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Join us at Amani and Experience true Africalm

Amani

WATCH

OVERVIEW

Charming & Intimate

Simbavati Amani is a charming, intimate safari villa in the peaceful heart of the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, perfect for couples or exclusive use.

Though there are only four luxury suites within the homestead, a magnificent double volume sitting room, mezzanine library area, interactive kitchen and bar mean there is generous space to relax.

Warm evenings are spent socializing around the fire-pit, marvelling at the star-studded sky whilst animal calls echo through the darkness. Daytime means morning and evening guided game drives in the unfenced reserve, a part of the Greater Kruger and home to all the Big Five.

The gardens offer a tranquil oasis, shaded by mature trees. They flow down to a secluded entertaining area with infinity pool, terrace, alfresco bar and campfire. All overlooking a rewarding and flood-lit waterhole. Simbavati Amani can be taken on an exclusive use basis to create your own private bush retreat.

Why we love it

Intimate Safari Villa

Charming & Intimate safari retreat in the bush

Four Luxury Suites

 Ideal for exclusive use
(4 suites)

Active Waterhole

On the bank of a dry river with a floodlit waterhole

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Couples & Friends

The ideal getaway
for couples and
friends

ROOMS

Select Room

Luxury Suites within the Lodge

Simbavati Amani accommodates eight guests, in four luxury suites with king or twin beds. Each bedroom has its own private entrance onto the garden. All four suites have an en-suite bathroom, and offer a double basin, bath or shower.

 

Simbavati Amani - bedroom detail
Simbavati Amani - bathroom

Top Reasons to Visit

LODGE

Intimate & Relaxing

You arrive back from your game drive to cross a bridge over the dry river bed and into the cocooning ambience of the lodge. You feel like you are in your own island retreat, surrounded by the sounds of the bush.

At Amani, unwinding is the order of the day – whether under the trees on the deck, around the pool or savouring the bushveld views. The wildlife-rich watering hole will entice and ease the busiest of minds.

Families

Private villa

Simbavati Amani also operates well as a private villa for a family party.

Two bedrooms are on each side of the double volume sitting room. So parents and children can be close to each other, with two suites adjacent to each other.

There is also an upstairs Mezzanine area which makes for a perfect kids hang-out space. There’s space for an extra bed here for an older child or teenager (with a toilet & basin). Plus the fenced garden offers a safe environment for kids to run around.

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Disconnect to Reconnect

Growing up in a family that loves nature and wildlife, I have a long history of travelling for leg-numbing hours in the back of the land-rover. We kids had special beds and an assortment of books and games to keep us entertained. And let’s admit, quiet too. All as we headed for some new and suitably adventurous destination to go camping.

Our arrival at the camp would be a mix of excitement and groans. No scampering to a pool. We had to get set up first before it got dark, or before we could go out for an activity. But there were evenings around the campfire with stories until late into the night. Then we would head to bed - only to lie awake listening. And sometimes being terrified of the noises around us. But that's invariably part of the excitement and good for new stories for the next day! These are still some of our fondest memories growing up.

These days, of course, there is the option of coming to a safari lodge, where everything is organised ready for you. Families on safari have much less to think about, let alone do. We take care of your welcoming tent, your meals and your game drives, giving you much more time to relax.

And that's what one should get out of family trips away - an opportunity to make memories, have fun. And, most importantly, reconnect as a family. All the while, having a safe environment for kids to relax and be kids. And for adults to have a little pampering.

Families on Safari - the crucial question of age

So what age should your kids be for a safari? The ideal age to safely appreciate game drives on safari is from around 8 years or older. That's why we chose to set the limit at Amani and Camp George to eight years old. However, we are a little more flexible at River Lodge and have happily hosted kids of all ages. The same goes for Homestead where there’s no minimum age either. One does need to consider exactly where you go, though. Many safari lodges have a minimum age limit, mainly for safety reasons. If you have young kids on a game vehicle, the guide will not go as close to some predator sightings for obvious reasons. Plus remember that in the Kruger, malaria is a consideration, especially in our summer months.

For game drives, children need to be over 6 to take part in shared game drives at River Lodge. Sometimes it is possible to pre-organise a private game drive vehicle (at an extra cost per day). This gives more more flexibility to a family safari as you can go for shorter drives, which really helps for little ones with a smaller attention span.

