Let’s Explore an Eco-friendly Safari in South Africa – nThambo Tree Camp

To be honest, I’ve never heard of an eco-friendly safari. When you think about it for a moment, it makes sense. As travelers, we should put forth our best effort to minimize any negative impact while exploring the world. nThambo Tree Camp provides its guests with an intimate, wildlife experience while conserving the environment. Solar panels and generators power the camp. There are five tree houses on site and each accommodation has its own private balcony and bathroom with a stand-up shower.

Welcome to glamping! You’ll have hot running water, a comfy king size bed for rest, and the beautiful views of South Africa. Be mindful and go green! There is no air conditioning in the tree houses, but you’ll cool down with the breeze, ice cold cocktails, and they have a fan included in each unit.

When we arrived, we were greeted by Alex who discussed the daily schedule and welcomed us to the lodge with delicious and refreshing drinks.

What makes this safari unique?

There are NO FENCES. I repeat: there are no fences. If you want a genuine experience out in the bush, this is it. You will see elephants drinking out of the pool and hyenas outside your tree house.  Meals are served family style and it’s a great way to meet people from all over the world. I loved that all the meals were included and you didn’t have to worry about anything.

The staff of a lodge can make or break your experience, and they did an exceptional job.  Luan, the guide for my stay, was friendly, approachable and very knowledgeable about the animals. The very first night we chased around a leopard in the night, what Luan called a Ferrari Safari.

How to Get There: 

• Fly into East Gate Airport from Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban. I flew with South Africa Express, $125 USD for the ticket
• If you’re feeling adventurous, you can self-drive to the park as well. nThambo is located in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve of the Greater Kruger Park
• Our guide greeted us at the airport with warmth and enthusiasm. We were excited to explore the wild! The ride to the camp is approximately 30 minutes from East Gate Airport

What Did You See:

I saw everything.

Not only did I see the Big 5 (Elephant, Rhino, Lion, Leopard, and Buffalo), but the biggest highlight was seeing the Circle of Life.

Scar ate Pumba, basically.

Well, it wasn’t just Scar but a whole pride of lions, 5 total. A warthog and its baby were hiding in a hole and eventually made a run for it. The child survived, but the mom didn’t make it. The lions were patiently waiting and I couldn’t believe it – it all happened so quickly. VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED

I know that was a lot, but stick with me. This isn’t a normal occurrence, but I considered myself very lucky to witness this in the wild. Also, I felt extremely safe with my guide, Luan, and our tracker Issac. They were very experienced and instructed us not to stand up or yell in the vehicle.

Typical Day at Camp:

5:00AM Wake Up Call, Tea and Coffee available
5:30AM – Morning Game Drive
8:30 AM – Breakfast served at the lodge
10:00 AM  –  Guided Walk
2:30PM – Lunch served at the lodge
4:30 PM Evening Game Drive
6:00PM Sun Downer – Happy Hour in the Bush
8:00 PM Dinner – Family Style

Sun Downer In The Bush

What to Pack:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sun hat, sunglasses and sunblock
• Cameras and binoculars
• Light, neutral colored clothing
• Any medications
• Mosquito Repellent

Date Factor:

The first night we arrived, a couple was celebrating their honeymoon. They had a private dinner setup on the deck and a congratulatory sign lit up in lights. Overall, the lodge is very romantic. It’s nicely decorated and the view is spectacular. Nothing shows love, like holding each other close after your heart jumps when you see your first lion in the wild.

Website: www.nthambo.com

– Dating With Passports

Dating With Passports offers honest review of eco friendly resorts. Please contact us at datingwithpassports@gmail.com.