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Budget Sabi Sands Safari buffalos

4 Day Budget Sabi Sands Safari - Tented Lodge Safari

Tour Length4 days
Priced from pps $1144 R21695 £899 1052 A$1745 C$1549 NZ$1881 Full pricing info
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Summary of this Lodge Safari

  • Max. Group Size 10 Travellers
  • Starts & ends in Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Accommodation Luxury Camping
  • Transport Microbus / Open 4x4 Game Viewing Vehicle
  • Wildlife Big 5, Elephant, Leopards, Lions, Rhino & More
  •  See Departure Dates

Quick Itinerary Overview

This Sabi Sands Safari gives budget travelers a rare chance to experience Sabi Sands Game Reserve at an affordable price. Sabi Sands is a sought-after private game reserve in Greater Kruger, world-renowned for its leopard sightings and close-up wildlife encounters.

Spend three nights at an exclusive yet affordable tented safari lodge inside the Big 5 Sabie Sand Game Reserve. Enjoy the home comforts, pool, and luxurious tented accommodation with ensuite facilities and air-conditioning, choosing from standard, luxury, and superior tented suites. Explore southern Sabi Sands, one of the best game viewing areas, in a small group on open 4x4 game drives and a guided walking safari.

Get the most out of your African Safari in the prestigious Sabie Sands Game Reserve, with experienced and professional guides.

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Itinerary for this Tour

Day 1: Johannesburg to Sabi Sands Game Reserve - Greater Kruger Park

At the start of this budget Sabi Sands Safari, you are collected from the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The air-conditioned shuttle collects you at 07h00 in the morning.

From bustling Johannesburg, the economic center of South Africa, we drive northeast to Sabi Sands Game Reserve in Greater Kruger Park. Our drive takes us through the scenic Mpumalanga Province.

Arriving at our tented safari lodge in Sabi Sands there is time to relax and settle in. Then we embark on our first exhilarating game drive in Sabi Sands Game Reserve. This sunset game drive takes us out into the private game reserve of Sabi Sands in open 4x4 safari vehicles in search of the Big 5 animals and more. Sunset is an excellent time for game viewing, as this is when diurnal wildlife becomes more active and nocturnal animals begin to stir.

All of the game drives on this Greater Kruger safari are conducted by professional guides in safari vehicles adapted for game viewing in the South African bush. Our sunset game drive ends back at the private game lodge in southern Sabi Sands. Back at the tented lodge, it's time to sit back and enjoy dinner and drinks around the welcoming campfire. At the end of the day, retreat to your luxury tented room and fall asleep to the sounds of the African bush.

  • Meals included: Dinner
  • Accommodation: Standard Tent, Luxury Tent, or Superior Tented Suite (based on your choice)
  • Safari activities included: Sunset game drive in Sabi Sands Game Reserve

Please Note: The price of this Sabi Sands Safari varies depending on the tented accommodation you choose. Options include standard tents, a luxury tent, or a superior tented suite (see full tour pricing for details).

Day 2: Sabi Sands Game Reserve - Greater Kruger Park

Day two of our budget Sabi Sands Safari begins with an early cup of coffee or tea on the main deck overlooking the African wilderness. After your refreshing cuppa, it's time to embark on our first, morning game drive.

The friendly guides of the tented safari lodge take you out into Sabi Sands Game Reserve in open 4x4 safari vehicles. You'll be in excellent hands with these experienced and highly professional safari guides. As you explore the guides share interesting facts and stories about the wild animals, birds, plants, and ecosystems of Greater Kruger.

Early mornings are an excellent time for game viewing in the African bush because the animals are more active in the cool morning hours. The birds are also more active in the early mornings so bring your binoculars. And, the bush is bathed in a warm glow which makes for beautiful photographs in the mornings.

After your exciting morning game drive, your guides take you back to the Sabi Sands lodge for a scrumptious breakfast spread. Breakfast is followed by free time to enjoy the home comforts of the luxury tented safari lodge. Take a dip in the swimming pool. Curl up with a book in the comfortable lounge area of the main treehouse building. Retire to your air-conditioned luxury tent for a siesta, or sit on the deck and watch for wildlife and birds in the surrounding bushveld.

In the afternoon, after lunch, the lodge's expert safari guides take you on a sunset game drive in Sabi Sands Game Reserve. These 4x4 game drives are usually conducted in the southern part of Sabi Sands, known for its excellent wildlife sightings at close range. This renowned private game reserve in Greater Kruger is home to healthy populations of Africa's Big 5 animals. Sabi Sands Game Reserve is famous for its excellent leopard sightings in particular. During your sunset game drive, you'll stop in a scenic spot for sundowners in the middle of the African bush. The experienced guides on this Sabi Sands Safari readily share their in-depth knowledge with you and are happy to answer your questions.

