If leopards are what you’re looking for, look no further than Sabi Sands Game Reserve! The Big Five, other predators, and a general abundance of wildlife is waiting to be discovered.
Topography
Located in South Africa’s Lowveld region, where the Drakensberg Mountain range falls away towards the Indian Ocean, Sabi Sands Game Reserve fully deserves its reputation as one of the premier safari destinations in the country. Not only does its variety of habitats, including woodland, riverine and grassland support high biodiversity, but there's a 48 kilometre unfenced border with Kruger National Park allowing wildlife to wander freely between the two. The Sabie River provides a natural boundary to the south and the Sand River flows through its 65,000 hectares.
Sabi Sands wildlife
Being a Big Five Reserve, Sabi Sands is home to lion, African elephant, rhino (both black and white), Cape buffalo and leopard. Miles of river frontage provide the perfect environment in which leopards can not only hunt and rest, but actively thrive. In addition, cheetah, wild dog and spotted hyenas predate on all manner of plains game from quintessential impala to secretive bushbuck and majestic kudu to waterbuck. Other mammals, reptiles, arthropods, amphibians and fish all coexist and are, quite simply, fascinating. With over 300 recorded bird species too, the air is always filled with the sound of calls and song.
Wildlife watching in Sabi Sands
The reserve is not open to the public, so the lack of day trippers and self-drivers ensures an uncrowded and intimate experience. All lodges have their own traversing areas with guide and tracker teams who take you out in an open sided 4x4 vehicles. Seats are tiered to provide everyone with a view, and vehicle occupancy ranges from four to ten. Being privately owned, it's possible to go off-road if necessary and to partake in night drives and bush walks.
How to get to Sabi Sands
It's possible to incorporate Sabi Sands into a self-drive holiday around South Africa. The reserve is located a 5-7 hour drive east of Johannesburg and three gates serve as access points to the reserve. Most clients, however, fly in, utilising scheduled services from Johannesburg and Cape Town. Depending on the location of your lodge, your travel consultant will advise of the closest airport. There are also three private airstrips should chartering an aircraft be your preference.
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