Bateleur Eco Safaris

Bateleur Eco Safaris is an environmentally-friendly, tented bush camp, providing key elements that contribute to experiencing an African safari from a slightly different and more adventurous perspective - flexibility; privacy; hands-on, interactive activities; no time constraints; no dress code and a host of unexpected, thrilling encounters.

The camp caters for a minimum of 4 guests per group and larger groups of 9 guests or more, enjoy exclusive use of the camp. Itineraries are tailor-made to suit the interests of each group, which enjoys the unspoiled wilderness in one of the country’s most captivating, Big 5 areas. Specialist interests are also catered for.

Bateleur Eco Safaris is situated in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, which is part of the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa. The area is known for its boundless variety of fascinating animals, birds, insects and plants.

Winner of the 2006 Timbavati Private Nature Reserve Conservation award, the camp is proud of its eco-friendly principles.

ACTIVITIES

A range of hands-on, interactive activities expose the magic of the African bush. Activities are optional and itineraries are tailor made to suit the interests and budgets of each group:

Walking: a traversing area of 8500ha allows for long, informative walks, which usually take place in the early morning.

Tracking: guests are introduced to the ancient art of tracking, spoor identification and large animals are tracked on foot, if suitable and fresh tracks are encountered. Specialist tracking and trailing courses can also be provided.

Bush Craft and Survival Skills: Start a fire using the friction method developed by the San Bushmen; Methods of carrying a fire from one location to the next; Making rope and snares from plants in the area and much more!

Animals, birds and insects: a multitude of fascinating information on animals, birds and insects is shared with guests, including the guides’ amusing stories of animal encounters.

Sleeping under the stars: guests sleep out under the stars in sleeping bags around a campfire. Participants do guard duty in twos to keep a look-out for animals and to maintain the fire. An armed guide is present with the group.

Navigation: learn to use a compass and map to navigate accurately. Guests are divided into teams. Individuals must work together to reach various objectives.

Basic Astronomy: interesting information is provided on our galaxy and solar system during the evening game drives. View southern latitude constellations and stellar bodies with no light or air pollution.

Drives: At the end of the day, guests relax as they are chauffeured through the bush in open land-rovers, enjoying sundowners and spectacular sunsets.

Tribal Dancing: Guests enjoy tribal dancing while relaxing around the evening camp-fire. Dancers are from the local community and this is often their only source of income. For this reason, BES encourages guests to include tribal dancing in their itinerary.

Reptile Presentation: a top South African snake and reptile expert provides a wealth of knowledge and interesting information on the ecology of snakes, their venom and fang structures. Live snakes, baboon spiders, scorpions & other interesting creatures can be viewed during this interactive experience, which takes place on-site.

Astronomy: Interactive visual presentations of the southern hemisphere night sky allow for viewing of the moon, planets, stars, constellations and other heavenly bodies.

Rifle craft (no prior firearm knowledge or skill is necessary and only man-made targets are used): History to firearms & fundamentals to Riflecraft; Parts of the rifle and ammunition plus safe operation and use of the rifle; Malfunctions of the cartridge; Fundamentals to rifle craft; Firing postures; Once familiar with the above, participants take part in a practical shoot using static and mobile targets under the tutelage of professional instructors.

Game Capture & Rhino micro-chipping: guests assist professional wildlife veterinarians and conservationists in their game capture duties. The game-capture operations form part of the holistic management plans of the various conservation areas. Participants are involved in all aspects of game capture and are safely guided through each step by experienced professionals. Rhino micro-chipping exercises only take place between the cooler months of April to September.

THE CAMP & FACILITIES:

Accommodation: The Bateleur Eco Safaris camp features 10 East African Safari tents, set along a sandy riverbed, under majestic Apple Leaf, Jackalberry and Tamboti trees. The tents sleep 2 and if necessary, 3 people each. Each tent is comfortably furnished with beds (custom-made for taller guests), bedside tables, cotton linen, pillows, towels, blankets, chest of drawers & hanging rail for clothing. Three tents currently feature en-suite bathrooms and over the next year, bathrooms will be attached to the remaining tents.

Showers & Ablutions: There are separate ablution facilities, outdoor wash basins and magnificent, open-air bush showers fuelled by wood-fires.

Catering: Home style cooking is provided for breakfast, lunch and dinner and special dietary requirements can be catered for by prior arrangement. Guests can enjoy unlimited quantities of tea, coffee, soft drinks, juices and water. Dinner is served around a camp fire in an open-air boma.

The camp: Situated in the central part of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, the camp is unfenced, except for a single strand, high electric wire designed to keep the elephants out.

There is no electricity at the camp. Gas, battery, paraffin and solar power are used.

There is a pool surrounded by a wooden deck, which is great for cooling off after a walk.

Game drives are conducted in green, open Land Rover game-viewers.