Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge

The luxury suites at Sabi Sabi Bush Camp are spacious and authentic, filled with traditional colours and fabrics and with exposed thatch roofs which add dimension and character to the space. A unique window seating area sits opposite traditional wooden furniture, offering guests a relaxing area to unwind after a long day.

Stone polished floors lead into the bedroom area where guests will find a large king-size bed, covered in crisp white bed linen and swathed in mosquito netting, for a bug-free sleep. Wooden tree trunks feature on the wall and the room is spacious and bright. All these suites come with ensuite bathrooms which include an indoor shower, a hand basin and flush toilet as well as indoor and outdoor showers, where guests can enjoy a refreshing shower al fresco.

Chic and modern, the Mandleve Deluxe Suite is perfect for honeymooning couples or couples who are looking for a romantic safari getaway. The suite is elegant and classy, with a muted colour palette of browns and beiges which flow throughout and work to highlight the earth tones of the beautiful surroundings. The suite is spacious and open plan with a lounge area and a bedroom area.

The lounge area includes two chaise lounge-style chairs, perfect for relaxing after a long day, which sit opposite a wide window with uninterrupted views onto the vivid wilds of the reserve. A large bed sits in the centre of the bedroom, covered in crisp bed linens, plush pillows and draped with mosquito netting. An authentic traveller style chest sits at the foot of the bed and a vanity area sits to the side of the room.

The ensuite bathroom includes double hand-basins and a large marble encased bathtub which sits parallel to a wide window offering views of the glorious green reserve. A large walk-in shower is next to sliding doors which lead out onto an outdoor shower area.

A private decking offers guests a sheltered verandah seating area and a large sparkling private swimming pool where guests can enjoy a refreshing afternoon dip while being in almost arms reach of the thick shrubbery of the reserve.

The luxury villas at Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge are perfect for families. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms and an indoor lounge area makes these villas a home from home for guests. Luxury and opulence flows throughout with warm beige and brown tones and cosy furniture with soft fabrics and cushions creating a comfortable yet classy space.

The main master bedroom is spacious and bright with a window seating area and plush armchairs. A king-size bed sits in the centre of the room, covered in crisp white and cream bed linens and romantically draped with mosquito netting for a bug free sleep. The master bedroom has its own ensuite bathroom with floor to ceiling doors and windows covering all three walls, with two egg bathtubs and a spacious walk-in shower, and with a massive feature light-shade hanging from the ceiling.

The second bedroom contains two single four-poster beds which are draped in mosquito netting and sit opposite wide wooden framed windows with a view of the vivid green bushveld which can be enjoyed from the comfort of the beds. The main bathroom includes an opulently large bathtub and a unique rain style shower.

A private patio area is the perfect area for guests to unwind after a long day in the fresh air of the bush, or perfect for a family afternoon together spending time enjoying the glistening private pool.

Guests can make their way to the main dining area at mealtimes which is decorated in a traditional safari theme, with an exposed thatch roof and bathed in a warm glow by a feature chandelier in the centre of the area. Fresh food inspired by local ingredients and flavours can be enjoyed by guests with a glass of smooth wine, a refreshing beer, or a crafty cocktail from the bar.

Surrounded by bamboo walls covered in authentic African wall hangings, guests can make their way to the open-air boma area to enjoy dinner under the stars. Warm lantern light will flood the tables and trees, and create an atmosphere of luxurious dining in the heart of the African bush.

For truly special occasions, dine in the transformed dining area with tables covered in clean and crisp table linen with romantic candles. Sophisticated and stylish, this is the perfect dining option for large groups celebrating a wedding or a birthday, and guests will feast on delicious food while listening to local Shangaan singers filling the area with their harmonious tones.

Under the wide South African sky, enjoy dinner around classy table sets with traditional candelabras as the centrepiece. Fairy lights are wrapped around the trees and blend seamlessly into the starry sky, and guests can dine on gourmet meals while being surrounded by the fresh breezes of the bush and the sounds of local choirs filling the air.

