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Sabi Sands: The Premier Destination for a Big 5 Safari in Africa

Sabi Sands Nature Reserve offers the pinnacle of a Big Five safari in Africa. The area, adjacent to the globally recognised Kruger National Park, forms part of the Greater Kruger with unfenced borders between Sabi Sands and Kruger National Park. This allows animals to move freely in this wilderness area, rich in diverse African wildlife.

Within Sabi Sands, a selection of exclusive five-star game lodges await, providing you with sumptuous retreats from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Notable among these lodges is Londolozi, renowned for its photographic safaris, opulent accommodation and magnificent river views. 

Singita Boulders Lodge offers ultra-luxurious suites with private plunge pools and sensational views over the surrounding bush and Sand River, as does Lion Sands Ivory Lodge and Earth Lodge at Sabi Sabi.

Connected by raised walkways the suites at Ulusaba’s Safari Lodge overlook the dry Mabrak riverbed, where you might spot elephants, or other animals passing through. Its River Rooms offer private plunge pools, or you could relax at the lodge pool where you may spot a shy kudu nibbling at the surrounding bush. 

MalaMala is ideally situated on the banks of the Sand River, with its riverine habitat being a prime location for game drives and wildlife encounters. This lodge, in existence since 1927, played a pioneering role in South Africa’s private game reserve history by banning hunting and transitioning to photographic safaris. The land is also owned by the local community, making Mala Mala a great choice for those looking for a sustainable travel experience. 

Cheetah Plains, another gem in Sabi Sands Nature Reserve, is the first lodge to present a fleet of fully electric Toyota Land Cruisers. These eco-friendly game-drive vehicles, charged using solar power, emit minimal noise, allowing you to approach animals quietly without disturbing them.

According to Sipps Maswanganyi, head field guide at Cheetah Plains, “It’s mostly elephants that freeze when you approach because they don’t know what’s coming. They have to adapt to it slowly and aren’t used to a vehicle driving with nothing but a low whining sound and no vibrations.”

Connected by raised walkways the suites at Ulusaba’s Safari Lodge overlook the dry Mabrak riverbed, where you might spot elephants, or other animals passing through. Its River Rooms offer private plunge pools, or you could relax at the lodge pool where you may spot a shy kudu nibbling at the surrounding bush. 

MalaMala is ideally situated on the banks of the Sand River, with its riverine habitat being a prime location for game drives and wildlife encounters. This lodge, in existence since 1927, played a pioneering role in South Africa’s private game reserve history by banning hunting and transitioning to photographic safaris. The land is also owned by the local community, making Mala Mala a great choice for those looking for a sustainable travel experience. 

Cheetah Plains, another gem in Sabi Sands Nature Reserve, is the first lodge to present a fleet of fully electric Toyota Land Cruisers. These eco-friendly game-drive vehicles, charged using solar power, emit minimal noise, allowing you to approach animals quietly without disturbing them.

According to Sipps Maswanganyi, head field guide at Cheetah Plains, “It’s mostly elephants that freeze when you approach because they don’t know what’s coming. They have to adapt to it slowly and aren’t used to a vehicle driving with nothing but a low whining sound and no vibrations.”

No matter which lodge you choose within the Sabi Sands Nature Reserve, expert trackers and guides enhance every game drive with their vast knowledge of the local flora and fauna.

Sabi Sands is also known for its frequent leopard sightings, making it one of the best places in Africa to spot these elusive big cats, as well as lions and the rest of the Big Five.

Tips for your first safari in Sabi Sands:

  • Opt for neutral-coloured clothing to blend in with the surroundings.
  • Don’t forget essentials like comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a hat.
  • Cameras and binoculars are must-have items.
  • Game drives are typically conducted in the early morning and late afternoon when wildlife is most active, so be prepared for early wake-up calls and cooler temperatures (bring some warm clothes, even in summer).
  • While observing animals, always listen to your guide’s instructions on how to behave around wildlife.
  • Remember that game drives take place in wilderness areas that continue to function along nature’s rhythms. There are no guarantees of seeing specific animals, however, be patient and enjoy the sightings you do have – you never know, you could end up having incredible encounters.
  • Guides and trackers are invaluable sources of knowledge about the animals, plants, and ecosystems. Ask questions and engage in discussions to enhance your understanding and learn interesting facts.