How do the kids stay amused at Simbavati?

Our family-friendly lodges try to be flexible and tailors activities according to the kids - their ages, interests and weather. The options are varied, both indoors and outdoors, ranging from crafts, nature hunts, track mouldings, elephant dung cricket, card and paper making. All the way to seasonal delights of frogging and mud wallowing - yes dirt equals fun!

For older kids, there are nature walks, baking with the chefs, macro photography, learning local languages to a junior tracker or ranger course. Which of course comes with a badge or certificate.

At River Lodge in the Timbavati, there's even a Cubs Club. This is equipped with TV, DVD’s, games, archery practice area, books, maps and a discovery nook with bugs, bones, dung & identification tools. So everyone gets something! But each lodge has a refreshing swimming pool and some can even do spa treatments. Camp George and Amani have fenced in gardens which means that kids have space to play, without anxious parents. 

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Simbavati River Lodge - family safaris

Amani

Camp George

Homestead

People

River Lodge

Tips on Families on Safari

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    [post_date] => 2021-09-06 07:32:02
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When the change in seasons comes, so does the change in weather. The climate plays a big part in the movement of wildlife. Below I describe the safari cycle of life so that you can immerse yourself in the story.

Dry Winter Months

June through to October are the driest months of the year, although you only truly start seeing the bush drying up from June or July. August, September and October are when the bush is at the driest. The temperatures you’ll experience through this part of the year are from 15 – 26 degrees celsius. Most of the trees lose their leaves, 95% of bush changes colours to browns & greys. Water sources start to dry up. In the driest months where you have only one water source, you’ll have a higher concertation of animals around it compared to the wet months. When there’s a lot of water around animals don’t have to travel far and can be more dispersed.

Some of the best sightings I have heard of have been in September. Here’s an example: One of my guides was in a sighting of a male leopard in a tree with a fresh impala kill and two hyenas at the bottom of the tree waiting for the scraps of the impala to fall down for them to scavenge. A couple of minutes later three lioness approached this sighting. The guide’s jaw dropped to the ground because you don’t see three predators in a single sighting every day! The next moment the hyena and lion were in a standoff (It’s always amazing to see the interaction between species). All the while the leopard was unmoved by this commotion below and carried on feasting on his impala kill. Lucky guide and lucky guests!

The Wet Season

The other half of the safari cycle of life is the wet season (November through to March) which falls in Spring and Summer of the southern hemisphere. Once the first rains fall, within a week or two, the crunchy dry golden bush starts to transform. Little green shoots start to pop up everywhere and it’s always a happy sight to see this regeneration.

December through to the end of February is the hottest time of the year. We see temperatures of 40 degrees celsius + and ranges of 40 -60% humidity. Game drives leave earlier in the mornings and later in the afternoons to accommodate the high temperature. Mostly, when it’s so warm, you’ll find almost all animals have a siesta or hide away in shady areas in the middle part of the day. Most predators will only become active in the cooler hours, preserving their energy to hunt for prey from dusk to the morning.

Although the days are hot and humid, there’s always fun to be had. This weather is perfect for spending the days at the swimming pool, watching birds or enjoying a few cocktails and dining under the African sky, full of stars.

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Simbavati Trails camp - walking safari & guiding

Amani

Homestead

Trails Camp

Wildlife & Safari

The Safari Cycle of Life through the Seasons

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Our ‘Secret Seven’ wildlife species in Africa are rarely seen and elusive animals. Well, the name says it all.

These are the most secretive animals and even many frequent visitors to National Parks and wildlife reserves haven’t been fortunate enough to see them all.  The secret seven comprise aardvark, African wild cat, civet, large spotted genet, pangolin, porcupine and serval.

In a lifetime career working in the bush I’ve been lucky enough to see six of our Secret Seven. But one I am yet to see in all my years..

The main reason these guys are such a rare ‘spot’ is due to the fact that they are mostly nocturnal, solitary and shy animals. Let’s run through our list so that you’ll be ready to share in the excitement if you do spot one. It’s usually quite a fleeting sighting and they are certainly camera-shy!

