Going on a safari is truly the adventure of a lifetime. This past year I visited Sabi Sands Game Reserve in South Africa with my fiancés family and it was an incredibly memorable trip. This exclusive reserve is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including lions, elephants, rhinos, and leopards. Sabi Sands is the perfect place to experience the magic of the African bush. From how to get to Sabi Sands, to what to wear, what to expect, and what you will see, this Ultimate Guide to Safari: Sabi Sands Game Reserve covers everything you need to know!

Special shout-out to my future sister-in-law Lindsey for letting me use many of her amazing photos on this blog!

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Why Sabi Sands Game Reserve is so Special

Sabi Sands Game Reserve is one of the best, and most exclusive game reserves in South Africa. It is the quintessential luxury safari experience. It’s right next to Kruger National Park and is known for being one of the most high-end, luxurious safaris with many excellent accommodations. Day visitors are allowed to visit Kruger, but only guests staying in Sabi Sands have access to the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. This means fewer safari trucks and people in general. The guides also have permission to drive off-road to track animals and get closer to them for better photography opportunities. There were numerous times we drove through thick bush and unmarked territory to find animals!

Kruger and Sabi Sands are right next to each other with an unfenced border so animals can range freely. Interestingly, many animals stay in certain areas and “claim their territory”. Sabi Sands is smaller than Kruger, so it makes it easier to see all the animals on your bucket list! It is home to a variety of wildlife, including the highly sought-after “Big Five”. The animals are used to being around the safari trucks and you have a good chance of seeing them up close.

You will have a tracker and a guide who work together to make sure you see as much as possible during your stay. Our guide and tracker were incredible and we were able to see the “Big Five” and check off our long bucket list of animals! Wild dogs are very rare to see and our guides were luckily able to track them down after having not seen them for weeks. There was a pack of 20+ dogs and we followed them through the bush for a long time as they ran around playing.

The Big Five

I always thought the Big Five was a reference to the size of the animals in Africa: elephant, lion, hippo, rhino, giraffe, but apparently, that is wrong! I discovered that the Big Five was originally called that because it referred to the animals that big game hunters considered the most difficult and dangerous animals to hunt on foot in Africa. These animals include elephants, lions, leopards, cape buffalo, and rhinos. Thankfully big game hunting and poaching are not legal anymore. In any case, you can see all of these animals in Sabi Sands!

Sabi Sands Game Reserve is also well known for its amazing leopard sightings, which are not as common in other reserves. We saw numerous leopards and even got to watch one kill an impala, drag it up a tree, and eat it up in the tree.

How to Get to Sabi Sands

The easiest way to get to Sabi Sands Game Reserve is to fly into Skukuza Airport from Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. This airport is conveniently located close to the southern area of Sabi Sands where many of the popular luxury lodges are.

Once you arrive, your guides will pick you and your luggage up in a safari car for a short 25-30 minute drive back to the camp.

Where to Stay in Sabi Sands Game Reserve

There are many accommodations to choose from in Sabi Sands Game Reserve, but I highly recommend &Beyond’s Tengile River Lodge. Tengile River Lodge is one of the most exclusive, luxurious properties I have ever stayed. It’s situated on a bend of the Sand River and offers incredible panoramic views of the reserve. Often you can see animals cooling off in the river while you lounge in your private pool (hippos, elephants, and buffalo).

Each room is a private lodge with a bedroom, indoor and outdoor shower, bar, living room & dining area, outdoor deck, and pool. The interior of each lodge is specially designed and curated with special touches.

The lodge also has a pool, a great safari shop, spa, fitness center, and numerous public areas to sit and relax. I highly recommend a spa treatment in their outdoor area. It’s so relaxing to listen to the animals and birds while you enjoy a massage.

During your stay, there are twice-daily game drives and evening safaris. They offer three incredible gourmet meals a day, plus snacks and beverages in between.

It’s important to listen to the safety guidelines to prevent any unncessary accidents. The camp is completley unfenced and animals come in and out throughout the day. In the evenings it is required to be driven back to your room. One afternoon we were having lunch and we heard all the animals going crazy making pancicked noises. All of a sudden we saw a leopard walking towards the main lodge! Thankfully the animals scared it away and the staff is trained to push them out.

The service is impeccable and the staff ensures every guest has a truly memorable experience. Tengile Lodge is a must on our Ultimate Guide to Safari: Sabi Sands Game Reserve.

Daily Safari Schedule

Even though you are on vacation, this is not the place for sleeping in! The morning safari wake-up call (~5:30AM) is before sunrise so that it’s cooler and you have a better chance of seeing more animals. Once you’re up you can head to the main lodge for coffee and snacks before heading out into the reserve.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve always has a guide and a spotter during your game drive and they work together as a team. Game spotters are trained to look for special tracks or signs of animals nearby. Sometimes your spotter will even get off the truck and search for wildlife on foot. We couldn’t believe this!! There were a few times where he came dangerously close to a leopard.

