Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve

Lesser sightings than at Phinda. Main highlights were leopard and lion cubs and cubs suckling mother lioness.

Raveged by drought

I booked a Sabi Camp for my photography tour I was leading, as I had heard Sabi Sands was the best place in the Kruger area. I bet it is when not ravaged by drought. There was very little to eat for the grazing animals so many had left, the predators were doing well off animals dying from drought. Our camp was only permitted in a small portion of Sabi Sands and I'm guessing there were better areas in the reserve. Although we had some great sightings my photo tour guests and I, chose to spend extra time in Kruger where the Sabi River was still flowing. I will return to Sabi Sands and hopefully next time it will live up to it's great reputation.

This was more of a canned experience with the rangers knowing exactly where to take you. For that type of experience however, it was exceptional.

In Sabi Sand Game Reserve, you really do get what you pay for!

During our trip to Kruger National Park, we felt that it would only do the trip justice if we spent a few nights in Sabi Sand Game Reserve before heading back. We had read about the differences between the two and were quite certain we would be short changing ourselves if we didn't pay a visit to Sabi Sand. We stayed in Umkumbe Lodge which is one of the smaller lodges in Sabi Sand. That being said, Umkumbe brought along with it a wonder crew ranging from the chef to the tour guides. There was alot of personal attention and you could see and feel the extra mile they go to making sure your stay is as comfortable as can be. We were a family of vegetarians and they made it a point to make special meals for us and they were honestly some of the best meals we had on the trip. The game drives were alot of fun, the guides were very knowledgeable and the coordination of the drives was great. The highlight was spotting the rhinos and it helped us complete our list of the big 5 (of which we had seen the other 4 in Kruger). I would recommend Sabi Sand for anyone who has the ability to pocket the price you would be paying for it, but once that staged is past, be prepared to have a thrilling, luxurious and very pleasant time in Sabi Sand.

Very experienced spotters that make sure you have the best experience. If you want to see big 5 up close, the Sabi Sand Private Game Reverse does an amazing job of seeing them up close, however due to their focus on the big 5 you might not stop to see some smaller wildlife on the drives.

Superb reserve, excellent game viewing.
Arathusa is an exceptional lodge to stay in

Such a special place so much wildlife and Arathusa lodge was the most amazing place we have ever stayed

It was the best safari I have been on and I have been to Kenya, Tanzania and Kruger before. (not been to Okavango Delta yet, which is probably the pinnacle), but it is the first time I really experienced interaction between all the animals in the bush over a number of days. A lot of drama unfolded.

Incredible sightings everyday, beautiful landscapes, saw big five, up and close with the animals on every drive!

Part of the greater kruger area and not fully enclosed reserve, with antipoaching efforts underway making it a great choice for folks interested in conservation and the protection of these beautiful animals!

We not only saw all of the animals but we also saw babies of almost all the animals! And our safari drives were not long or arduous. We generally saw a lot of animals on every 3 hour drive. Sabi Sands weakness was they did not have lion prides and the rhinos did not have horns. Sabi Sand strengths were it had a lot of leopards and hippos.