Aardvark

Afrikaans Name: Erdvark

This animal has long ears, a long pig-like snout and a very thick tail. Their skin is almost bare and of a yellow-grey colour while the hair on the legs is generally darker in colour. Plus their hindquarters are also much heavier than the front quarters and their shoulders are much lower than the crop. Their limbs are extremely powerful and the feet, especially their front feet, have strong claws adapted for digging and for breaking into anthills. The aardvark is very adaptable and occurs in areas where the soil is not very compact and where a sufficient number of termites are. 

Male aardvarks are slightly more heavily built than the females. Both are generally solitary. They range widely seeking food, with those noses of theirs held close to ground as their sense of smell is amazing. They are nocturnal (active at night) and usually sleep in a hole that they fill up behind them.

Speaking of their holes. You may be surprised that they have three holes with three different uses:

Hole 1: They live in this hole as well as give birth to their young in this hole. They give birth to a single young and they are born from July to September after a gestation period of +-7 months.

Hole 2: This acts as a temporary shelter from bad weather or unexpected weather or if they travelled a bit too far they will seek shelter before moving back to hole 1.

Hole 3: A small excavation for seeking food.

They can dig at unbelievable rates. Sometimes when they are done with their holes, if they are in good condition, then other animals will move in! They'll make & shape them into dens or shelters for themselves.  All and all, you can call the Aardvark the architect of bush.

African Wild Cat

Afrikaans Name: Vaalboskat

The second of our secret seven wildlife species is a slender animal resembling a grey house cat! Their colour varies from grey to dark grey, from reddish to dusky red stripes on their legs and tail. African wild cats are larger than small spotted cats and they usually have more spots. These cats can easily interbreed with domestic cats, but the cross-breeds will have shorter legs and lack the reddish tinge on the back of their ears which African wild cats are known for, however the cross-breeds will have a red nose instead of the normal black nose. You can find these cats everywhere, provided there is sufficient dense thicket, tall grass and rocks for shelters.

These shy, cunning animals are usually solitary, except for mating season when one or more males will be around a single female. 2 to 5 young are born any time of the year with the peak being between September and March, after a gestation period of +-2 months. They are mainly nocturnal. But you may be lucky and see them in the late afternoon at sunset. They are very territorial and both sexes will defend their areas. Although these cats are mainly terrestrial they are very good climbers, especially if they are being pursued. They also sometimes hunt from trees. I have been very lucky to have seen them, but only 2 individuals in my career.

African Civet

Afrikaans Name: Siwet

This cat-like animal is a whitish-grey with indistinct spots on the forequarters and regular black spots which merge into stripes on their hindquarters. Their legs are black and their tail white, bushy and ringed with a black tip. These animals prefer woodlands with thick undergrowth. They also like to be in well-watered surroundings. African civets are exclusively nocturnal and are most active during the early hours of the evening or just before sunrise. 

They are mainly solitary animals. Civets can climb trees but they mostly move on the ground, you will find these guys usually along footpaths and walking purposefully with their heads held down. They are extremely shy animals. If you disturb them, they will either stand motionless or lie down on the ground. Depending on good camouflage rather than fight. One to four young are born between August to December after a gestation period of +-2 months. These animals can live up to 12 years if they don’t get killed by lion, leopard or pythons.

I have been lucky enough to see four individuals and the last one was my best sighting; a civet being chased by a leopard! He survived due to the fact that the leopard wasn’t hunting or anything. It seemed that they just accidentally walked into each other in tall grass. Personally, I think the leopard got just as much of a fright as the civet.

Large Spotted Genet

Afrikaans Name: Grootkolmuskejaatkat

The fourth one in the secret seven roll-call is a rather small, cat-like animal. The large spotted genet are white or greyish-white with dark spots and stripes. Their tail is long and dark with white rings. The species has been split into the Large spotted genet with black spots, stripes and rings. And the Rusty-spotted genet with rust-brown stripes and spots. These animals like to be in well-watered areas with sufficient undergrowth. 

Usually solitary animals, but they can sometimes be found in pairs. They are nocturnal animals and will emerge a few hours after sunset. During the day they sleep in old aardvark holes (our architect of the bush, remember?), spring hare holes or sometimes they will sleep in hollow tree stumps. They are mainly terrestrial but will either take shelter or hunt in trees. Their movements are watchful and furtive and when they run they keep their heads down and their tails horizontal.

