​Overview – Ulusaba GR

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip lives in South Africa and has authored many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

Philip lives in South Africa and has authored many Africa guidebooks, including the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

Philip is the author of many Africa guidebooks, including the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

Philip is author of the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

Ulusaba offers a superb wilderness experience. It is one of the private reserves within the greater Sabi Sand Game Reserve and shares open borders with the widely acclaimed Kruger National Park. Wildlife viewing is excellent and seeing the Big Five is emphasized. All big cats are commonly spotted, including the notoriously shy leopard.

Ulusaba is owned by Sir Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group. The reserve has two 5-star lodges different in style and with different rates. Ulusaba is relatively small but has traversing rights with seven other properties in the west of Sabi Sands. It is possible to travel freely between them, but it can get crowded at wildlife sightings. This can cause congestion and time pressure since only three vehicles are allowed at any given time.

 
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Best Time To Go May to September (Dry season)
High Season October to March (It can get a bit busy)
Size Sabi Sands* 650km² / 251mi²
Altitude Sabi Sands* 272-479m / 892-1,572ft
+37 Photos

Pros & Cons

  • Wildlife is plentiful, and the Big Five is commonly seen
  • Close-up viewing of animals with off-road driving
  • Excellent guides offer day and night drives and walks
  • Expensive, fully inclusive safari packages are the only options
  • Situated in a part of Sabi Sands where it can get crowded
  • Concentration on flagship species over others

Ulusaba GR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Wildlife

There is excellent wildlife viewing in Ulusaba. Cheetah and all high-profile safari animals are easily found, including the Big Five. Leopard, normally very shy, are very relaxed in Sabi Sands and sightings of them are nearly guaranteed. Chacma baboon, vervet monkey, warthog, banded and dwarf mongoose and the secretive bushbuck are all common and worth observing.

Scenery

Ulusaba’s terrain is comprised of woodland savannah. Thick foliage is present but seldom interferes with wildlife viewing. Rangers with great tracking skills and the ability to drive off-road, make the foliage an easy obstacle to overcome.

See Sabi Sand Game Reserve for more info

Ulusaba is part of the greater Sabi Sand Game Reserve. See the links below for more info about Sabi Sands.

Want To Visit Ulusaba GR?

Ulusaba Safaris

Ulusaba GR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Emma Gregg  –  
United Kingdom UK

Emma is an award-winning travel writer for Rough Guides, National Geographic Traveller, Travel Africa magazine and The Independent.

Celebrity-friendly luxury in Sabi Sand’s wild west
4/5

With a famous owner – Richard Branson – and a galaxy of famous names in the guest book, Ulusaba has real star quality. Its setting, a richly wooded strip of bush in the far west of the Sabi Sand Reserve, is beautiful, and I think its...

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Latest User Review
Michele  –  
United States US
Reviewed: Jun 12, 2019
5/5

Incredible service, food, rangers and trackers. Saw all the Big 5 every day.

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