Sabi Sand Game Reserve

The Sabi Sand Game Garden of Sabi Sand Game Reserve is a private area of 65,000 hectares and is part of the Kruger National Park wildlife reserve, which total 2.3 million hectares. Sabi Sand Reserve shares a border of 50 km to the west of the Kruger Park.

The fences between the Kruger Park and Sabi Sand Reserve where removed in 1993, allowing wildlife to migrate freely between the two areas. On the west side of the Sabi Sand Reserve is a 82 km long fence to protect the surrounding villages against predators and big game such as elephants, rhinos and hippos.

Sabi Sand Reserve is a partnership of several landowners. By the late '20s and early '30s of the last century, the Sabi Sand area was owned by a number of families who used this area as a hunting ground. Of these pioneering families no less than six remain, whose third and fourth generation are now the owners and usually operate their safari lodges commercially. The lodges are generally small and luxurious in design.

Since 1962 this area is off limits for hunting and the safaris have a very different character, now that only photos can be shot. Safaris are done in open four-wheel drive safari vehicles accompanied by an (armed) ranger and a tracker. The private game reserves are not accessible to day trippers, so your safaris here are a unique and exclusive experience.

Two rivers supply the game reserve of water. The Sand River flows over a distance of 50 km through the reserve from northwest to southeast, while the Sabie River marks the southern border. The presence of these rivers ensures the highest and most diverse wildlife populations in Africa. More than 200 different species are here, including the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo). It is also a birdwatchers' paradise, with a multitude of special, colourful and rare birds.