Back at the private game lodge, we enjoy dinner and drinks around the open-air campfire, spending another evening under starry African skies. At the end of the day, retire to your comfortable tented suite and fall asleep to the sounds of nature.

  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Standard Tent, Luxury Tent, or Superior Tented Suite (based on your choice)
  • Safari activities included: Morning & Afternoon game drives in Sabi Sands Game Reserve

Day 3: Sabi Sands Game Drives & Bush Walk

Rise and shine early again today, for a refreshing tea or coffee in the comfort of the lodge. Then we head back out into Sabi Sands Game Reserve to see what animals and birds we can spot in the warm morning light. The safari guides do their utmost to get up close to the wildlife encountered on your game drives, providing great photographic opportunities.

Breakfast is served back at the private game lodge nestled in the indigenous trees. After breakfast, we set off on a thrilling bush walk in Sabi Sands Reserve. The bushwalk is led by an armed game ranger as Sabi Sands is Big 5 territory where large mammals may be encountered at any moment. You will set off on foot from the lodge and spend about an hour walking. On your morning bush walk, the guides point out the small details and creatures of the bush, sharing more about the micro-habitats of Greater Kruger.

Your walk is followed by free time back at the tented safari lodge. Take a dip in the pool and sit back in one of the comfortable lounging areas. A light lunch is served and later in the afternoon, we venture back out into the Big 5 African bush. Keep your eyes open for the Big 5 (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant) in the famous Sabi Sands Reserve. We return to the tented camp after dark, to be met by a campfire and cold beverages. Tuck into a hearty dinner in the open-air boma under starry skies, before retiring to your comfortable tented room for a well-deserved rest.

  • Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
  • Accommodation: Standard Tent, Luxury Tent, or Superior Tented Suite (based on your choice)
  • Safari activities included: Morning game drive & bushwalk in Sabi Sands, Afternoon game drive in Sabi Sands

Please Note: The order of the safari activities on this Sabi Sands Safari is weather dependent and may need to change to accommodate conditions at the time of your stay.

Day 4: Sabi Sands Game Reserve to Johannesburg - South Africa

On the final day of this budget Sabi Sands Safari in South Africa, we wake up to the early morning sounds of the African bush. After a quick tea or coffee, we head out on one last game drive. This morning you will already notice how much easier it is to spot animals and birds on your game drive after a few days on safari.

After your final 4x4 adventure, return to the private game lodge for a delicious breakfast out on the shaded deck. Then it is time to pack up and prepare for the journey back to Johannesburg. The air-conditioned shuttle collects you from the Sabi Sands lodge at about 10h00. In the late afternoon, the suttle drops you back at the OR Tambo Airport where this affordable Sabi Sands Safari comes to a close.

  • Breakfast included
  • Safari activities included: Morning game drive in Sabi Sands Game Reserve

About the Tented Safari Camp in Sabie Sands Game Reserve

On this Sabi Sands Safari, guests stay at a private game lodge in southern Sabie Sands Game Reserve. This is one of the best game viewing areas of the prestigious Sabie Sands Game Reserve. It serves as an ideal base for exploring both Sabi Sands and Kruger National Park.

The tented safari camp is nestled in tall indigenous trees, overlooking diverse habitats where wild animals and birds are regularly sighted. It is tucked away in the bush, providing an authentic African safari setting. The tented safari camp is intimate and comfortable, yet simple and understated. The Sabi Sands lodge consists of a main treehouse building, six Meru-style tents, a large open-air boma, and a swimming pool. It offers an exclusive, yet affordable African safari adventure in South Africa's premier game reserves. This well-priced tented safari lodge provides a rare opportunity to experience the sought-after Sabi Sands Reserve on a budget. The affordable game lodge provides excellent service and quality accommodation with home comforts and touches of luxury.

The main lodge building is a thatch-roofed structure that incorporates natural stone and wood. Its main feature is a spacious wooden deck set around a big old Weeping Boer-bean tree. Breakfast and lunch are served at tables under a thatch-covered area of the deck which overlooks the wild habitats of Sabi Sands. The treehouse building also has indoor and outdoor lounge areas, with a bar and indoor fireplace for chilly winter nights. There are comfortable deck chairs beside the pool for relaxing between game viewing adventures.

