Update on Timbavati Conservation Levies

New Timbavati Private Nature Reserve Conservation Levy

The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is embarking on an initiative to increase conservation revenue through sustainable tourism.

This strategy was developed through a joint effort of the commercial operations within the Timbavati, as a means to provide the reserve with a more significant income from commercial tourism. This comes at a time when our wilderness areas are under greater threat than ever before, with exponential increases in security costs to combat wildlife crime.

From 1 January 2018, the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve will increase its conservation levy for tourism as follows:                                   

1. The conservation levy for Fully Inclusive Lodges is R328 per person per day (please refer to the paragraph below on how to calculate the number of days to be charged).
2. The conservation levy for Fully Inclusive Lodges is R164 per child under 12 years old per day (please refer to the paragraph below on how to calculate the number of days to be charged).
3. The conservation levy for Self Catering Camps is R70 per person per day (please refer to the paragraph below on how to calculate the number of days to be charged).
4. There is NO discounted conservation levy for children staying at Self Catering Camps – all guests pay the R70 per person per day regardless of their age.
5. The conservation levy as quoted is VAT Inclusive.
6. The new conservation levy will REPLACE the OLD conservation levy, and will NOT be over and above the OLD conservation levy.

When does the new rate become effective and for what period does it apply?

1. The new conservation levy applies to ALL NEW bookings made from 1 September 2017.
2. The new conservation levy applies to all bookings where the period of stay in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve falls in the period 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018.
3. All bookings where the period of stay in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve falls in the period UP TO 31 December 2017 will be charged the OLD rate of R215 per person per visit.
4. All EXISTING bookings as at 31 August 2017, where the period of stay in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve falls in the period 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018, will still honor the OLD conservation levy that was quoted at the time that the booking was made.

How do I calculate the total number of days to be charged?

1. The new conservation levy applies to the number of nights that guests stay in the reserve (the convention of quoting the levy as “per person per day” is simply to match the convention that other reserves such as Kruger National Park use). For example: If a guest stays 3 nights in the reserve, then the levy will be calculated as 3 x R328.
2. For any guest who visits the reserve only as a day visitor (highly unusual), the individual lodge that the guest has visited will need to determine whether that guest is charged one day of conservation levy. As a guide, if the guest stays for more than half of the day, then they should be charged one day of conservation levy.

When and how do I pay? 

1. The conservation levy is payable to the lodge that the guest is staying at.
2. Conservation levies may be paid in advance or on the day of departure from the lodge.

Are there special concession rates for SA Citizens?

1. There is NO special rate for South African citizens or citizens of SADEC countries.

What is the conservation levy used for?

1. The Conservation Levy is used entirely in the funding of the operational activities of the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
2. 10% of all Conservation Levy income is used for community development projects through the Timbavati Foundation.

The Timbavati Private Nature Reserve is one of Africa’s great conservation success stories. We invite all tourism stakeholders, both guests and trade partners of the various commercial operators, to join hands and support our initiative to preserve the Timbavati for future generations.