Frequently Asked Questions

Sure, certain lodges provide discounted rates for honeymooners or special deals. You can review these specials on our specials page.

When you go on a safari, you don't need to get ready for a shopping spree. Simply pack light and leave your vibrantly coloured clothing at home. Here are some recommendations from seasoned visitors to Africa.

Bring some airy materials and rapidly drying, loose-fitting apparel in muted hues (avoid blue, please);
Bring a scarf and a warm jumper (or jacket). Warm clothing is essential while going on a game drive because the temperature drops in the mornings and evenings.
Men and women can wear shorts in the jungle, although in rural settlements, longer trousers are considered socially acceptable;
In safari camps, informal attire is permitted;
It's imperative to wear sunglasses with strong UV protection and a squashable hat;
sunscreen
bathing suit;
Keep all of your clothing with military or camouflage themes at home;
If at all feasible, use ankle-supporting, lightweight footwear. Make sure you can walk for a long time in the shoes and that they feel comfortable;

Instead than packing one pair of thick socks for your shoes, bring several pairs of thin socks. Several layers of thin socks are usually more cosy.

Only a few lodges have accommodations that are accessible for wheelchair users.

Every lodge at Sabi Sands operates at incredibly high occupancy rates. As a result, we advise that you begin organising your safari to Sabi Sands eight to twelve months in advance. We strongly advise that you begin planning between 12 and 18 months in advance if you want to travel during busy times (such as Christmas and Easter). When it comes to busy times of year, it is not unusual for certain lodges to be completely reserved up to two years in advance. Moreover, early planning is advised when visiting in a group or with family (children) because the lodges have a limited number of rooms available overall because of their modest size.

While every resort in the Sabi Sands ensures that all your requirements are catered to, it might be enjoyable and practical to bring along a few personal tools. We usually pick up the following few things before we leave:
Binoculars (to observe wildlife from your own deck whenever and wherever you like); a camera; and, if available, a telephoto lens;
a cheap, water-resistant watch (keep pricey jewellery at home);
lip balm with sunscreen;
Three things: insect repellent; small pocket lamp; adaptor plug.

The majority of visitors remain in the reserve for three to four nights, which is precisely the amount of time we advise. Less than a two-night stay is not recommended.

There are very few rooms that are ideal for families, and many lodges do not allow children on safari (for safety reasons). Children under the age of sixteen, under the age of twelve, or under the age of six may not be allowed in some lodges due to differing child regulations. If a private game drive vehicle is reserved, some properties will let kids go on safari (at an extra expense). Some lodges, like Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, have a special children's program for younger guests, while other lodges provide babysitting services.

Every Sabi Sands lodge offers two daily game drives (as well as occasionally a bush walk) as part of your stay. While each lodge is slightly different, morning game drives often begin thirty minutes before sunrise, or around 6:00 a.m. in the summer and 7:00 a.m. in the winter. You arrive back at the lodge (about 9:00 a.m.) after the morning game drive, when breakfast and/or brunch are being provided. After that, you could go on a bush walk (depending on the resort and availability). Typically, bush walks take one to one and a half hours. After lunch, which is served between 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., you have time to unwind in the seclusion of your room or sunbathe by the pool. Before the afternoon game drive, which leaves between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon (depending on the season), tea and coffee are offered, occasionally in the style of high tea. You can encounter nocturnal creatures on afternoon wildlife drives that continue after dark. You'll arrive back at the lodge around 6:30 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. After that, dinner is served.

No, you are not permitted to go alone into the area and look for wildlife. Remember that all activities are included in your stay, therefore this is also not essential.

Of course! Every day, all lodges check rooms and common spaces for bugs. But since the Sabi Sands are a wilderness, it's hard to get rid of every bug. During the winter, there are far less bugs and insects.

During the spring and summer months (September to February), the bush is dense, verdant, and lush. The rains that begin to fall in September are responsible for this. The region experiences hot and muggy weather from December to February, with daytime highs of 22 °C (71 °F) to 40 °C (104 °F). While it is extremely uncommon for it to rain all day during this time of year, be prepared for some amazing thunderstorms in the late afternoon or early evening. Dry and pleasant days are what define the winter months; take advantage of clear blue skies and almost little rain. June, July, and August have daytime average temperatures between 12 °C and 54 °F and 25 °C and 77 °F. It's a good idea to pack thick clothing during this season because game drives in the morning and evening can get rather chilly.

Year-round, the Sabi Sands provide fantastic opportunities to see wildlife. Some tourists, however, like the autumn and winter seasons (March through August) because there is less dense underbrush, which makes it easier to see wildlife. Since autumn and winter are also considered the dry seasons, animals are more likely to frequent waterholes due to the scarcity of water. The reserve is at its most vibrant in the spring and summer (September through February), when the flora and fauna are at their most breathtaking. This is also the time of year when you will observe a lot of newborn animals. There are also great birdwatching chances in the summer.

No, game drives and other safari activities are limited to the Sabi Sands region. The Sabi Sands are divided into smaller sections by so-called concession areas, where game drives are conducted.

Takeoffs and landings from Johannesburg or Tambo International Airport (JNB) to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS), or Skukuza Airport (SKZ), the three primary access airports, take 45 to 1 hour each trip. Journey times for flights departing from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to major access airports range from two hours and thirty minutes to three hours. It takes roughly one hour and thirty-five minutes to fly one trip from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) and Livingstone (LVI) in Zambia. Flights from Skukuza Airport (SZK) or Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) to Londolozi (LDZ), Arathusa (ASS), or Ulusaba (ULX) take around 15 to 30 minutes each trip. Fedair operates direct flights from Johannesburg to (nearly) every lodge; the trip takes around ninety minutes each way.