These animals love dog pellets so people that live on farms where they keep dogs have to keep the dog food inside or they end up stealing the dog pellets.

Porcupine

Afrikaans Name: Ystervark

These guys are the largest rodent in the region. Their bodies are covered in quills, spines and flattened black bristles. Quills are generally black and white and very distinctive.

Porcupines are usually solitary but three or more can be found using the same shelters. Sometimes at the holes you will find bones which the porcupines drag to the shelters where they gnaw on the bones for calcium.

These guys are very adaptable and you can find them everywhere except in forests and desserts. So you may see them away from conservation areas. Indeed they are the worst enemy to veggie gardens and agricultural lands and cause a lot of damage.   

They can travel long distances looking for food at night. These guys might look slow but they can run really fast if being pursued by a predator. Speaking of dangerous encounters for porcupine, they are pretty feisty. The quills by the neck and hindquarters are longer and thinner. They raise these up to make the porcupine look bigger and more fearsome to its enemies.

Look at this encounter between a leopard and a porcupine in the Kruger...

Quills cannot be shot out or released as folklore says, (cool though that would be). They actually back up into the predator where the quills will stick and remain in the predator. Lions and leopards struggle after an altercation between them and a porcupine as the quills cause infections and festering sores, making it difficult to hunt, eat or even drinking water, so they become weak and easy targets to their own enemies. Some people working in the bush actually refer to porcupines as the serial killer of the bush.

Serval

Afrikaans Name: Tierboskat

The serval is a slender animal with long legs, a rather small, rounded head and large ears. Colour varies from dull white to light golden-yellow with black stripes down the neck and irregular black spots on the body. The serval is sometimes confused with a young cheetah cubs as they look very similar. Yet so different if you know what to look for. Servals prefer thicker, more humid types of woodland with sufficient shelter and water. 

These animals usually forage alone, although pairs sometimes hunt together, even in swampy areas. They are mainly nocturnal but you may see them in the early morning and late afternoon. They can run fast for short distances. At night they range far in search of food, using roads and footpaths to avoid difficult terrain. Although they are excellent tree climbers they are mainly terrestrial. These guys can live up to +-12 years unless their predators like lion and crocodile get to them first.

Pangolin

Afrikaans Name: Ietermagog

And last, but not least, in our secret seven line-up is probably the animal that most keen safari visitors would LOVE to see. These guys have got very hard, dark grey-brown scales which cover the body like roof tiles, their defining characteristic. It’s a very odd animal. You very rarely see them, being even more elusive than the other secret seven clan.

Pangolin walk on their hind legs with the front legs held off the ground, only touching now and then. The front feet have long, curved claws which are used to dig. They like sandy soil in dry fairly humid types of savannah with adequate shelters.

Pangolin are usually solitary animals and move about noisily as they brush against bushes and branches. They are also mainly nocturnal but you can occasionally see them during the day. If they suspect any intrusion they will stand on their back legs supported by their tails. When threatened they will roll themselves into a ball. They live in old Aardvark holes and hunt for food at night. They eat mainly ants and sometimes termites. Intriguingly they also emit a really foul odour when threatened.

These guys can live a good life of over 12 years in the wild and have no natural enemies. Their worst enemies are humans, unfortunately. Sadly they are the most trafficked animals in the world, mainly sought after for their scales. Again, another sad story of ignorance, greed and misinformation about non-existent health benefits. This animal has evaded me watching to catch a slighting for 9 years and going. So Mr Pangolin, watch out! Our cat and mouse game ain’t over just quite yet. I’ve still got my eyes open and I will see you soon!

So as the sundowner drinks come to an end, and the night drive begins, keep your eyes peeled for one of these secret seven gems. 

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Secret seven wildlife - aarvark

Amani

Camp George

Hilltop Lodge

Homestead

Kruger Klaserie

Kruger Timbavati

River Lodge

Wildlife & Safari

Secret Seven wildlife of the Timbavati & Klaserie

REGIONS

Getting There

Simbavati Amani is approx 60 to 90 minutes from Hoedspruit Eastgate airport, depending on how comfortable you are driving on gravel roads. It can be accessed via a rental car.

