Plan your Safari

We help you make informed decisions

Plan your safari to the Sabi Sand Reserve with us. Our expertise and experience will help you make informed decisions about this iconic destination; we hope to inspire your itinerary and set your expectations. You’ll find a Sabi Sand Price Guide, what you’ll experience, and what destinations you can combine with the Sabi Sand Reserve. We have recommended accommodation and ready-made tours for all types of travellers or you can simply contact us for a tailor-made itinerary.

Sabi Sand Price Guide

Why am I Paying this Price?

Much is built into the per person rate.  You’ll enjoy first-rate, air-conditioned safari accommodation plus two game drives a day, led by some of the best guides in the business. All meals are included – culinary standards are high – and most lodges offer local wines, beers and spirits as part of the rate. Supplementary activities like nature walks and village visits are also included.

And then there’s the game viewing: superb sightings of the Big 5 are virtually guaranteed in a beautiful and unspoilt landscape. And your presence assures it remains that way: part of the price you pay is ploughed back into local conservation and community development.

Does Cost affect the Experience?

Not in terms of the game viewing experience. Each private concession within the Sabi Sand Private Reserve is home to excellent Big 5 game viewing as well as a host other animals and birds. As for standards of accommodation, then the difference is greater. Sabi’s ‘entry-level’ lodges deliver all the comfort you’ll need but accommodation at the other end of the scale features private pools, palatial living spaces and indulgent dining.

One factor to consider is whether your guide is allowed to drive onto another concession. This can add greatly to your game viewing experience but these traversing rights differ throughout the reserve: more affordable Sabi accommodation may have a limited range compared to others. Moreover, the more expensive the accommodation, the more exclusive the game viewing tends to be.

Ask us about traversing rights when you enquire about a Sabi safari: it might be important for your personal game viewing experience.

Do High and Low Seasons have Different Accommodation Rates?

Thanks to consistently good year-round game viewing, there’s not much of a high or low season in the Sabi Sand Reserve. Consequently, there’s little difference in a lodge’s bed rate throughout the year. The majority of lodges charge the same price all year and (unlike many lodges in Botswana and Zambia) remain open during summer. But several accommodations do offer special rates and limited-offer deals during the winter period – find out more by enquiring with us.

Recommended Sabi Sand Accommodation

Superior Lodges

No-one does safari accommodation better than the Sabi Sand Reserve. The most generously appointed and comfortable camps in all of Southern Africa, Sabi’s Superior Lodges include private villas, honeymoon hideaways and sumptuous family suites. Air conditioning, swimming pools and sundecks are standard as are superb meals and extensive wine lists. Noted for their exclusivity, many Superior Lodges are home to a gym, wellness spa and yoga studio, and you’ll enjoy treats such as butler service and private dining.

Our recommended Sabi Sand Superior Lodges are the Singita Lodges

Luxury Lodges

Sabi Sand’s Luxury Accommodations lack nothing in terms of comfort or experience. You’ll stay at magnificent lodges in prime locations, enjoying amenities ranging from swimming pools and spas to photographic hides and star-gazing platforms. Air-conditioned suites and chalets provide the personal living space and come with their own viewing decks.

Our recommended Sabi Sand Luxury Lodges are Dunlini Lodges and the Savanna Lodge.

Affordable Lodges

If you thought a Sabi Sand safari was out of budget, good news: this private reserve is home to surprisingly affordable lodges too. You’ll enjoy comfortable, air-conditioned accommodation with your own bathroom. There’ll be a swimming pool, sundeck and plenty of good food – and you’ll still sit back to excellent Big 5 game viewing with experienced guides.

Our recommended Sabi Sand Affordable Lodges are Arathusa Safari Lodge and the Elephant Plains Game Lodge.

Family-Friendly Lodges

Several Sabi Sand lodges have been designed with families in mind. Featuring child-friendly, inter-connecting suites or four-sleeper cottages, these accommodations take great care to ensure a safe and memorable experience for all family members. Dedicated guides run child-oriented safari programmes; kids’ menus and baby sitters are available; private guides and vehicles can be arranged (and are required for families with young children). For the ultimate in large or multi-generational family safaris, ask us about exclusive-use, fully serviced safari camps.

Our recommended Sabi Sand Family-Friendly Lodges are Elephant Plains Game Lodge and Londolozi.

Romantic & Honeymoon Lodges

Whether it’s your honeymoon or significant anniversary or simply a romantic safari for two, the Sabi Sand Reserve is the perfect place to share an African safari together. Small, intimate lodges of extraordinary beauty and location are something of a speciality for this exclusive reserve; you’ll enjoy discreet, personalised service as well as treats like petal-strewn bubble baths and candle-lit private dining.

Our recommended Sabi Sand Romantic & Honeymoon Lodges are Dulini Lodge & Savanna Lodge.

Combining Sabi Sand with Other Destinations

Tried and trusted fly-in logistics means the Sabi Sand Reserve is simple to combine with destinations ranging from Cape Town and Victoria Falls to Botswana and Indian Ocean beaches.

Cape Town/Sabi Sand/Victoria Falls

The perfect honeymoon itinerary, a Cape Town/Sabi Sand/Victoria Falls combination is popular for both diversity of experience as well as its simple travel arrangements – fly to the Sabi Sand from Cape Town and then to ‘The Smoke that Thunders’ via Johannesburg. View options here.

Cape Town/Sabi Sand/Victoria Falls/Botswana

We also take the Cape Town/Sabi Sand/Victoria Falls combination and super-size the game viewing by adding on a Botswana safari. The Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta are renowned for their elephant herds and predators and you’ll explore by 4X4, river boat and traditional canoe. View options here.

