Best of Sabi Sands Game Reserve

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Sabi Sands Game Reserve
Sabi Sands offers some of the best wildlife viewing in the game. This reserve is the most established private game reserve that’s open to the Kruger National Park, and the animals have grown accustomed to vehicles enough to go about their daily routines with minimal disruptions even when rangers are nearby. An additional bonus over some other game reserves is Sabi Sands’ year-round rivers, rather than man-made dams or seasonal watering holes. The river vegetation and waters attract species like hippos, crocodile, and various water fowl to their natural settings.

Get into the reserve on a game drive, night drive, or guided game walk. If you have time, staying at multiple lodges within the reserve will help you fully explore and get a better look at the biome in all its diversity.
Plan your trip to South Africa
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Get Started
Catch a rainbow at Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls
Map of Wild South Africa & Zimbabwe: Kruger National Park & Victoria Falls - 7 Days
Wild South Africa & Zimbabwe: Kruger National Park & Victoria Falls - 7 Days

Discover wildlife and natural beauty up close on this weeklong adventure that takes you to South Africa and Zimbabwe's most spectacular sites. Start in Kruger National Park to explore by safari as you observe "Big Five" wildlife by day and nocturnal beasts in the evening. Enjoy life at the lodge and experience a traditional meal grilled over open flames. Finish your expedition by marveling at the overwhelming beauty of Victoria Falls and trying out some extreme sports activities.

Stay three nights at a luxury lodge in Sabi Sands Game Reserve (photo courtesy of Lion Sands Narina)
Map of Luxury Safari Adventure in South Africa & Botswana - 14 Days
Luxury Safari Adventure in South Africa & Botswana - 14 Days

Pack your bags for a memorable journey to hit the highlights of northeastern South Africa. Stay in luxurious lodges and tent camps on the African savanna as you enjoy game drives to spot exotic wildlife in famous parks and reserves like Sabi Sands, Kruger, and Chobe. But that's not all; you'll also hop the northern border into Botswana for safaris at the biodiverse Okavango Delta and hit the streets of dynamic Johannesburg for a bit of culture and dinner in Nelson Mandela's former home.

Enjoy game drives in South Africa's famous Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve
Map of South Africa Coastal & Safari Highlights: Cape Town & Sabi Sands - 7 Days
South Africa Coastal & Safari Highlights: Cape Town & Sabi Sands - 7 Days

Plan for a week of safari adventures in South Africa to witness some of the most majestic animals on land and sea. It begins in coastal Cape Town, where you'll stroll its colorful harbor and visit iconic landmarks on the Cape Peninsula. After walking with African penguins and doing some whale watching, you're off to Sabi Sands, a private nature reserve where you'll enjoy safari game drives by day and spend your evenings in perfect comfort at luxurious bush lodges.

You'll have an excellent chance of seeing big cats like cheetahs in both Kruger and Sabi Sands
Map of South African Safari Highlights: Kruger & Sabi Sands - 5 Days
South African Safari Highlights: Kruger & Sabi Sands - 5 Days

This quick South African getaway will take you to two of the best safari spots in the country and give you the best chance of spotting Big Five wildlife—perfect if it's your first time in the bush. Based in Kruger National Park and the adjoining Sabi Sands Game Reserve, you'll overnight at 5-star lodges outfitted with decadent amenities as you spend your days racing across the savanna on the lookout for lions, elephants, leopards, and more.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve is famous for its thriving leopard population
Map of Self-Drive Safari in South Africa - 5 Days
Self-Drive Safari in South Africa - 5 Days

Looking to tack a quick safari adventure onto your South Africa vacation? This self-drive itinerary starts with game drives and bush walks in the unspoiled Sabi Sands Reserve. After spotting Big Five wildlife like lions and rhinos, you'll drive to Tzaneen to spend a day at a local farm and finish strong with nature hikes and thrilling zipline tours in the mountains of Limpopo province.