Directions from Hoedspruit Airport

As you exit the Airport, turn left for Klaserie Game Reserve onto Argyle Road. Continue until you reach the Enkhulu control gate of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.  Please note that continuous cell phone reception ends here.

At this gate you will tell security you are going to Camp George/Amani/Homestead in the Klaserie. You DO NOT pay an entrance fee at this gate. Immediately after the gate, there’s a cattle grid in front you. Do not cross this grid. Instead you turn immediately left before the grid and follow the road as it doubles back on itself and then curves to the right to head to the Klaserie main gate (Incheni Gate). This takes about 10 to 15 mins drive.

At the gate, you will be required to pay an entrance fee in cash. (This changes on a yearly basis).  This gate is open from 6am to 6pm. The lodge would have at this stage sent a QR code to the gate for your entry (SA ID / Passport information is required for your QR code).

Go through the gate and continue straight on the main road for quite some distance (approx 20 minutes) until you reach a big cell/radio tower. At the cell tower you will find a sign on a stone plinth on your left saying Northumberland/Fife/Klaseriemond/Durham/Dundee East. Turn right.

Follow the powerline on your left for approx 3.2km. Where the powerline heads away from the road, you will find a sign on your rights saying Camp George/Amani Safari Camp. Turn left here.

Continue until the next sign (on a stone plinth) and turn right here. At the next stone plinth/sign, you turn right for Simbavati Homestead and Simbavati Amani and follow the signs to your lodge.

Aim to arrive by 2.30pm, if possible so that you have ample time to settle in before the game drive. If you are going to be late due to unforeseen circumstances, please let us know on (015) 004 1400 

Note: Please do NOT rely on your GPS after Hoedspruit. It will lead you onto the incorrect roads where you could get loss and stuck!

Timing 

From Johannesburg Airport – ± 6½ to 7 hours (490km)

From Kruger Airport – 3 + hours (190km)

From Hazyview – 2 to 2½ hours (140km via the R40)

From the Three Rondavels view point (last point on the Panorama route, 145km) – 2½ hours (so depart by 12 noon latest).

Directions from Johannesburg to Simbavati Amani (± 6½ – 7 hour drive)

The most direct route is via N4 then Dullstroom to Lydenburg and Ohrigstad and onto Hoedspruit. However some people prefer to take the northern route via Polokwane and Tzaneen as there are fewer potholes. See Downloadable Directions.

From Johannesburg take the N12 to Witbank (Emalahleni) and continue on the N4 towards Nelspruit.  (From Pretoria, take the N4 to Witbank).  Follow the N4 and turn left to Belfast (Off ramp R33/R540). Once in Belfast, turn right into Voortrekker Street and continue straight on the R540 to Dullstroom. 

Drive straight through Dullstroom and continue to Lydenburg (name change to Mashishing) on the R540. At the T-junction turn left into Lydenburg (Mashishing) into Viljoen Street (R36).  Turn left again into Voortrekker Street.  Turn right into De Clercq Street and follow the R36 through Ohrigstad.  After the Abel Erasmus pass, the R36 turns left to Tzaneen. Do not turn left here. Instead continue straight on the R527 to Hoedspruit.

In Hoedspruit, continue straight. After the bridge crossing the railway line, turn right at the four way stop and continue south on the R40 for another 6.4km.  Turn left onto the D1909 (Argyle Road). The sign says Timbavati/Eastgate Airport road.  Then follow the Hoedspruit directions to the Lodge.

From Hazyview or Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport

KMIA – 3+ hours (195km) * Hazyview – Allow 2 to 2½ hours (140km)

The most direct route from Kruger Intl Airport is via the R40 thorough White River and Hazyview. Similarly if you are staying in or near Hazyview, the R40 north is the direct route. Just 6.5km south of Hoedspruit. You turn right onto the Timbavati/Eastgate Airport road. Allow 1½ hours to get from Hazyview to the Timbavati turnoff. Then another hour to get to the Lodge. Once on the Timbavati Road, you immediately pass the Eastgate Airport. Then follow the Hoedspruit directions to the Lodge.

Alternative Panorama route if staying at a Hazyview Lodge:

The R40 is a difficult road given the number of slow trucks and cars as well as many pedestrians. It takes longer than you would expect.

