff at Kambaku Lodge!!!
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Date of stay: March 2022
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicola Naude, Owner at Kambaku Safari Lodge
Responded 28 Apr 2022
Wow... I am speechless. Thank you for taking the time to write such a lengthy review. As owner and mother of two kids who have grown up in the bush - it warms my heart to hear that the kids had such a fantastic time. We are so happy that the accommodations were perfect for kids - happy kids = happy parents = awesome trip ! I will pass on all your comments to the staff regarding the food, the game drives, the birthday singing... we all just hope that you have very special memories to take away with you - precious time spent with your family !
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Outstanding trip of a lifetime! Catherine and Tessa were gracious, attentive and welcoming hosts. Ryno and Moses provided phenomenal sarafi experiences for us, with surprises every drive! Veronica, Petronella and Sunrise - great drinks and table service. The rooms were wonderful, beds comfy, and so many thoughtful touches, from welcome cards, to goodbye cards, to information sheets, to floral decorations everywhere. The meals and snacks were absolutely delicious and the chefs Repent, Nomsa and Lainah accommodated allergies with ease. The site was spotless and so well maintained and cleaned by the staff. The safari drives were outta this world! As a photographer, Ryno was excellent at helping us find great photographic opportunities and vantage points, and together, Ryno and Moses are a dynamic team, locating so many animals and providing so much information and insights about the animals, birds and insects. We could not have been more excited, content, relaxed, pleased, and amazed at this whole experience. Unforgettable!!! Memorable!!! Phenomenal holidays!! While we initially thought of this as a "once in a lifetime experience", now we cannot wait to come back!!!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicola Naude, General Manager at Kambaku Safari Lodge
Responded 09 Mar 2020
Wow - how does one respond to this ? All I can say is thank you - and we will pass on all your praise to the staff. We are really happy to hear that they made the stay such a memorable one and we really hope to see you back one day!
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From the moment we arrived we were met with the warmest, funniest, friendly staff and the stunning lodge. The manager Wayde, welcomed us and made us feel welcome straight away.
We noticed the attention to detail throughout the day and night from all staff members!
The food and service from Haidin and Judence in the bar and Repent and Cynthia in the kitchen was unbelievable! We ate at a special new spot around the lodge each night which was a great extra touch and every meal was amazing.
On our game drives we found Jaryd our guide and Stanley our tracker to be extremely knowledgeable on both the landscape and animals. We were up close and personal with all of the big 5 and so many more animals throughout our 5 days. It was the perfect combination of feeling safe and having fun with their easy going nature.
We also appreciated, Melsizwe and Sprein who kept the grounds exceptionally well maintained daily and the housekeeping team, Phindile and Lindiwe who took care of our rooms day and night with special touches, all of them were so friendly.
Unforgettable experience for us, couldn’t recommend it more!
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Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Nicola Naude, Owner at Kambaku Safari Lodge
Responded 01 Aug 2023
Thank you so much for taking the time to mention each of the staff who assisted you by name - it is very important to us to ensure that all our staff are a part of the team - whether the are face to face with the guests on a daily basis, or behind the scenes - they are all important ! We really hope that you have very special memories of your time with us !
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Most lodges will allow you to tip via credit or debit card. That’s how we tipped. The check in packet will give you guidelines. Our ranger and spotter were excellent as was all the staff. I think we tipped about 200-300 rand per day for the ranger, a little less for the spotter/tracker and a similar amount for the lodge staff who were all exceptional! This was our favorite stop on a trip that took us to four different lodgings.
Fellow coffee lover, we arranged our trip through a travel agent, Julia at African Safari Company (she’s terrific), so I don’t have the breakdown on transfer costs from Hoedspruit, but you’ll start seeing animals as soon as you leave airport. The lodge has ceiling fans. You will love it there!!!
There are more places to choose from in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve area.
PRICE RANGE
RÂ 13,900 - RÂ 15,415 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
kambaku safari hotel timbavati private nature reserve
LOCATION
South AfricaKruger National ParkTimbavati Private Nature Reserve
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