Within Chobe National Park
Map of Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls & Chobe National Park - 10 Days
Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls & Chobe National Park - 10 Days

Take 10 days to travel through some of the wildest parts of Southern Africa with this trip plan. You'll start in Cape Town to experience urban life, touring the surrounding natural attractions and the city's wine scene, before you start your safari time in Sabi Sands, adjacent to Kruger National Park. From there, fly to Victoria Falls to take in the famous waterfalls, then continue on some slower waters with a houseboat trip down the Zambezi.

An excess of elephants
Map of Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park & More - 14 Days
Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park & More - 14 Days

Take two weeks to travel through southern Africa on the wildlife trail with this trip plan. After a bustling city start in Cape Town and Johannesburg, you'll travel to Sabi Sands Game Reserve to begin the first of your safari experiences and search for the "Big Five" next door to Kruger National Park. From there, fly to Victoria Falls for the views, then board a houseboat to take you on a river-based safari spotting hippos down the Zambezi. You'll end your trip in the Okavango Delta and its Moremi Game Reserve to make sure you've got a glimpse of everything on your list.

Yeah we saw that text
Map of South Africa and Zimbabwe Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Mana Pools National Park, & More - 14 Days
South Africa and Zimbabwe Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Mana Pools National Park, & More - 14 Days

The African continent has more than 3,000 protected areas of land, and while you won't be able to cover all of them on this trip, you can get a good look. From the treetops of the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town and vineyards of the Winelands, you'll continue to the Sabi Sands game reserve and two different national parks in Zimbabwe to take in all the scenery and safari time the southern region of the continent has to offer.

Spend three days exploring the Moremi Game Reserve
Map of Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park & More - 16 Days
Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park & More - 16 Days

Sweep through southern Africa on this 16-day safari-centric tour. Enjoy scenic drives and food and wine tours in Cape Town, followed by a modern history lesson in Johannesburg. Then, it's off to Sabi Sands Game Reserve for three days of game drives and bush walks. Leave South Africa and head to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe before you board a houseboat to cruise through the waterways of Chobe National Park. End the trip with one last safari in Botswana's Moremi Game Reserve.

Mix adventure and luxury on a trip to South Africa (photo courtesy of Dulini)
Map of South Africa Luxury Safari: Cape Town, Winelands, Sabi Sands & White River - 10 Days
South Africa Luxury Safari: Cape Town, Winelands, Sabi Sands & White River - 10 Days

Experience a more luxurious style of safari with this 10-day South African adventure. After an introduction to Cape Town, set off into the Cape Winelands for private vineyard tours and tastings. Then, it's on to the main event—an exclusive safari experience in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Seek out Big Five wildlife on game drives and bush walks, then retire to your 5-star lodge each evening. End with a scenic trip along the Panorama Route to glimpse the dramatic vistas of the Blyde River Canyon.

Your self-drive adventure starts with game drives in Kruger National Park
Map of Adventurous Self-Drive Safari in South Africa - 7 Days
Adventurous Self-Drive Safari in South Africa - 7 Days

Get behind the wheel for a week of wildlife outings and nature tours in some of South Africa's hottest safari destinations. Find your bearings in Johannesburg, then set off into Kruger National Park for game drives and bush walks from a riverside camp. It's on to nearby Sabi Sands for more safari adventures and "glamping" within the famed private reserve, then turn north for road-trip adventures and boat tours of Blyde, the most awe-inspiring river canyon in the country.

Your safari adventure starts in Kruger, where you'll spot elephants and other Big Five wildlife
Map of Adventurous Self-Drive Safari in South Africa - 10 Days
Adventurous Self-Drive Safari in South Africa - 10 Days

With 10 days in South Africa, you can combine the ultimate safari experience with the freedom of an adventurous road trip. Hop between Kruger and Sabi Sands for a packed itinerary of game drives and bush walks, spending your evenings in comfort at luxury bush lodges. Then it's time to trade big game for natural wonders as you strike out north toward the dramatic landscapes of Blyde River Canyon and the Graskop Gorge.

