Sabi Sands Game Reserve | South Africa’s Top Private Reserve

Sabi Sands Game Reserve : Often dubbed as “Garden of Eden”, Sabi Sands Game Reserve is undoubtedly one of the brightest jewels in the Kruger crown. The reserve shares a 50 kilometer unfenced with the iconic Kruger National Park in Africa and is known for offering rewarding Big 5 game viewing and is considered one of the best safari areas in South Africa.

Spanning 65,000 hectares, Sabi Sands Game Reserve is a testament to the vision of local landowners in the 1950s. The legacy of these founding families, now in their third and fourth generations of stewardship, resonates in the successful conservation of South Africa’s richest density of big game. The reserve’s unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park, creates a harmonious existence that allows wildlife to roam freely. This has led to remarkably close encounters with the local fauna, including prolific sightings of the elusive leopard.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve is the ultimate South Africa Safari destination well known for amazing leopard sightings, this most elusive animals of the Big 5 is frequently spotted on a game drive. Besides the Big Five, other game species occur in great numbers.

History of Sabi Sands Game Reserve

Most of the land known today as Sabi Sands Game Reserve used to be agricultural land. As cattle farms occurred in the area, a reliable source of water was needed on the farms. So as to provide this water, many boreholes were drilled, providing a steady supply of water.

After the establishment of the reserve, these waterholes and dams were kept intact and still function as water source. It is now not cattle that drink this water, but the many wild animals living in the reserve. The waterholes provide an abundance of water throughout the year, meaning the seasonal influences are not much of a factor. Sabi sands proves to be a very popular place for large herds of animals.

The original Sabie Reserve was already established in 1898, it turned out to be the forerunner of the massive Kruger National Park. Many of the orginal landowners were excised from the area when in 1926 the National Park Act was passed. In turn, the former land owners created the Sabi Private Game Reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park in 1934. Of the pioneering land owners, six families still own land in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, they are now third and fourth generation owners. In 1948, the landowners formally formed what is the Sabi Sands Game Reserve.

Wildlife in Sabi Sands Game Reserve

Sabi Sands Game Reserve is one of the best places in the world to see the Big Five – lion, leopards, cape buffaloes, elephants and rhinos. These animals roam freely in the Sabi Sands as well as Kruger National Park. Other wildlife found in Sabi Sands Game Reserve include Aardvark, African Wild Cat, Chacma Baboon, Bushbuck, Lesser Bushbaby, Caracal, Cheetah, Civet, Elephant, Giraffe, Large-spotted Genet, Honey Badger, Spotted Hyena, Hippo, Impala, Black-backed Jackal, Side-striped Jackal, Kudu, Vervet Monkey, Nyala, Pangolin, Cape Porcupine, Serval, Steenbok, Tsessebe, Warthog, Waterbuck, Blue Wildebeest, Wild Dog, Burchell’s Zebra among others.

Birdlife in Sabi Sands Game Reserve

Sabi Sands Game Reserve is a paradise for birders with more than 300 bird species, including African black duck, African crake, African emerald cuckoo, African finfoot, African hawk-eagle, Black-crowned night heron, Coqui francolin, Croaking cisticola, Dwarf bittern, Eastern black-headed oriole, Gabar goshawk, Grey cuckoo-shrike, Half-collared kingfisher, Mosque swallow, Purple heron, Senegal lapwing, Shelley’s francolin, Shikra, Thick-billed cuckoo, Verreaux’s eagle owl, White-backed night heron among others.

Activities to Do in Sabi Sands Game Reserve

Game Drives (Game Viewing)

Because of the unfenced border between Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands Game Reserves, there is free movement of the wild animals making this private reserve is a great destination for game viewing safaris in South Africa.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve is particularly good for Big Five sights and other wildlife species including Greater Kudu, bushbucks, Nyala, impala, giraffe, warthogs, wild dog, grey duiker, waterbuck and many other animals that thrive in the thicket, dry grasslands, riverine forests and big cats often found lounging in the trees.

