Nowhere in South Africa will one find a wildlife experience quite like the one experienced within the Sabi Sand Reserve. Sharing a 50km (31.25 miles) unfenced border with the Kruger National Park, this immense (65 000 hectare/ 153 000 acre) and diverse tract of land is home to The Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant), and much much more. This area is also in the process of being further enlarged within the Peace Park concept with an expected integration and amalgamation with protected areas in Mozambique, and eventually Zimbabwe.

Two rivers supply the game reserve with a valuable water source. The Sand River flows through the reserve for 50km (31 miles) from north west to south east whilst the Sabie River flows on the southern boundary. The sustenance of these rivers ensures that this area enjoys one of the highest and most bio-diverse wildlife populations of any area in Africa. Over two hundred different species live in abundance, whilst the ever changing bird life provides even the most experienced ornithologist with rare finds. Such is the environment that the wildlife, save for the migratory birds, remain in their territories all year round.

The Sabi Sand Reserve is the birthplace of sustainable wildlife tourism in Southern Africa. It is largely owned and operated by 3rd & 4th generation families who share a common vision with their ancestors.

Focus & Foresight is on Conservation: The Sabi Sand Reserve is the oldest of all the private reserves in South Africa. It was formed in 1934, and became a formal association in 1948

Wilderness: The Sabi Sand Reserve is part of the largest conservation area in Southern Africa

Part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park:
It has only ever been a wilderness area. It is home to a number of endangered species, including:

• Wild Dog: The most endangered species in Southern Africa. The Kruger National Park contains the only viable South African population of Wild Dogs.
• Bats: They are the only flying mammals that are blind; 10 of the species are on the endangered list.
• Honey Badgers: Badgers can be useful in reducing the population of rats, scorpions, and dangerous snakes.
• Oxpeckers: With scissor-like movements, the Red-billed Oxpecker combs their host's hair in search of ticks.
• Ground Hornbill: There are less than 1500 Ground Hornbills left in South Africa.

The Lodges are involved in environmental management programs and studies. These include:

• Alien plant control
• Micro catchment management to combat erosion
• Monitoring of wildlife and habitat densities
• Anit-poaching units
• Control of runaway fires

Community Empowerment:
Including activities which help them to generate income; provision of health care and provision of drinking water.

The first people to take permanent residence In this region were the Tsonga-Shangaan, who settled here approximately 100 years ago from what is now southern Mozambique. The term "shangaan" is not indigenous to those to whom it is referred today. The original "Shangaans" took their name from the Zulu warrior Soshangane. Initially, the Shangaans, all Zulus, conquered some of the Tsonga people as they moved northward.

The Shangaan people still for the majority in the Southern Lowveld today, and most of the staff at the lodge is Shangaan. With a proud tradition of hunting, the Shangaan are renowned wildlife trackers, a skill honed to perfection in our lodge field team.

The Shangaan people, through Tsonga influence, are one of the few ethnic groups in South Africa to practice fishing and include fish in their diet. Because of the wealth of game in the area, they also enjoy venison and crocodile, which they bake in a delicious groundnut (peanut) sauce.
The most unusual aspect of their diet, however, is their love of the mopani worm found in the mopani forests of the Lowveld. These are either dried or pan fried in butter, which is an experience no adventurous traveller should miss.

Traditionally the Shangaan wore animal hides; however, western clothing has since been adopted, with traditional clothing only worn for cultural celebrations and ceremonies. Wide beaded necklaces and heavy metal bracelets are also popular in the Shangaan culture.

Sand River

The Sand River rises in the bushbuck ridge district and flows in a south easterly direction before joining the larger Sabi River downstream of Skukuza.  The Sabie River has its source at 2 130 m above mean sea level in the Drakensberg Escarpment, drops into the lowveld and joins the Sand River inside the Kruger National Park.

Although it flows throughout the year, the Sand River may, in drought periods, be reduces to a series of pools and underground seepage. Except when in flood after heavey rains, the watercourse is lines by swathes of sand, from which the river takes its name.