They often communicate with other guides in the area about animal sightings and identify the best spots to visit so that you can see as much as possible.

After a few hours on safari, you will head back to the camp and have a delicious breakfast. Following breakfast you have the rest of the day to relax, take a nap, read, enjoy your surroundings, have lunch, and do whatever you want! Once the hottest part of the afternoon passes, you will join the evening safari.

During the evening safari ride, your guides will typically find a spot to stop and watch the sunset while enjoying a drink and snacks before heading back to the camp for dinner. Enjoying the sunset was one of our favorite parts of the day. We would share stories and photos with the rest of the family that we weren’t with in the safari car, while enjoying a drink and light bites.

Meals & Drinks

Tengile Lodge offers impeccable gourmet food for every meal. The three main meals a day are typically served in the outdoor dining room overlooking the reserve. Everything is made to order and freshly prepared based on what you’ve chosen. They can accommodate any dietary requirements you may have. They also make delicious, refreshing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

One of the most magical moments of our Sabi Sands safari was pulling up to a beautiful spread for breakfast in the African bush. The team from the hotel set up the most lovely table and buffet. It was such a special touch and really demonstrated the incredible level of service they offer.

Additionally, during each game drive you typically stop for a snack. They offer all sorts of beverages and small bites. In the evenings they would even have some kind of warmed appetizer. These small touches are what make Tengile the best!

One of the evenings you will likely experience a traditional boma dinner. At safari lodges, a boma is a gathering with everyone at the camp, including your guide, to enjoy an outdoor candlelit dinner in an enclosed area. They prepare a delicious South African BBQ and have music and dancing. It’s a magical evening!

What to Wear on Safari

Although some people like to go all out with epic safari outfits, it’s not necessary! Honestly, it’s best to be comfortable and wear layers because the weather can change so drastically. It’s recommended to wear more neutral colors (nude, green, khaki, brown etc) so that you don’t scare the animals away.

Things to pack on safari:

• A hat (you’re driving for hours in the sun)
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• A sweater / layers
• Bathing suit
• Khakis
• Shorts
• T-shirts
• Sneakers
• Sandals
• Camera (preferably a DSLR with an 18-200mm telezoom lens to capture everything from landscape to portrait, to distant wildlife)
• Dust bag to protect your camera

Recommended Cameras

• Canon Crop Sensor Camera (beginner | $599) – Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera | 2 Lens Kit with EF18-55mm + EF 75-300mm Lens, Black
• Canon Full Frame Camera (professional | $1,500) – Canon EOS R6 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera with 4K Video, Full-Frame CMOS Sensor, DIGIC X Image Processor, Dual UHS-II SD Memory Card Slots, and Up to 12 fps with Mechanical Shutter, Body Only, Black
• Canon Full Frame Camera (professional | $3,399) – Canon EOS R5 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera – 8K Video, 45 Megapixel Full-Frame CMOS Sensor, DIGIC X Image Processor, Up to 12 fps Mechanical Shutter (Body Only)

Recommended Camera Lens

• Canon Lens – EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 (crop sensor | $235)
• Canon Lens – EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 (crop sensor | $299 )
• Canon Lens – EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens (full frame | $1,000)

Recommended Camera Packing Cube

Guys – Wandrd has THE BEST packing cubes for cameras. I can’t speak highly enough of this brand. Their products are sleek, well-padded and well-designed. We put our GoPro and Canon with two lenses and numerous accessories in one packing cube. It’s the perfect size and it’s padded enough to get jostled around in your backpack. We ordered packing cubes from various companies and ended up returning them all for Wandrd.

I also recommend the Wandrd tech pouch. It’s a perfect size for all your cords, an extra battery, AirPods, etc.

What You Will See on Sabi Sands Game Reserve Safari

Obviously, every game drive is different and changes based on weather, time of day, time of year etc., but here are the animals we saw:

• Multiple herds of elephants with many babies
• Hippopotamus
• White Rhino
• Wild Dog
• Hyena
• Buffalo
• Leopards
• Lion
• Giraffe
• Zebra
• Impala
• Monkeys
• Wildebeest
• Warthog
• Vultures

There are also so many other kinds of bugs, birds, and small animals to search for. Your guide will share information about what you can expect to see. Every game drive is different and there is always something exciting happening in the reserve. We were able to see a lion eating a giraffe, as well as hyenas and vultures eating a buffalo. Safaris are not for the faint of heart! Safari’s can be bloody, gory, and violent, so it’s important to be okay with that.

When to Visit

The best time to visit Sabi Sand Game Reserve is from May – September when the weather is drier. October through April is the wet season, which is ideal for birdwatching. You can still visit in December – January but it gets much hotter during the day and for that reason, you get up earlier and only do the morning and evening drives.

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