Sabi Sand/Garden Route/Cape Town

The Sabi Sand/Garden Route/Cape Town combination is a long-term family favourite. Complete with long sandy beaches, family accommodation, amazing game viewing and even seasonal whale watching, it’s an unforgettable experience for everyone. Perfect for more independently-minded travellers (the Cape Town and Garden Route section is usually self-drive) it’s also a great itinerary for a honeymoon or romantic holiday. Ask us about the most suitable tours for two. View options here.

Cape Town/Sabi Sand/Indian Ocean

If tropical waters are more your thing, then a Cape Town/Sabi Sand/Indian Ocean combination is what you’ll want. South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal coast is home to some of the country’s best beaches as well as coral reefs and coastal game reserves, and you’ll find both family resorts and honeymoon hideaways there. If you feel like ramping up the Crusoe-chic, why not swop the KwaZulu-Natal coast for a hideaway Mozambican island? The dazzling beaches of the Bazaruto and Quirimbas Archipelagos are just a short hop from Johannesburg. View options here.

Hands-on Expertise

  • We’re based in Africa
  • Visit our destinations regularly
  • Exceptionally knowledgeable team
  • Expect unrivaled customer service

Accredited & Bonded

  • SATSA – Bonded Membership (2061)
  • ATTA Membership (204387)
  • Fully Independent & Owner Run
  • 24/7 Travel Support

Reviews

Exceptional service ensuring a wonderful holiday. Highly recommended

Attention to detail & service provided was first class, from our very first email to the last day of our trip. Walter went above and beyond to ensure that we were notified of any changes, even up to our last day with a change to our flight time, at short notice. The safari was so much more than expected, from the rustic to the exceptional, every camp was different in it’s own way and our highlights are hard to single out just one as each camp was great.

Cyndi and Dave (AU)
Trip of a lifetime: Five countries, six camps, Vic Falls, Big Five plus more game

In June/July 2016 we undertook a trip to Southern Africa to fulfill a lifelong intention. We stayed at six camps, safari style, and had a great time. All of our expectations were met or even exceeded. For example, we never expected to see honey badgers or sitatunga, given the secretive nature of those species, but we did! All travel arrangements and connections worked smoothly, which is astonishing since we had several dozen transfers and meeting points; all of the connecting personnel were prompt, professional, and welcoming.

Michael (USA)
Faultless service, attention to detail and quality of accomodations.

The communications and service from Walter was excellent, and we were continuously fully informed. The information package and book received on arrival were excellent. We felt that we had been allocated carefully selected lodges at each camp and every detail met or exceeded our expectations.
The safari tour was wonderful, and a particular feature was the variety offered at each location which combined perfectly

Carolyn (AU)
Outstanding experience!

We have booked at the Elephant Plains Lodge. We stayed there for a few nights and went on safaris. The lodge, the guide, the food and all the animals we have seen were fantastic. Really an outstanding experience. We can recommend Elephant Plains to everybody. Maybe you will not be as lucky as we were, becaucse we have seen the Big 5! But however you will not forget your stay at Elephant Plains.

Silvio (CH)
Experience of a lifetime and wonderful service!!

Our extended family (16 travellers, including 8 children under ten years of age!) went on a wonderful safari adventure curated and organised by Walter Kohrs of Safari Online. It could not have been any better than we experienced. From our time in Cape Town, to visiting Victoria Falls, all the way through Zimbabwe and finally wrapping up at the amazing Chobe Safari Lodge, all the locations chosen by Walter were amazing.

His attention to detail, willingness to fine-tune and excellent responsiveness (over a period of several months!) could not have been better. He took time to visit us personally upon our arrival in South Africa, with lovely gift-packs and shared a wealth of advice, recommendations and tips. I cannot recommend Safari Online (and Walter Kohrs in particular) any higher. Absolutely amazing.

Oisin (AU)
Absolutely Perfect

I was already last year in South Africa and Zambia organized by Safari Online. It was a absolutely gorgeous trip. Everything was perfect. This was the reason I booked this year in May and June an new trip to South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. I got everything I expected. It was a dream again. I know I´m coming back.

Bernard (DE)
Karina was absolutely instrumental to our safari success.

Our experience with Safari Online was excellent. After becoming very frustrated trying to search for a safari destination on our own, we turned to Karina for help and she was a lifesaver. She responded to our requests promptly and gave us several options with links to each option; we ultimately chose Lukimbi. She then coordinated our flights to and from the property, arranged the drivers necessary to get us from the airport to the lodge and back again, and sent the appropriate paperwork to each of us to verify each step of the process. We had an amazing safari adventure at the lodge–the experience of a lifetime–and are so grateful for her help. We literally couldn’t have done it without her!

Chris (USA)
We had a wonderful holiday with no hitches, perfectly planned for us and so professional.

Though we live in Australia, Safari online made planning for our family holiday so easy. Walter understood our requirements and nothing was too much trouble. The holiday was everything we wanted it to be and so much more. Every camp was ideally suited for our family and we loved each day, every early morning and evening game drive. Thank you to Walter for his attention to detail and his friendly, professional and caring manner. It was a trip of a lifetime and one that we will talk about forever.

Mary (AU)
Best experience ever!!

They provide us the most taylored and customized honeymoon possible! everything was much better than we expected. We loved the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere and everyone made us feeling so incredibly special and gave us a unique insight. Over our game drives we managed to see all the big five plus some!!

Salvatore (IT)
The trip was sensational and tailored to our needs. Simply fantastic!

The care by Walter was great from planning to leaving Johannesburg. The accommodations were perfectly chosen. If after a few days you thought it could not be better, you were told otherwise. It was an increase every day, with the 3 days safari in the Kruger, including overnight in tree house, the grand finale.
I would book a trip anytime again at Safari Online.

Ulrike (DE)