Ultimate Guide to Visiting Sabi Sands

Situated adjacent to the iconic Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve is known for delivering year-round rewarding Big 5 game viewing and is considered one of the best safari areas in South Africa.

Dubbed as “Garden of Eden”, Sabi Sands Game Reserve is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable safari destinations in Rwanda and the brightest jewels in the Kruger crown. This unspoilt region of South Africa hosts astonishing biodiversity, with over 500 bird species recorded and about 150 mammal species.

In terms of size, Sabi Sands has an area of 65,000 hectares and is bordered by the Sabie River to the south, Kruger National Park to the east and Manyaleti Game Reserve to the North. The Sand River winds its way through the middle of the reserve, its many streams reach deep into the reserve, its many streams reach deep into the reserve, bringing water to wildlife. The terrain in Sabi Sands is typical of South Africa’s Lowveld area, rocky outcrops known as “koppies”, thicket vegetation with tall trees favored by leopards and occasional open savannah areas frequented by lions and cheetahs.

Landscape of Sabi Sands

The landscape in Sabi Sands is savannah bushveld, comprising of scrub, small trees and grassland, punctuated by the Sabi and Sand Rivers.

Wildlife in Sabi Sands

Over decades, endangered species have been slowly reintroduced to the Greater Kruger area and today, it is home to almost 150 mammal species including the Big Five – Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Buffalo and Rhino. Over 500 recorded types of birds and over 336 species of trees.

Sabi Sands is a birding hotspot with curiously named species like widow finches, buntings, cisticolas, mannikins, wydahs and eremomelas. The Southern Ground Hornbill Project has been doing very successful conservation work in the area.

The vegetation provides a haven for white rhino, reedbuck, cheetah, eland, sable antelope, Nyala and hyenas. The Mala Mala area is especially noted for wild dos, while all of the Sabi Sands is known for prolific leopard sightings. You are more likely to see leopards on almost of all your game drives.

In general, it is not uncommon for you to spot all of the Big in a one day in the Sabi Sands.

How Long Should You Spend on a Sabi Sands Holiday

The ideal minimum stay in Sabi Sands is three nights, this give you two full days in the reserve so you can go on a minimum of four game drives (twice daily, in the morning and evening). Depending on what time you arrive and leave, you may also be able to fit in another evening when you arrive and morning drive before you depart, making for six in total.

Remember that even though leopard and rhino sightings may be prolific in Sabi Sands, they are never guaranteed so the more drives you can go on, the better. If you spend two nights, this gives you only one full day to explore the area and you may not see every animal on your list or be able to fully appreciate how beautiful it is.

If you have more days to spend, then consider moving lodges so you can go on drives in different areas of the Sabi Sands to increase your game viewing chances. Keep in mind that you will not be able to drive across the whole reserve to get to your new lodge because of all the traversing rights. You will likely drive out of the gate and re-enter at a point closest to your new accommodation, meaning you will pay gate fees again.

Transfers are often arranged to handle these logistics for you.

Sabi Sands Compared To Other Game Reserves in the Area

There are several other private game reserves in the areas like Timbavati, Thornybush, Kapama, Selati, Klaserie and Manyaleti. The vegetation and climate are obviously the same, but the density of game may vary depending on the wildlife – management practices of each individual reserve.

The Sabi Sands is considered more exclusive and the others more accessible, but remember that price is only one element of a rewarding safari.

Sabi Sands is in high demand as a destination, especially during peak season, so advance booking is encouraged. From about June to September, the dry winter months provide spectacular game viewing in cooler conditions. The vegetation is not as lush and thick compared to the wetter summer months which makes game much easier to see – and animals do not move far from water sources. If you want to visit during this time, please do not leave your booking until the last minute.

How Long in Advance Should You Book a Sabi Sands Safari?

Sabi Sands high season runs from about June to August, which coincides with major events like the South African midyear school holidays and the northern hemisphere summer vacation. We advise booking a safari as far in advance as you can if you wish to travel to Sabi Sands at this time of the year. Six to twelve months in advance is ideal to get to your first choice accommodation.

Still, the rest of the year remains popular, but you can book a few weeks to three months in advance unless you want to go on safari over the December festive season. Then the 6-month rule applies.

If you are looking for a last minute travel, it is still worth your while to enquire about accommodations in Sabi Sands as our Southern Africa Safari Experts have the latest cancellations and room availabilities at their fingertips and are willing to help you.

How to Get to Sabi Sands

It is very easy to fly to Sabi Sands, there are regular flights from Cape Town, Johannesburg, Victoria Falls and Mozambique to Hoedspruit in the north, Skukuza in the south and to Kruger-Mpumalanga International Airport.

Also, it is possible to drive from Johannesburg to Sabi Sands. We can arrange a rental car or a private driver-guide for you. The drive takes approximately seven hours, so you need to have time to spare.

Flying is more convenient, less tiring and gives you more time in the reserve. Some of the lodges in Sabi Sands have their own airstrips where light aircraft can land like Chitwa Chitwa, Ulusaba, Dulini, Sabi Sand, Londolozi and MalaMala.

Sabi Sands Vs Kruger

The iconic Kruger National Park is a national park, meaning it is administered by the South African government. It is open to the public and thousands of visitors arriving every year. Night game drives and nature walks are not allowed, and accommodation is in public campsites run by the South African National Park Board.

Sabi Sands on the other hand, is a privately owned and managed destination. Only guests staying at its lodges are permitted to enter and no day visitors or self-drivers are allowed. Guides can undertake exciting safari activities like spot-lit game drives to see out nocturnal animals, and nature walks to find smaller fauna and flora often overlooked in a vehicle.