Tented Camp Accommodation Options

This tented safari camp can accommodate up to 12 guests at a time providing an intimate bush getaway. The camp features six en-suite safari tents with air-conditioning. These permanent canvas tents are set on raised wooden platforms, each with its own private balcony viewing deck. The tents are tastefully appointed and set apart in the bush, to give guests privacy at the lantern-lit camp.

Each tent is equipped with a tea-and-coffee station, standing fan, air conditioning, luggage stand, hairdryer, mosquito net, safety box, and bathroom amenities. The safari tents each feature comfortable beds with crisp linen and a small private seating area on its wooden deck. These tented rooms offer privacy and comfort in true African Safari style.

There are three different kinds of semi-luxury tents to choose from at the camp. These consist of four standard tents, one luxury tent, and one superior tent - all of which are well-equipped to offer a comfortable safari stay.

The cost of this Sabi Sands Safari depends on the style of accommodation you request upon booking and is subject to availability at the time of booking.

Standard Tents

Standard tents are spacious, walk-in tents set on wooden platforms. The tents have small private deck areas set under canvas. These canvas tents have en-suite bathrooms fitted with showers. The tents feature king-sized beds or two twin beds and sleep two guests each.

Luxury Tent & Superior Tented Suite

The luxury tent is a larger, more secluded tented suite called Leadwood Tent. Tucked away to provide extra privacy, the luxury tent is fitted with a king bed and a sofa bed. It features a bathtub, his/hers basins, and an outdoor shower. Leadwood Tent can accommodate two guests and one child.

The superior tented suite is an even larger tent tucked away in the bush. It offers a completely secluded stay. The Monkey Thorn Superior Suite is fitted with a king bed and two single beds, accommodating up to three children along with two adults. This superior tented suite boasts a sitting area and a full bathroom with a bathtub, his/hers basins, and an outdoor shower.

Sabi Sands Game Drives

Two game drives per full day are included on this budget Sabi Sands Safari. Plus one sunset game drive on the first day and a morning game drive on the final day. Game drives are conducted in the private Sabi Sands Game Reserve, sharing unfenced boundaries with Kruger National Park.

  • Experienced guides share their extensive knowledge of the local wildlife and habitats with guests
  • Open 4x4 safari vehicles enable guests to get in touch with nature and up close to wildlife
  • See the Big Five of Africa - lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant inhabiting Sabi Sands
  • Guides are highly skilled and passionate ensuring that guests get the most out of their game drives
  • Explore the best routes, for optimal game sightings and wildlife photography, in Sabi Sands
  • Included in the tour price - two drives per day, and one sunset drive on day one

This 4-Day Sabi Sands Safari also includes a guided bush walk with an armed game ranger in Sabi Sands Game Reserve.

About Sabi Sands Game Reserve

The Sabi Sands Game Reserve is renowned for its world-class game viewing. It is particularly famous for its exceptional leopard sightings, along with superb sightings of lions, buffalos, elephants, and rhinos.

  • Covers 65 000 hectares (153 000 acres) of pristine African wilderness
  • Shares a 50km unfenced border with Kruger National Park
  • South Africa’s oldest private game reserve
  • Pioneer of sustainable wildlife tourism in Southern Africa, protecting a wide diversity of wildlife species in their natural habitat
  • Home to endangered species including African Wild Dog, Cheetah, Red-billed Oxpeckers, Ground Hornbills, Honey Badgers, and Bats
  • Famous for its close-up wildlife encounters, including Africa’s Big Five animals
  • Part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a joint Peace Park initiative between Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and South Africa
  • Pioneer of Greater Kruger Park, consisting of Kruger National Park and surrounding private game reserves

The original Sabie Reserve, established in 1898, incorporated what is today the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, as well as the main Kruger National Park.

Pre and Post Safari Lodge Rates:

Please note that we offer convenient pre-tour and post-tour lodge accommodation for before and after the budget Sabi Sands Safari, which can be added to your tour booking upon request. The 4-star lodge accommodation is located 10-15 minutes from the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. For information about the lodge's rates follow the link.

Child Policy

This tour does take children.

Children aged 5 and over are welcome at the Tented Lodge.

Children 12 and over pay the full adult rate. Children aged 5 - 11 will have a reduced rate

Please contact us for more information.

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+Included in the Tour Price
  • Transfers from Johannesburg to Sabi Sands (return)
  • Luxury Tented Accommodation inside Sabi Sands Reserve
  • Meals as per the itinerary
  • Two game drives a day in open safari vehicles
  • Conservation Levy
+Not Included in the Tour Price
  • All activities not included on the itinerary
  • All drinks
  • Laundry
  • Communication expenses
  • Curios
  • Tips & personal items
+Departure Dates

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