In 1956, a group of conservation minded landowners formed the Timbavati Association with the aim to reclaim the land for the benefit of all.

Insensitive land use (primarily crop and cattle farming) had caused soil erosion and destruction of indigenous plant species.

Today there are over 50 members who have succeeded in restoring the land to its former glory, with diverse and rare wildlife species making the Timbavati their home.

In 1993, in recognition of the importance of the area, the fences between the Kruger National Park and the Timbavati Reserve were removed to encourage natural species migration.

The southern border of this great complex of public and privately owned protected land lies close to the Kingdom of Eswatini and abuts the boundaries of Zimbabwe in the north and Mozambique in the east.

The climate is typified by a summer wet season from October to March with the majority of rain falling between December and February.

A typical summer day will be hot with storm clouds gathering for a spectacular late afternoon thunderstorm.