The sand river is the artery that sustains the areas wildlife, and is the focal point of much of the activity. The open water channels and pools are favoured by Hippo, Nile Crocodile, birds such as Pied Kingfisher, African Black Duck and Reed Cormorant, and fishes such as Sharp toothed Catfish and Mozambique Tilapia. The reeds are favoured by Burchell’s Coucal, Red-faced Cisticola and various weavers, and are regulary visited by Buffalo and Elephant, which feed on Phragmites reeds. The dragon-like Water Monitor often makes its home in these reedbeds.
The band of riverine forest of tall trees and thickets alongside the river remains green throughout the year and attracts Leopard, Greater Bushbaby, Bushbuck and others. Birds are numerous, with various  robins, warblers, bulbuls, sunbirds, shrikes and flycatchers. Charateristic trees and shrubs of the river are Jackelberry, Tamboti, Brack Thorn, Knob Thorn, Matumui, Potatobush, Flame Creeper, Sycamore Fig, Red Ivory and Weeping Boernbean.

Landscape

Situated the on the Lowveld plain at an altitude of approximately 350 metres (1150 feet) above sea level, the Sabi Sand Reserve is generally flat landscape of undulating crests, bisected by the Sand River and a number of small seasonal tributaries. The underlying base rock in this region is mostly granite and gneiss, with course, sandy soil on crests and uplands, and fine, clayey soils along drainage lines. These soil types determine the vegetational structure and habitats, which in turn influence animal distribution. The Sabi Sand  falls within the Savanna Biome of Southern Africa, with mixed Lowveld Bushveld the recognised veld type.

The Savanna Biome is the largest Biome in southern Africa, occupying 46% of its area, and over one-third the area of South Africa. It is well developed over the lowveld and Kalahari region of South Africa and is also the dominant vegetation in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
It is characterized by a grassy ground layer and a distinct upper layer of woody plants. Where this upper layer is near the ground the vegetation may be referred to as Shrubveld, where it is dense as Woodland, and the intermediate stages are locally known as Bushveld.

Rocky Outcrops

In a few localities, intrusions of dolomite protrude above the undulating bushveld of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. These outcrops of bare, dark rocks form a distinctive habitat to which certain plants and animals are restricted. Grasses are generally rather sparse among the rocks, with the result that bush fires seldom penetrate this habitat.
Distinctive trees include the Large-leaved Rock Fig with its white stems and roots that look as though they have been poured over the rocks, the cactus-like candelabra Tree, purple stemmed Common Starchestnut and Velvet Corkwood; various Combretum species typical crests and slopes are also common. Among smaller plants, Impala Lily, Cluster Aloe and mother-in-law’s Tongue – all vulnerable to fire, but safe here.
The dainty-hoofed Klipspringer and the stocky Dassie are the only larger mammals that are restricted to rocky outcrops in the Sabi Sand. Lion and Leopard may choose to hide their cubs in small caves or rock overhangs, while Chacma Baboon enjoy the vantage point that the outcrops provide. Various bats may roost under rock ledges or in crevices. No birds are restricted to the rocky outcrops, but sunbirds visit flowering aloes during winter, barbets and starlings are attracted to ripe figs.
Reptiles are well suited to rocky outcrops, among lizards that may be encountered basking on the sun are the Rock Monitor, Giant Plated Lizard, Rough-scaled Plated Lizard and Rainbow Skink. When disturbed, these creatures are quick to scurry for cover, often wedging themselves into narrow crevices for protection.

What is the difference between the Kruger National Park and a private reserve?

The Kruger National Park is South Africa's largest national park. Adjacent to the park are a number of privately owned game reserves. By mutual agreement, the fences between these reserves and the Kruger Park have been dropped, to enlarge the area under conservation and encourage free movement of animals. The entire conservation area is known as the Greater Kruger National Park, and is over 2.2 million hectares in size.

The most famous of these private reserves is the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, and the Timbavati Game Reserve further north. The lodges in these game reserves are privately owned and the land rovers are able to go off-road to get closer to an animal sighting.

This is not permitted in the Kruger National Park itself. This is one of the main differences between the Sabi Sand and Kruger, as well as the fact that all the land rovers are in radio contact. This makes your chances of seeing the Big Five, especially leopards, much better in the Sabi Sand than in the Kruger Park.