Curator’s statement
We've gone on safari to so many countries in Africa, but Sabi Sands stands out as the best concentration of exciting wildlife we've found. If you're lucky, you can see all of the Big Five on one game drive. This is a place where you're likely to find leopards mating, massive lion prides enjoying a hippo, and wild dog pups spilling out of their den.
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Sabi Sands is a private game reserve adjacent to Kruger and contains numerous lodges. We stayed in two: andBeyond Ngala and Inyati. Both have a great deal of charm (we met someone who was staying at Inyati for the 15th time!) and we had great sightings with both. If you are interested in a safari that doesn’t wander over two or three different countries, or if you’re hoping to see a lot in a short period of time, Sabi Sands is the place to go!
A fierce male leopard in Sabi Sands
Whichever lodge you choose will most likely be all-inclusive. You’ll be assigned a guide and a spotter; depending on your party’s size, you might have a private vehicle or you might end up sharing. The typical day looks like: early wake-up call; buffet breakfast around a campfire; head out on your first game drive before sunrise; return around 11 am for lunch and a siesta; head back out for another game drive early-mid-afternoon; take a break on the drive for a sundowner (typically snacks and drinks while you watch the sunset); return to camp for dinner; collapse and get a good night’s sleep so you can do it again tomorrow.
Elephants use the Ngala swimming pool as a watering hole
A pride of over twenty lions—the most we've ever seen
All of the Sabi Sands lodges have excellent guides and spotters. They are experts at identifying and following tracks, or catching a glimpse of a cheetah hiding behind a hill half a mile away. Most are very photography-conscious and will do their best to maneuver into a good position for you to get the best possible views. Since this is a smaller reserve with fewer tourists, you won’t find the same kinds of crowds around sightings as you would in, say, the Serengeti, where there might be fifteen vehicles surrounding one lion. As with all wildlife activities, patience is key and luck plays a major role.
A hyena walks past a giraffe at dusk
A family of mongooses
Wild dog puppies. We got to visit them several times at their den
A beautiful lilac-breasted roller
Need to know
Sabi Sands is a year-round safari destination. If you have time, plan to visit a few lodges to get different experiences. Bring a good camera (decent zoom is a must!) and a sense of adventure.
For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our safari page.
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