Sabi Sand Game Reserve

Lions on the bank of the Sand River, Sabi Sand Game Reserve

Sabi Sand is a group of game reserves located adjacent to the Kruger National Park in the Lowveld of Mpumalanga, South Africa. The Newington Gate is at 24°52′9″S 31°24′16″E and west of the Kruger Gate and Skukuza camp of Kruger Park. Other entrances are Gowrie Gate in the far north and Shaws Gate in the south.

The park's name comes from the Sabie River on its southern boundary and the Sand River flowing through it. The area of the reserve is 65,000 hectare and it shares a non-fenced boundary of 50 km with the Kruger National Park to its east. The Tsonga people, who occupied the land before being forcefully removed by the colonial Government during the early 1900s, are currently claiming back Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

Wildlife

A group of South African cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) at Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa.

Some of the animals that roam the reserve are the Transvaal lion, African bush elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and rhinoceros. Collectively these animals are also known as the Big Five. Other animals that roam this reserve are the cheetah, hippopotamus, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, hyena, and Cape wild dog. It was the home of Tjololo, a famous leopard.

Accommodation

Accommodation is composed of various camps and lodges. Some accommodation areas and facilities are only for private use by landowners and shareholders of the reserve, while others are rented out to the public on a daily rate at steep prices. This pricing structure is not considered to be excessive in the market, taking into account the reserve's exclusivity and that it is one of only a few 'real wilderness' areas left in Southern Africa, but still being close-by to developed infrastructure like cities, shopping centers and tarred roads.

The nearest airport is Skukuza airport east of Sabi Sand, just within the Kruger National Park and regular commercial flights can be boarded from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport outside of Nelspruit.

"A male lion or "ngala" in the Shangaan language at Sabi Sand Game Reserve"

Properties and lodges

(listed alphabetically)

• Arathusa Safari Lodge
• &Beyond Lodges
• Cheetah Plains Lodge
• Chitwa Chitwa Lodge
• Djuma Private Game Reserve
• Dulini Game Reserve
• Elephant Plains Lodge
• Dulini River Lodge
• Idube Game Lodge
• Inyati Safari Lodge

  

  A male giraffe seen on a game drive at Kirkman's Kamp, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa

• Kirkman’s Kamp
• Leadwood Lodge
• Leopard Hills Lodge
• Lion Sands Game Reserve
• Londolozi Private Game Reserve
• Nkorho Bush Lodge
• Notten's Bush Camp
• Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve
• Savanna Game Lodge
• Simbambili Game Lodge
• Singita Sabi Sand Lodges
• Ulusaba Private Game Reserve
• Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Mala Mala Private Game Reserve lies within the boundaries of the Sabi Sand Reserve but is not a member of the Sabi Sand Wildtuin Association.