Bush Walks

Visitors on a South Africa Safari in Sabi Sands Game Reserve can explore the reserve on foot with an armed ranger. These walks offer a different perspective of the bush that is entirely different from that of a vehicle, guests will learn to read the signs of the wild and come into close contact with the different animal species in the reserve.

Community Visit

Community visit offer a better way to get a glimpse into real African life than by visiting one of its rural communities. A visit to one of the villages surrounding the Sabi Sands Game Reserve provides a glimpse into the challenges, hopes and dreams of this local community in a way that not only educates but also inspires.

Fishing

In the Sand River, there are over 37 species of fish to be caught. The fishing experience in Sabi Sands Game Reserve offers a relaxing experience, it is also a glorious way to be at one with the bush, listening the chirping of the various bird species or the sounds of hippos in the distance.

Horse Riding

Horse riding in Sabi Sands Game Reserves takes you on an exploration of the long sand beaches, lush vineyards or mystic mountains which is an entirely unique experience of experiencing the wild.

On the back of the horse you will discover the diverse wildlife and many picturesque South African treasures.

Helicopter Flight

This exhilarating flight swoops over deep canyons bursting with vegetation and color, the helicopter lingers above cascading waterfalls, allowing for spectacular photographic opportunities of the reserve.

Your flight continues along the escarpment which offers awesome panoramic views.

Hot Air Ballooning

Soar above the Sabi Sands Game Reserve and enjoy a safari in the comfort of a massive, weaved basket securely attached to a billowing balloon. This experience offers great and unique views of this private reserve teeming with wildlife and beautiful landscapes below.

Birding

Sabi Sands Game Reserve is a great destination for birding in South Africa, the reserve is home to more than 300 bird species which you should expect to spot on a guided birding excursion. These birds include Grey Lourie, Cardinal woodpecker, Goldentailed woodpecker, Redbilled woodhoopoe, Paradise flycatcher, Pearlspotted owl, Ostrich, Helmeted guineafowl and Crowned plover among others.

Birding in Sabi Sands Game Reserve this reserve is great throughout the year, however the best months are late October to late April as the migratory birds from Europe and North Africa are still present.

How To Get to Sabi Sands Game Reserve

Depending on your individual travel needs, you can get to Sabi Sands Game Reserve in several ways such as using a scheduled flight, shuttle flight or by road.

Where to Stay in Sabi Sands Game Reserve

By Air – using air is the quickest way to get to the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, from Johannesburg and Cape Town visitors can use scheduled flights to Kruger Mopumalanga International Airport near Nelspruit. From here you can travel to the reserve by road or by a small chartered aircraft. These flights are offers Airlink and CemAir, it also serves Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport, which is conveniently located for travelers staying in the northern section of the Sabu Sands.

Also from Hoedspruit you can use a road transfer to your lodge.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve is served by three major airports

• Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport for visitors staying at lodges in the western sector.
• Skukuza Airport for visitors staying at lodges in the southern sector
• Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport for visitors staying at lodges in the northern sector

By Road – from Johannesburg to Sabi Sands Game Reserve, it is a drive of approximately 450 kilometers, most of the route from Johannesburg takes you along the N4 National road making it an easy and comfortable drive.

Best Time to Visit Sabi Sands Game Reserve

The best time of the year to visit Sabi Sands Game Reserve is during the dry season, these days are quite hot but cool temperatures set in for the night. Winter season is from April to September when it is quite dry and water is scarce making game sightings clearer for game drives near the banks of rivers sabi and sands.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve Accommodations.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve’s accommodation options are a pinnacle of luxury in South Africa, below are our favorite picks

• Dulini Safari Lodge
• Londolozi Granite Camp
• Singita Boulders
• Dulini Leadwood
• Lion Sands Ivory Lodge
• Londolozi Tree
• Singita Ebony
• Kirkmans Kamp
• Leopard Hills
• Londolozi Founders
• Londolozi Pioneer
• Londolozi Varty among others.