In an interview published in Business Day last year, Sir Richard Branson had this to say about what keeps him coming back to South Africa, “It’s always a delight being here. The wildlife is astonishing. I’ve just had the pleasure of being in Ulusaba and I just love the people in that region. The people of SA are quite magical.”

Happy travelling,
The Leopard Team

P.S. Share this with some who’d love to experience a Sabi Sands safari

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    Growing up in Johannesburg, fondly known as the “City of Gold”, Caitlin was privileged to explore diverse destinations across South Africa, from game reserves to the warm shores of KwaZulu-Natal. She also treasures memories of visiting family in Vumba, Zimbabwe, where she loved being immersed in nature and the sense of freedom it brought. “I was awestruck when I visited both Victoria Falls and the Great Zimbabwe Ruins,” she recalls.

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    When she arrived in South Africa, Pilar worked as a journalist and covered many big news stories for a newspaper and radio station in Spain. She considers it an amazing period of her life in Africa, but she wanted to embrace something different.

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    As a Spanish speaker, she works with the Spanish and Latin American markets and feels she is a true ambassador for South Africa. At Leopard, she works with clients to create a bespoke, tailor-made itinerary, where each day in Africa forms part of a perfectly dreamy trip. Pilar says that everyone should get to experience the magic of Africa.
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    Until the age of three, Helen lived in a little stone cottage in the Kyle Game Reserve, in Zimbabwe until she and her family relocated to the Kariba Dam on the great Zambezi River. Here, Helen’s father managed a Fisheries Research Institute and she grew up immersed in a culture of tourism. She also spent many Sunday afternoons in the bush observing wildlife with her family.

    Helen moved to South Africa in the early ’80s and after leaving school, she entered the travel industry. She travelled to many countries for business research and later became a specialist in travel to South America, which she visited numerous times.

    Her husband’s work required the family to settle in the little town of Mtunzini, a beautiful spot on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, where she took a job in the finance department at the local school. This began a chapter in Helen’s life that prepared her for corporate finance. Later, Helen worked as an imports and exports administrator and then as treasurer for a large multinational company in Johannesburg while undertaking post-graduate studies in Corporate Governance and Administration.

    When she and her family moved back to Durban, Helen worked as a bursar of a large private school. She was delighted to be living near the ocean again and couldn’t resist getting her open-water diving certificate, as her son was a scuba diving instructor. Helen’s love of adventure and creation has been a constant theme throughout her life.

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    She first worked in the United States, where she has family, then moved to England to complete a Master’s in International Marketing, and later to Oceania, where she tried “WWOOFing” — working on a farm in exchange for room and board. Along the way, she met a great love in Paris, who would later become her husband, and this brought her back to France to find work and start a family.

    Daphnée began her career in fashion marketing and, in 2012, created her own fashion brand, managing all aspects of building a business.

    In 2016, Daphnée and her family had the wonderful opportunity to live in South Africa. “The question didn’t even arise — let’s go, that was obvious!” she recalls. Since then, they have welcomed three children and are enjoying life in Johannesburg.

    Daphnée has worked in the tourism industry for 10 years, specialising in Africa. Her favourite countries include Kenya and Namibia, though she also fell in love with Madagascar and Botswana. Her next adventure will be to Zambia.
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    Diana was born in Zimbabwe and started her life on the banks of the great Lake Kariba. She moved to South Africa when she was a toddler and grew up in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Diana has vivid memories of long winter holidays spent camping in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa with her family. Her parents loved the bush and her father started his own tour operating company in 1992. He was an early pioneering specialist in bird watching safaris in South Africa.

    As she grew up, Diana became aware of the big, wide world outside of the African countries she knew so well, and she took her first solo overseas trip at age 14 to London to visit her father’s family. From that moment she became fascinated with experiencing the world beyond what she knew. Diana has since travelled extensively through Africa, Europe, America and Asia.

    Diana is married to a Frenchman and has two young kids, who are simultaneously developing a love for biltong & braai’s, and baguettes & brie. After 16 years gaining valuable experience working for big corporates in South Africa, Diana decided to follow her passion for travel and start Leopard. Diana has had the privilege of planning holidays for American celebrities, European royalty and high-net-worth individuals as well as regular folks who want to do a trip of a lifetime to Africa.

    She wants to create, with Leopard, a company that gives customers something unique: a curated experience of Africa, made especially for them. She says, “From the moment they arrive in Africa, to the moment they depart, I want them to have a seamless experience. I want them to enjoy the best the continent has to offer, leaving with memories that last a lifetime.”