Experience luxury among the bushveld wilderness of Sabi Sands (photo courtesy of Sabi Sands)
Map of South Africa Luxury Safari: City, Wine & Wilderness Adventures - 14 Days
South Africa Luxury Safari: City, Wine & Wilderness Adventures - 14 Days

There's no need to sacrifice comfort or style while on safari in the African bush. This two-week trip perfectly exemplifies that ideal, combining luxury accommodations with safari adventures and cultural tours. Start with scenic hikes in Cape Town, explore the wilderness of Cederberg, then venture into the Winelands for horseback rides and wine tasting. Game drives and bush walks await at your 5-star lodge in Sabi Sands, then it's back to the big city for a night on the town in Johannesburg.

Finding Elephants on Safari
Discover Wildlife in South Africa and Botswana - 14 Days

This two-week trip takes you through South Africa and into Botswana, starting in the vibrant city of Cape Town where you'll go whale watching, visit the penguin colony on Boulders Beach, and tour the scenic Cape Peninsula. The luxury train Rovos Rail will take you across the country, stopping in Matjiesfontein, Kimberely, and Pretoria, and ending with a flight from Johannesburg to Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Sleep in luxury tents and track Big Five wildlife before transferring to Botswana and exploring the Okavango Delta with traditional mokoro boats and a hot air balloon ride.

Hippos in Chobe
Map of Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, & More - 9 Days
Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, & More - 9 Days

Go from the concrete jungle to the actual jungle with this nine-day itinerary. Start on the sophisticated city streets of Cape Town, where you'll take in city tours and scenic drives, then safari through Sabi Sands Game Reserve, a private park that shares its boundaries with larger Kruger National Park. Hop up to the top of Victoria Falls, then cruise your way into the end of your trip on a houseboat down the Zambezi.

Between Kruger National Park and the private Sabi Sands, you'll have plenty of opportunities to spot big cats and other Big Five game
Map of South African Safari Highlights: Kruger, Sabi Sands & Cape Town - 10 Days
South African Safari Highlights: Kruger, Sabi Sands & Cape Town - 10 Days

Perfect for first-timers and those looking for the quintessential South African safari experience, this 10-day itinerary bases you between Kruger National Park and the Sabi Sands Reserve, where you'll spot lions and rhinos on game drives, take sunset bush walks through the savanna, and fall asleep to the sounds of the bushveld in luxury lodges. After plenty of safari adventures, your trip winds down in Cape Town for penguin tours, wine tastings, cooking workshops, and more.

Spot vervet monkeys as you explore Kruger National Park on game drives
Map of Adventurous Self-Drive Safari in South Africa - 14 Days
Adventurous Self-Drive Safari in South Africa - 14 Days

You don't have to stick to just the highlights when planning the perfect South African safari adventure—especially when you're the one behind the wheel. This two-week itinerary begins with culture and history in Johannesburg, then hits the road northeast to Kruger National Park—one of the grandest safari destinations in the world. But that's not all: you'll also follow the famous Panorama Route, spend time on game drives in Sabi Sands, and go hiking and ziplining in the lush forests of northern Limpopo.

Red-billed hornbill
Map of Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, & More - 12 Days
Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, & More - 12 Days

Spend twelve days touring some of southern Africa's wildlife hotspots with this itinerary. You'll begin with three nights in Cape Town to take in the city's wine and cheese samples along with its surrounding natural landscapes, then move to Sabi Sands Reserve for a safari. Continue to Zimbabwe feel the rush of Victoria Falls before you cruise into the end of your journey on a second safari onboard a houseboat.

Baobab at Mana Pools
Map of South Africa and Zimbabwe Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Mana Pools National Park, & More - 11 Days
South Africa and Zimbabwe Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Mana Pools National Park, & More - 11 Days

Crocodiles have been on earth for roughly 200 million years. See if you can find one and ask it some historical questions on this 11-day trip. You'll start out gazing out at Cape Town from atop Table Mountain and sipping the famous vintages of the Winelands, then head out on safari through Sabi Sands reserve and the Hwange and Mana Pools national parks to see what you can learn.

Grazing hippo in Chobe National Park
Map of Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, & More - 11 Days
Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, & More - 11 Days

You'll experience eleven days exploring both the wildlife of Southern Africa and city of Cape Town on this itinerary. Your start in Cape Town offers a chance to experience the attractions of both the city itself and its surrounding natural beauty at points like the Chapman's Peak scenic drive, Cape of Good Hope, and more. Go into the wild in Sabi Sands Game Reserve, adjacent to Kruger National Park, then to the rushing cascades of Victoria Falls. End your trip relaxing down the river on a houseboat safari through Chobe National Park.

Elephant at the Pools
Map of South Africa and Zimbabwe Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Mana Pools National Park, & More - 12 Days
South Africa and Zimbabwe Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Mana Pools National Park, & More - 12 Days

Painted dogs may look pettable, but they're actually one of the most efficient hunters of any large predator. You'll visit a painted dog conservation center along with two national parks and a game reserve on this 12-day trip, with some Cape Town city time in the mix, to see how many potential four-legged fuzzballs southern Africa has to offer. Just keep your hands to yourself.

Zebras in the Okavango Delta
Map of Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, & More - 13 Days
Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, & More - 13 Days

Thirteen days gets you a look at some of southern Africa's most dynamic wildlife on this trip. Start off in Cape Town, enjoying the views from atop Table Mountain and out on the Cape of Good Hope, then travel to Sabi Sands Game reserve next to Kruger National Park for a safari. From there you'll continue to the famous Victoria Falls, then stay along the water with a houseboat safari before you end your trip in the lush Okavango Delta.

Strike out on safari in two of the country's best wildlife-watching locations
Map of South African Safari Highlights: Kruger, Sabi Sands, Victoria Falls & Cape Town - 14 Days
South African Safari Highlights: Kruger, Sabi Sands, Victoria Falls & Cape Town - 14 Days

With dozens of national parks and reserves within easy reach, there's no better country in Africa for the ultimate safari adventure than the southernmost one. This eventful two-week itinerary includes Big Five game drives in Kruger National Park, bush walks in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, and a visit to Victoria Falls to marvel at the largest waterfall in the world. In between, you'll experience the history of Johannesburg, join cooking and wine-tasting experiences in Cape Town, and more.

Female leopard with her cub
Map of Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, & More - 15 Days
Southern Africa Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, & More - 15 Days

Spend fifteen days surveying southern Africa on this wide-ranging itinerary. Taste wine and cheese and travel to scenic viewpoints in Cape Town, then learn about history where it happened in Johannesburg. Begin your safari time from there, starting in Sabi Sands and neighboring Kruger National Park, continuing down the Zambezi River on a luxury houseboat, and ending amidst the Okavango Delta

Victoria Falls
Map of South Africa and Zimbabwe Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Mana Pools National Park, & More - 13 Days
South Africa and Zimbabwe Safari: Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Mana Pools National Park, & More - 13 Days

Rumor has it the "big 5"—elephant, leopard, lion, buffalo, and rhino—gained their name by being the hardest animals to hunt on foot. Luckily, you won't be walking through this 13-day itinerary and will only be hunting with your eyes. After strolling through the city streets of Cape Town, you'll set out on safari at three separate destinations to test out your animal-spotting skills.

An evening view of Table Mountain in Cape Town
Map of South Africa and Mauritius: Cape Town, Johannesburg, Safari, & More - 15 Days
South Africa and Mauritius: Cape Town, Johannesburg, Safari, & More - 15 Days

This 15-day itinerary combines the highlights of South African travel with the chance to relax on the white sand beaches of Mauritius. You'll arrive in Cape Town, where you'll discover the Cape wine region and explore the city's top scenic and tourist spots including Table Mountain and Robben Island, before traveling to Manyeleti Game Reserve, which shares an open border with Kruger National Park. Over four days, you'll spot the Big Five and other species during game drives or guided walks, and then depart for Johannesburg where you'll catch a flight to Mauritius.

Other popular travel destinations in South Africa
Cape Town · Western Cape · Cape Winelands · Johannesburg · Franschhoek · Kruger National Park · Garden Route · Eastern Cape · Hermanus · Thornybush Game Reserve · Timbavati Game Reserve