Sabi Sand Game Reserve
A premium private reserve bordering Kruger with no fence between them, boasting the world's highest leopard sighting rate; off-road tracking and night drives offer experiences the official park cannot provide.
Sabi Sand Game Reserve lies on the western side of Kruger National Park and covers about 650 square kilometres. It was founded in 1948 by a group of private farm owners and is South Africa's earliest and most famous private reserve. There is no fence between it and Kruger, so animals roam freely. The reserve is world-famous for its leopards. Generations of leopards have grown accustomed to vehicles, and guides can call each one by name, so nearly every drive offers close-up views. Sightings of lions, wild dogs and rhinos are also far more frequent than inside the national park. The biggest difference from Kruger's official camps is that private reserve guides may drive open safari vehicles off the roads and through the bush to track animals, with trackers on board, and the reserve also offers night drives and walking safaris. Lodges in the reserve are all luxury all-inclusive cottages, such as Singita, Londolozi, MalaMala, Sabi Sabi and Ulusaba. Rates are roughly R15,000–60,000 per person per night (about RMB 6,000–25,000), including three meals, two game drives a day and drinks. To get there, fly from Johannesburg to Skukuza Airport and be collected by the lodge (about 1 hour), or self-drive via Hazyview on the R536 to Shaw's Gate or Gowrie Gate. Stay at least 2 nights to complete 4 game drives. Peak-season rooms must be booked more than half a year ahead. Wear neutral-coloured clothing and bring a windproof jacket, since morning and evening drives are cold. Tipping customs: about R300 per day for the ranger and R150 for the tracker.
Opening hours
All-inclusive camp; two daily excursions per the camp schedule
Nearby sights
- Lake Panic Bird Hide
- Kruger Shalati Train on the Bridge
- Southern Kruger / Skukuza
- Pretoriuskop Rest Camp
- Lower Sabie Rest Camp & Sunset Dam
- Shangana Cultural Village
- Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp
- Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp