Sabi Sands
The Sabi Sands Game Reserve, which shares a border with the South Africa’s world-renowned Kruger National Park, is a 65,000 hectare reserve pioneered by local landowners in the 1950s.
Today, many of these families are now third- and fourth-generation landowners, their legacy being the successful conservation of the highest density of big game in South Africa. Even though there is a 50 kilometre unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park, wildlife in the Sabi Sands Reserve are well habituated, resulting in extraordinary close encounters and prolific sightings, particularly of the elusive leopard. The Sabi and the Sand Rivers run through the reserve, which add further dimension to the bio-diversity of the area.
The Ultimate South African Safari Destination
The most famous private game reserve of them all, Sabi Sands Game Reserve offers a safari experience like nowhere else in the world. The possibilities of viewing game – the much sought after ‘Big Five’ included – are simply unparalleled. Combine this with our luxury lodge venue and an African dream safari is born. There are no fences between Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands Game Reserve, so wildlife roams freely in a huge natural environment.
Sabi Sands is in particular well known for its amazing leopard sightings. The most elusive animal of the Big Five is frequently spotted on game drives through the reserve. As such, Sabi Sands offers the ultimate photographic safari experience. You can be certain to return home with some absolutely stunning pictures and memories. Besides the Big Five, other game species occur in great numbers, among which are more than 300 bird species. Sabi Sands could be the best South African safari destination for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and bird watchers alike.
Day visitors are not allowed in the reserve, so you can only stay here when booked into one of the lodges. You are also not allowed to drive around the reserve on your own. This guarantees the park’s exclusivity. One of the other major advantages is that, when on safari, we are allowed to drive off road (something that is strictly prohibited in Kruger National Park) and even walk. So, when following a leopard, your ranger is permitted to follow it into the bush – an amazing experience, worth a trip to the bush on its own.
Accommodation
In the Sabi Sands we have exclusive use of the magnificent Djuma Vuyatela for our trips. Here, the sprawling, colourful lines of Vuyatela create the perfect combination with the wild African landscape it wraps around. Funky fusion décor embraces the new African luxury in an eclectic mix of environmentally complementary design. Each of the opulent suites reflects local South African architecture without compromising on the sumptuousness that distinguishes Vuyatela’s unique identity.
‘Vuyatela’ means “come and visit again”, a name suited to a distinctive experience which has broken the mould of traditional African game lodges.
Each of the five suites at Vuyatela are designed in the traditional African Kaya style. A private lounge is separated from the bedroom by an expansive Teak deck. Glass doors open the bedroom to the view from the deck and the pristine African savannah. Four-poster king-size beds dominate the airy bedrooms, while spa baths and outdoor showers complete the ultimate indulgence. Each chalet has its own open deck where you might catch a leopard stealing a drink of water. For more info look here