The Sabi Sands is perhaps the most famous Private Game Reserve in the Southern Hemisphere. This 66 000 hectare Private Game Reserve adjoins The Kruger National Park and has become globally recognised for the highest quality game viewing due to the incredible predator density. This coupled with the ultra luxury lodges which own private concessions within the reserve has guaranteed the fame of the Sabi Sands.
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History
This world renowned game reserve is also one of the oldest. The Sabi Sands Reserve was initially founded as the “Sabie Game Reserve” in 1898. With over a century of conservation and wildlife management the reserve and its wildlife have blossomed. The Sabi Sands gets its name from the two rivers which provide its life-blood throughout the year. The Sand River flows through the reserve from the northwest to southeast corner while the Sabie River flows through the southern boundary of The Sabi Sands Reserve. It is this water which sustains a greater herbivore population and thus the accompanying predator density.
The Sabi Sands allows for easy access from both Johannesburg – a forty five minute flight; and from Cape Town – a two and a half hour flight – into Kruger’s own international airport or even directly into the newly revamped Skukuza airport, located within Kruger National Park itself.
Exceptional Game Viewing
The fame of The Sabi Sand goes hand in hand with its exceptional leopard viewing. This is most likely the best location in the world to view leopards in not only frequency but most importantly astonishing quality. Due to years of conservation the leopards do not view the game vehicles as a threat. Tracking and finding leopards is incredibly difficult but this art of tracking has been passed through generations by local “trackers”. In the Sabi Sands the rangers are permitted to go off road with the 4×4’s which allows for exciting off road expeditions when following predators into the most perplexing places.
The Private Reserve means that all safari game drives will be expertly driven and lead by experienced rangers and trackers. This is essential if you are to get the most out of your safari experience. When on your African Safari you will wake at the crack of dawn and bleary eyed, head out in search of the ever elusive cats. The predators are more active during the early, cooler mornings and late afternoons. Your activities on the drives are also not curtailed by daylight and should you find a predator in the fading light, your ranger/tracker will begin a spotlit night drive as you follow your silent hunter into the darkness.
The World’s Best Accommodation
The Sabi Sands is spoilt for choice when it comes to luxury safari lodges. To name but a few of the award winners – Londolozi Private Game Reserve was voted the best in the world in the Condé Nast Traveller Top 100 Hotels & Resorts in the World: 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards. The Singita Boulders and Singita Ebony Lodge are five time winners of the Condé Nast Traveller Hotel of the year award whilst Lion Sands is consistently voted among the World Luxury Hotel award winners. We have yet to mention the charm of Chitwa Chitwa or the legacy of Exeter Leadwood Lodge!
The Sabi Sands is first and foremost your perfect wildlife-packed luxury safari but it allows the added benefit of also combining easily with many other incredible African holiday destinations like Cape Town, Victoria Falls or even Mozambique’s Indian Ocean islands.