Newington Gate, Shaw's Gate, and Gowrie Gate are the three primary access gates for visitors staying in the reserve. They open at 5:00 a.m. and close at 10:00 p.m. In order to participate in the afternoon game drive on the day of your arrival, we advise you to be at all gates no later than 1:00 p.m.

Sadly, no. There are only three access gates to Sabi Sands; it is not permitted for anyone to enter the reserve from Kruger National Park. This implies that you must pass through one of the gates to reach the reserve when exiting from Kruger National Park.

Currently, ZAR 140 is the entry cost per person (one entry per person, regardless of the number of nights spent). If you are travelling by car, you will be charged an extra ZAR 310 per vehicle (light vehicle, once per entry). Credit cards are accepted at all entry gates.

This is dependent on where your lodge is located. You are permitted to move between the lodges located in the southern (Kirkmans Kamp or Notten's) and western (Ulusaba or Dulini) sections while you are staying at one of those sites. Because the Sand River dividing the reserve cannot be crossed, it is not possible to travel from the southern or western lodges to lodges in the northern area (such as Chitwa Chitwa or Elephant Plains) or vice versa. It is necessary to quit the reserve and re-enter through the assigned entry gate while moving from the south, west, or vice versa. There will be gate fees if you enter the Sabi Sands through a different gate.

It takes about six hours to go from Johannesburg to the Sabi Sands by self-drive. Instead, we advise estimating roughly seven hours each way, giving you time to make stops along the way. Note that there may be differences in driving times between the destination lodges.

There are at least six airports that serve visitors flying into the Sabi Sands area. The locations of these airports include Skukuza Airport (SZK), Hoedspuit Eastgate Airport (HDS), Londolozi (LDZ), Arathusa (ASS), Ulusaba (ULX), and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), which is close to Nelspruit. Reservations for flights to any of these airports can be made on the South African Airways website. Your suggested arrival airport will vary depending on where you are travelling from and where the lodge is located.

You are, indeed. A four-wheel drive vehicle is not required. Nonetheless, we highly advise using a car with plenty of ground clearance (such the Ford Ecosport, Toyota Rav, Nissan X Trail, or Hyundai Tucson). Although lodge access roads can become highly uneven and bumpy, general access roads are generally in fair shape, depending on the weather.

Visitors can take one of the following routes to get to the Sabi Sands: drive their own vehicle or arrange for a transfer; take a scheduled light aircraft flight to one of the reserve's airstrips; or take a Fedair shuttle flight, which departs twice daily from Johannesburg to a lodge.

Gowrie Gate, Shaw's Gate, and Newington Gate are the three entry gates to Sabi Sands. Depending on the resort where you are staying, your access gate may vary. Gowrie Gate is the only way to reach lodges in the northern part of the Sabi Sands, such as Elephant Plains, Chitwa Chitwa, Cheetah Plains, etc.

This is depending upon your individual preferences, financial constraints, and the general layout of your vacation. The fastest way to get to and from the reserve is via plane. We advise using planes if you plan to visit Cape Town or Victoria Falls either before or after your stay at Sabi Sands. We advise self-driving if your vacation itinerary includes stops at Swaziland, the Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal, or Kruger National Park.

Each game drive vehicle can hold a different number of guests depending on the resort. Generally speaking, the more luxurious lodges can only seat a maximum of six guests per vehicle, whereas the more economical lodges can accommodate up to eight (or sometimes nine) visitors per vehicle.

When visiting a wilderness location like the Sabi Sands, it is never assured that you will see any particular wildlife. As a result, we are unable to predict in advance if you will see lions, leopards, or any other kind of wildlife. The reserve is well-known throughout the world for its leopard sightings and has a stellar reputation for animal viewing. All five of the Big 5 species can be found in the Great Kruger region, which includes Sabi Sands. It is not unusual to encounter all five of these species in a single game drive. Large animal species are more abundant in this area than in any other South African wildlife habitat—147 species have been identified to date. In addition, there are an astounding 517 different species of birds that may be seen in the vicinity.

We advise taking a pair of binoculars because they make staying in the Sabi Sands much more enjoyable due to the improved visibility. Although it's not always assured, your ranger or guide will typically carry a set of binoculars in the game drive truck.

There are more than 750+ species housed in the Sabi Sands ranging from different types of bird, fish, animal and reptiles

The Big Five consists of the Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo and Rhino

The two major rivers that pass the reserve are the Sabi and the Sand.

Fourteen individual landowners founded the Sabi Sand Wildtuin in 1948, forming it in its current shape. In South Africa, the Sabi Sands was the country's first private game reserve.

It is believed that there is extremely little chance of malaria in the Sabi Sands. By taking preventive steps (spraying the facility, applying pesticide to internal walls, setting up mosquito traps, etc.), all lodges drastically reduce the risk. Guests are advised to speak with their local doctor or clinic for more information.

The size of the Sabi Sands is 49,481 hectares, or around 189 square miles. It is marginally larger than the Caribbean island of Barbados. The Greater Kruger National Park, which covers 19,485 square kilometres (7,523 square miles) in total, borders the reserve openly.

As the Sabi Sands is close to Kruger National Park and has an open environment, it is a component of the larger ecosystem of the Kruger National Park. The removal of all barriers in 1993 allowed wildlife to travel freely between the Sabi Sands and Kruger National Park.