The Kruger National Park is famous for its abundance of mammal species,including the Big 5, and its prolific birdlife. But what many don’t know is that the Kruger is also home to the last remaining white lions living in the wild!
In 2018 it was reported that there are as few as 11 white lions left, labelling them a critically endangered species. White lions are rarely seen anywhere else but in the private Timbavati Game Reserve. The reserve spans across 53,392 hectares and shares an unfenced border with the Kruger National Park.
White lions are not albinos but carry a recessive white gene that gives them their unique colouring. Their eyes are also pigmented: a captivating shade of blue and gold. They are pure white except for the black patches behind their ears and the “eyeliner” around their eyes.
Bateleur Safari Camp nestles in the Timbavati Game Reserve and offers an exceptional safari experience, with 3500 hectares of private land to traverse. The camp offers incredible opportunities to spot white lions and other magnificent wildlife.
The intimate eco-friendly camp only has 7 thatched safari units and can accommodate between two and four people – a perfect option for families. Each unit boasts a comfortable bedroom, en-suite bathroom, mosquito netting, solar powered bedside lamps and a solar powered fan. Some units even have an indoor bathtub and private outdoor shower.
The camp facilities include a lounge, dining area, bar, fireplace, swimming pool, and a viewing deck that overlooks a waterhole. It is highly likely to see various wildlife species whilst enjoying your morning coffee on the deck.
The safari experience is exceptional and includes daily morning and late afternoon open-vehicle game drives, tracking of big game on foot with an armed ranger, and unique bush survival skills demonstrations. These demonstrations aim to teach guests how to survive out in the bush: learning to make fires, how to set snares, and how to make ropes and water containers using natural resources. It is an activity not widely offered at safari lodges and camps in South Africa.