So if you have time, we recommend enjoying a tour of the Panorama route via the Blyde River canyon. Note that this is a longer route (240km from Hazyview to your Lodge (or 3¾ hours driving). En route you can stop off at the Bournes Luck potholes, Gods Window and the Three Rondavels

TIP: It takes approx 2½ + hours to get to the camp from the Three Rondavels viewpoint. So don’t leave the Three Rondavels later than 12 noon. Assuming you spend 1½ hours at the various stopping off points, we recommend leaving your lodge by 8.30am.

Simbavati Amani accommodates eight guests, in four luxury suites. Beds can be made up as one king bed, or two twin beds. Each bedroom has its own private entrance and views onto the garden or a small courtyard. All four suites have an en-suite bathroom with double vanity. Two have a bath and shower and two have a spacious walk-in shower.

In- room Facilities

  • Air-conditioning – with heating/cooling
  • Ceiling fan
  • Mosquito nets
  • Minibar with drinks 
  • Coffee and tea-making facilities
  • Bathroom – with double vanity. two with bath and shower, two with shower only
  • Complimentary eco-friendly amenities
  • Hair-dryer
  • Mini-safe for your valuables
  • Laundry service – laundry bag in room
  • Room equipped with electronic eco-friendly insect spray (1 min intervals) 

Lodge Facilities & Good to Know

  • Double-volume sitting area with books and board games
  • Mezzanine level acts as a private area (for study, yoga or business if you must)
  • Garden with extensive deck under mature trees
  • Entertainment area with infinity pool, pool terrace, open air bar and campfire
  • Complimentary wifi 
  • Floodlit waterhole
  • Maximum 8 guests on game drives

Families at Amani

Amani is usually sold on a per person basis. But it is perfect as a private Safari Villa for a larger family party or for two families travelling together. 

Children are welcome from 8 years upwards and can join the adult game drive, if you are sharing with others. 

Younger children are welcome but ONLY if Amani is taken on an exclusive use basis. (In this case, your guide will discuss how sightings will be handled if you have young children. For example you may not go as close to big cat sightings if you have very small children. )

Two bedrooms are on each side of the double volume sitting room. So parents and children can be close to each other. There is also an upstairs Mezzanine area which can take an extra bed for a teenager (with a small bathroom up there as well). Or makes for a perfect kids space to hang out. 

There are board games and a fenced garden which offers a safe environment for kids to play. 

OUR DETAILED

2023-2025 Rates

Enquire about our SA Resident Offers, as well as our flexible booking conditions.

01 February 2023 to 07 January 202408 January 2024 to 05 January 2025
LUXURY SUITE
Per person sharingR9,125R9,850
SingleR12,125R13,100
EXCLUSIVE USE
Max 8 adults & extra 2 children in Mezzanine loft area
R63,600R68,700

FINE PRINT

Inclusions 

Accommodation, all meals, two safari activities per day, beverages (excluding premium brands and cellar wines). Return transfers from Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS).

* Please note that the Welcome Back offer does not include beverages. The Welcome Back offer includes water, tea, coffee and a daily sundowner drink.

Exclusions 

All other drinks, private transfers, gratuities, laundry service, other items of a personal nature. Conservation levies and gate entrance fees – see note below

Minimum Stay: 2 nights – 1 night stays on request only. Recommended length of stay is 3 nights.

Child Policy 

No children under 8 years. Children taking their own room pay adult rates.

Amani mezzanine level – Up to two children can sleep on the Mezzanine area. Children 8 to 11 years pay 50% of the adult per person sharing rate.

We understand that these are very uncertain times. So we have put flexibility at the heart of everything we do. We want you to feel comfortable booking with Simbavati, knowing that your money is safe if Covid-19 circumstances change.

Free cancellation up to 15 days before arrival.