Explore the Sabi Sands Game Reserve on a traditional safari game drive and travel through the bush in the comfort of a 4×4 safari vehicle. With a trained guide and tracker you will be taken to some of the best viewing spots of the bush for a chance to see some of the amazing animals, such as herds of elephants, lounging lions or towering giraffes in the distance.

Guests can choose to go on a morning game drive or an evening game drive, with each lasting three hours, and the evening game drives including a break for a traditional sundowner in the heart of nature.

Head out after breakfast before the heat of the day and explore the reserve on your own two feet. Immerse yourself in the bush as you become part of nature, making your way through areas of the brush to vast open grasslands. Following a knowledgeable and friendly guide, track animal prints or marvel at the smaller, but just as amazing, micro-ecosystems.

Booked in advance, the community tour is available to guests who wish to learn more about the area in which they have travelled. This activity is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the authentic culture of the surrounding communities of Lilydale, Huntington and Justicia. This community engagement allows guests to leave their travels with a more rounded and authentic experience of South Africa and the Great Kruger.

Partake in some rest and relaxation as you look after your mind, body and soul in the rustic yet luxury Amani Spa at Sabi Bush Lodge. Indulge in a rejuvenating massage, an aromatherapy treatment, or a refreshing facial.

Sabi Sabi is an example of how ecotourism can support and protect both the surrounding nature and communities. Sustainable benefits positively impact both the environment and the people, and ‘contribute substantially to the socio-economic development of the people living on the boundaries of the protected areas.’

There are two principles that guide the Sabi Sabi Foundation’s initiatives and projects, and these are the need to conserve wilderness areas and create a sanctuary for indigenous flora and fauna, and the second is the firmly held belief that Sabi Sabi ‘must be a true example of eco-tourism effectively linking tourism with conservation and the community.’

Conservation, ecotourism, and community are all linked together in the foundation’s work, and this is a prime example of how respect for the local surroundings and working with local communities and groups can create immeasurable benefits for future generations.

Many of the staff at Sabi Sabi lodges are employed from the surrounding local rural Shangaan villages of Justicia, Huntington and Lillydale. Each employee has their own dependents who rely on their wage so the employment benefits, not just the worker but also their family, creating more financially stable family institutions and allowing younger children to afford schooling.

Each team member is encouraged to explore and gain skills whilst working at Sabi Sabi, with ‘ongoing training in all areas’ of the business which empowers the employees and helps them improve on their skills. Many aspects of the running of Sabi Sabi lodges are outsourced from the surrounding communities, such as gardening, thatching and washing businesses helping to further support the local people and small businesses.

All Sabi Sabi properties offer guests a community tour, led by Clerence Mkansi, who is a second-generation Sabi Sabi family member, his father being ‘one of Sabi Sabi’s long-standing stalwart trackers.’ As well as allowing guests an insight into the local way of life these tours are also vital for the Sabi Sabi Foundation as the fees from the tour are sent straight to the Sabi Sabi Foundation, which then uses the money to fund their many community projects.

Since its opening in 2002, the Mazinyane Pre-School has gone from strength to strength with the help of both the Sabi Sabi Foundation and Reservations Africa. As a pre-school their aim is to prepare children for the school years ahead, and also has a strong focus on supplying healthy school meals to the children. With a joint belief that children represent the future, Reservations Africa and the Sabi Sabi Foundation have helped Mazinyane Pre-School go from 85 children to 450 children, ‘with 5 classrooms and a total of 18 staff.’ 

Another project the Sabi Sabi Foundation is involved in is the Lilydale Digital Learning Centre. They have understood the growing gap between rural life and the ever-growing need to know and understand digital skills in today’s economy. Partnered with the Good Work Foundation, Sabi Sabi Foundation have helped reach over 400 students who wished to ‘improve their knowledge in this technological age and determine career paths to which they are suited and well prepared’ through the Lilydale Digital Learning Centre. Programmes are also run by the Sabi Sabi Foundation to train teachers, with over 120 teachers from neighbouring communities being trained to this date.

