Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve

A few days in paradise - or at least as close as you can get.

I've visited the Sabi Sands Game Reserve three times yet (different lodges every time) and, compared to the other Game Reserves I know, it's probably the best. The game viewing is top notch, mostly due to the fact that there are two rivers crossing the reserve. In the Greater Kruger Area it's the best chance you get to meet the African Wild Dog, one of the highlights besides the Big 5. The scenery is great as well, sometimes in this area the bush gets a little thick but that gives you the best experience, nothing can beat a rhino behind the next corner you're not seeing well in advance. The Lodges are among the best I've seen, sometimes it's almost a little bit too much. All the guides I've met were experts and took all the time necessary to explain whatever you ask them (it is important that you ask as they don't push their knowledge at you as they sometimes do in other areas). Food was great as well, but there's one thing I liked a little bit better in other game reserves. Often in South Africa you have your dinner with the people your spending most of the day on game drives with and - most important - your guide, which leads to many interesting conversations. They don't do this at all the Sabi Sands Lodges I've visited which is a bit of a small minus for me, but everything else makes up for this. If you go there and you meet Surprise, Ferdi or Fritz - plese say hi from me!

We have stayed at Arathusa and Mala Mala game reserves in the past both excellent for a luxury Safari. Sabi Sabi is the best place to have a chance of seeing Leopards.

An incredible two day experience

We visited Sabi Sabi in mid March 2015. Our ranger picked us up at the airport and before we reached the lodge we had memorable animal encounters with elephants, giraffes, impala's, and nyala's. Our ranger (Eve) and tracker (Donald) were assigned to us for our full stay which provided for good continuity. They were both great. As it turned out, we had the vehicle to ourselves which made it like a private tour. Ranger Eve asked what we liked to look for and adjusted to meet our interests that included looking for birds. We saw all the big 5 and had special (at least to me) encounters with cheetahs, wild dogs, and leopards. We took a nature hike with the ranger and saw two leopards on foot. We saw a large number of birds in the bush. The weather had been quite dry, so we did not see many wading birds. The accommodations were first class. Very spacious, private, and clean. The food was served buffet style but there was a wide variety and of very good quality. The included house wines were also quite good. The cakes available at the afternoon high tea were exceptionally good. They are worth eating even if you are not hungry. It was a nice touch to have our ranger join us for dinner both nights. This allowed us to learn a lot more about Sabi and SA and added to our overall experience. Yes, it is expensive but I would say it is still a good value based on the personal service we received. You are going to remember the experience more than you are going to miss the few hundred bucks. By the way, on the way back to the airport we saw lions.

Some of the best food I had in Africa. Guides were a lot of fun and joined us for dinner which was a nice touch. Saw the big five.

The leopard sightings in Sabi Sands are among the most consistent.

Amazing Experience At Sabi Sabi (Earth Lodge & Selati)

I went to visit South Africa for 3 weeks this past spring. It was one of the best experiences I've ever had. Specifically the safaris were magical. I stayed in Pilanesberg for 3 nights and then moved on to stay at Sabi Sabi in both Earth Lodge and Selati Camp 2 nights each. The service at Sabi Sabi was far superior to the other lodge we stayed at in Pilanesberg. The guides were extremely knowledgeable and we say all the big 5 within the first day! The accommodations were beautiful and clean. The manager of the property, at each location, made our trip. They were SO accommodating and helpful. They seemed to truly care about our experience. In an unfamiliar environment like that, you want to feel like someone is looking out for you and we definitely did. I became very ill one night and the manager got up at 3am to come check on me and deduced that it was my malaria pills I was taking and suggested since it was not malaria season that I stop taking them immediately and she sat with me and gave me a rehydrate packet she had. Every day after that every staff member asked how I was feeling. It felt like a small family when we left. I can't sing enough praise for Sabi Sabi!

Amazing

Sabi Sabi was our first bush safari in South Africa and we saw the "Big 5" (Lion, Elephant, Black Rhino, Cape Buffalo and Leopard) in just two days. We also saw hyaenas and the elusive cheetah just after a kill. The accommodations at Sabi Sabi were mud huts built into the hills in the natural environment - but it's not like it sounds. The huts were luxurious and well appointed. The food was amazing. We had morning and evening game drives with knowledgeable scouts and naturalists. We had "sun-downers" every evening in the bush during night drives which was a highlight - watching the sun go down with a glass of wine and nibbles.

A feeling of being pampered.

Sabi Sabi is first class in every way. We were greeted at the private airstrip with resfeshments and taken by bush vehicle to our luxurious "hut". Safari drives are held twice per day and we saw every one of the big 5. The staff was wonderful, the food delicious and our guide was very professional. A particular highlight was the evening "sundowner" drinks in the bush.

The beauty of seeing animals in natural settings and at such close ranges.

Sabi Sabi has PLENTY of space and like Mala Mala it is unfenced, but because the preserve has less space than Mala Mala, there's only so far the guides can take their guests without encroaching upon someone else's property. Don't worry though. There is NO QUESTION that you will come into very close proximity of all manner of African wildlife, from weaver birds to elephants and from dwarf mongooses to hippopotami . I LOVED my three night stay at Sabi Sabi and I'd recommend the place highly to anyone.