Flexible Covid-19 Payment & Cancellation Policy – (valid until 20 Dec 2022*)

• Applies for all individual bookings excluding the Festive Season
• All Direct reservations require a 10% deposit upon booking confirmation, to be paid within 7 days. (This is fully refundable if you need to cancel up to 15 days prior to travel. Or in the case of last-minute Covid-19 issues.)
• Final payment is due 15 days prior to your arrival
• For last minute reservations, full payment is required upon confirmation.
• Up to 15 days prior to arrival: no cancellation fees (Any deposit is refundable, minus bank charges.)
• Less than 15 days prior to arrival: 90% cancellation fee – see Last Minute Covid-19 Changes.
• Please note that a 100% cancellation fee will be charged if you decide to depart early while staying with us, unless for a bona fide Covid-19 reason – see below.

Covid 19 Payment and Cancellation Policy for Festive Season & Groups (5 rooms or more)

As above but with the following changes:
• Final payment is due 30 days prior to arrival.
• Up to 31 days prior to arrival: no cancellation fees (Any deposit is refundable, minus bank charges.)
• 30 days prior to arrival: 90% cancellation fee – see Last Minute Covid-19 Changes.

Other Info

• All requests, confirmations and cancellations are only valid if in writing. Please ensure you receive acknowledgment of cancellation from our Reservations Department.
• Provisional bookings will only be held for 7 days; or 48 hours within 7 days of arrival or if Reservations specifies due to high demand. Thereafter the booking will automatically be released.
• We reserve the right to cancel the booking if deposit or final payment is not received at the appropriate time.
• We reserve the right to amend/change rates on this website without prior notice. Or to request 2 nights’ minimum stay during our Festive or other Peak seasons.
• We strongly recommend a minimum stay of 2 nights throughout the year.
• We accept MasterCard and Visa credit cards. Alternatively, you can settle via EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer). Unfortunately, we don’t accept American Express or Diner’s Club.

Last Minute changes (within 15 days) due to Covid-19*

We are aware that, occasionally, last-minute changes may be needed due to Covid-19, such a suddenly-imposed ‘travel decree’ or personal covid-19 diagnosis. Please outline the specific circumstances to us.
Please note: In the case of an SA travel ban, an official ban in country of residence, or personal Covid-19 diagnosis, we will offer 100% refund or postponement.
In the case of other personal Covid 19 issues, please chat to us. We are happy to hold your payment as a credit towards future travel.
Please see our detailed Flexible Covid-19 Policy for what constitutes a Travel Ban.

* We reserve the right to amend the Covid-19 cancellation policy earlier if WHO declares the pandemic is over. However T&Cs will not change for any existing bookings and due notice will be given.

Check-in:

Check-in is from 14:30.

You are welcome to arrive earlier, and make use of our swimming pool or other facilities.

We try to accommodate early arrivals, subject to room availability. Unfortunately this cannot be guaranteed, if the room was occupied on the previous night.

Check-out

Check-out is prior to 11:00 on the day of departure.

Again, we try to accommodate late check-outs, subject to room availability. Unfortunately this cannot be guaranteed, if the room is booked for the evening. If we are unable to accommodate a late check-out, we will happily store your luggage whilst you enjoy our facilities.

Lunch

The Full Board & Activity/Game drive price includes lunch (served from 1pm to 2.30pm) either on the day of arrival or on departure.

If you wish to have lunch on both arrival and departure days, there will be an extra charge for the second lunch.

Conservation Fees

Klaserie Conservation Levy: R450 per person per night (2023). Will be added to invoices for prepayment, or collected at the lodge directly.

Self-drive guests only: Vehicle entrance fee of R280 is payable at the Timbavati or Klaserie Control gate for all self-drive guests.  (All levies & fees subject to change in 2023.)

No pets allowed

All rooms & suites are non-smoking

However you are welcome to smoke on your terrace or deck. Please request an ash tray. However please be careful to dispose of cigarette snubs as our vegetation is often dry and quick to burn!

Health/Travel

The Kruger is a malarial area so we recommend that you take anti-malaria prophylaxis. Mosquitos are less prevalent in the winter. 

We also recommend anti-mosquito repellent to stop you from getting bitten. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a typical pattern of safari activities?

What’s the ideal length of stay?

Is there Wi-Fi?

What should I wear for a game drive?

Do you offer spa treatments?

Get in touch

Lodge Host: Dalene Nienaber

TEAM PIC

Lodge telephone number: There is no telephone at Amani to receive calls. But a message can be relayed via Camp George on 015 004 1400  

Reservations: +27 87 151 4520