The Swa Vana Care Centre is another initiative which the Sabi Sabi Foundation supports. This centre provides meals and care to vulnerable children and youth, as well as looking after orphans, creating a safe space for children after school and distributes ‘clothing donations and hygiene items.’ When this project began there were only six children and now they can support up to ‘390 children.’

Over 30 staff members help with the running of the care centre and help to organise the games the children play, as well as counselling and home visits. The overarching aim of the Swa Vana Care Centre is to give the children involved a sense of self-worth, purpose and ‘becoming employable, self-sustainable and valued members of their community.’

Partnering with Dreamfields in 2008 the Sabi Sabi Foundation has aimed to offer opportunities to local children through the sports of football and netball. To help the children develop strong characters and to stop them ‘being drawn into negative environments’ both a netball and football league were created in 2008. To make the games as professional and fair as possible this project also encompasses coach training and referee training. This initiative ‘is about building dreams, building relationships and fostering a healthy outlook on life.’

To aid with conservation efforts Sabi Sabi has a detailed guide and ranger training programme. Future guides are taken through a training camp before being involved in on-site training which helps them find their feet in the surrounding areas and habitats. The training is intensive to best prepare the guides for their role as ‘environmental educators’. The trackers also go through the same intensive training procedures, and many of them are local Shangaan people allowing for an ‘innate appreciation and deep knowledge of the bush.’ 

Beginning in 2015 the Sabi Sabi Chef Mentorship Programme has been implemented by the head chef at Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge. Creating a fully functional training school which provides students with housing, transport and uniforms, successful students are registered with the South African Chefs Association before taking part in ‘week long kitchen courses.‘ After these courses students then complete internships at Sabi Sabi lodges, giving them first-hand experience in a working kitchen. At the end of the course, students can either find employment at a Sabi Sabi lodge or are in a much better position to be able to find skilled employment elsewhere.

For many of the local communities, there is no easy access to fresh water. Sabi Sabi’s not-for-profit company ‘Innovation: Africa’ has created the technology to be able to ‘supply sustainable portable water to a sizeable part of the Huntington community.’ When the water pumps are constructed local empowerment companies are used, which employ 5 local men and women for the project. These employees remain after the completion of the pumps and help to ensure that any issues are resolved quickly to maintain the water supply for the community.

Sabi Sabi have their own habitat management team, which help to develop and implement a ‘competent management programme’ with help from ‘qualified ecological consultants.’ The programme is continually assessed to make sure that all the practices are working in a way that helps protect and preserve the local surroundings.

One practice is the controlled burning of sections of the reserve. This burning helps to promote the growth of new, fresh grass and to help nutrient recycling when the native herbivores come to the new open areas. Another practice is the rotation of manmade waterholes and water resources. To stop vegetation from being impacted in one area of the reserve, the waterholes are rotated meaning the animals have to travel on different routes, allowing the vegetation to grow back in the areas where it has recently been in the path of the animals.

If any roads need to be placed within the reserve, the habitat management programme helps to make sure that they are placed in a way that ‘minimises water run-off’ and erosion. All roads are sensitively placed so as not to disrupt the animals and to follow the natural drainage lines. Erosion is not just managed by the placement of roads, but by planting shrubs on highly grazed areas to maintain a high level of biodiversity within the reserve. The habitat management team also work to remove harmful alien plants which threaten the indigenous species of the reserve.

All Sabi Sabi properties work to separate and recycle as much of their solid waste as they can. All their lodges have ‘specially constructed wetland systems’ which mean they can recycle wastewater and sewage which is then purified, finishing the recycling process as clean water. Any plastic that is used at the lodges are returned to the suppliers and they use all wet waste as compost.

To protect the wildlife within the reserve Sabi Sabi have their own specialised anti-poaching unit. There are specialised conservation units as part of this APU that help to enhance the programme and the anti-poaching activities.