Idube Game Reserve

Sabi Sands safari on a budget

While most of the private reserves in the Sabi Sands Reserve are the playground of the rich and fortunate, Idube is much more reasonably priced than most. As you’d expect, it’s unsophisticated (it reminds me of a motel in the bush) but I feel this creates a refreshingly relaxed and down-to-earth atmosphere. It’s a particularly good choice for lively, outdoorsy families who’d like to try out a fully guided safari experience before going it alone on a self-trip trip through Kruger National Park.

The reserve itself is fairly small, but it’s no smaller than its many of its swish and expensive neighbours, and shared access arrangements are in place so your game drives will take you far into the surrounding area – in other words, those keen to see the Sabi Sands speciality (leopards) and the rest of the Big Five are just as likely to be lucky here as anywhere else in the western section of the reserve.