Back at Kruger National Park / Sabi Sabi

Not a long time after my last trip to South Africa end of July 2022 and I'm already back again. This time I've decided to stay at Sabi Sabi one more time, because I've liked it so much on my first visit in June this year. Back in then I was able to spend just 3 nights at Sabi Sabi. This time I've doubled the amount of nights to 6 in total, which is more than a usual tourist spends there on average. I've seen a lot of other tourists coming and going during my time at Selati lodge so if you'd like to get general information about Kruger NP, Sabi Sands or Sabi Sabi, please read my blog post from my last trip to here in June under this link!

I've even decided to stay in the same lodge again - even when there are plenty of options available at Sabi Sabi. The main reason was the private safari vehicle, which comes along the Presidential Suite at Selati Camp. As a photographer I have the complete freedom like that and can spend as much time as I want with my beloved animals. Nevertheless I like to showcase all of the lodges at Sabi Sabi in this blog post. I've visited all of them during my stay and I was curious about the concept and style of the other lodges. Once again I like to say, that I don't receive any money from Sabi Sabi or any other reserve I'm visiting to write such blog posts. It's all about my personal interest and for my own documentation, which I like to share with others. Sabi Sabi's concept is to have lodges who represents the past, the present and the future. 

But let‘s start with some wildlife pictures of my trip first, before we start with the overview of the lodges:

1 - The Past - Selati Camp

The Selati Camp represents the past with its dedication to the old railway line (the Selati Line) which was running through the whole Kruger National Park to the ports of Mozambique. So you can find a lot of old railway related objects and antique furniture in this lodge. It's not the smallest lodge of Sabi Sabi - but with it's 7 rooms in total (5 regular rooms, 1 honeymoon suite and 1 presidential suite) it is not big at all. The service is very personal and you will be greeted by your name at all the time. The food is served on one of the two platforms overlooking the waterhole, in the African boma or in a little room with a single long table (if it is raining heavily).

For recreation there is a non-heated pool available. The presidential suite has another private plunge pool. There is no spa or gym in this lodge, but you are allowed to use the spa and gym of the Bush Lodge. The whole camp (as the other lodges) are unfenced so unexpected visits can happen, like an elephant drinking out of the pool which happened during my last stay! You are allowed to move freely inside the lodge during daylight. During the night, you will need to be accompanied by a ranger. Maybe this sounds a bit scary - but the wildcats are not really interested in humans and usually stay away from buildings. Have a look to some pictures of Selati Camp below:

I would suggest to stay at Selati Camp, if you like antique furniture, the private feeling of just 7 rooms, if you love railways or if you like to go for the presidential suite with it's private vehicle, ranger and tracker.

2 - The Present - Little Bush Camp

Welcome to the present. Little Bush Camp is maybe the most African lodge at Sabi Sabi. With just 6 identical rooms with a private outdoor jacuzzi on the deck it is really a boutique lodge. Situated next to a dried out river bed with a nice pool on its other side, they do even nice dinners within the dried out riverbed. No spa or gym - but you are still allowed to use the facilities of the other lodges. The rooms are nested in a beautiful setting in almost complete privacy. It‘s kind of a "back-to-the-roots“ lodge, where you need to take care with the falling fruits of the breadfruit tree. They are heavy (6 kg) and you don‘t want to be underneath of them if they fall down!

A great African-themed lodge with approximately 12 tourists, which would fill up not more than 2 vehicles (6 seats each, 2 per row in a 3 rows). In my opinion this lodge is the most African lodge at Sabi Sabi. If you never have experienced true African flavors, this is the lodge to go for.

3 - The Present - Bush Lodge

This is the bigger brother of the Little Bush Camp - and if I say bigger brother, I mean bigger brother - but kept the African style - maybe a bit more modern - representing the present. With it's 25 rooms (including 3 bigger suites) it's the biggest lodge at Sabi Sabi. This doesn’t mean - in any way - that this lodge doesn’t care about being rich in details. This lodge is maybe a bit busier than the others - but it is still an African gem,

If you like to socialise with others in the lobby or the bar, then this is the right place for you after all there is nothing wrong with socialising - especially when you are at such a remote destination. It is still pretty intimate compared to other destinations throughout Africa. Usually safari lodges do host about 300 people - and even here you just get around 50 of them. But it is more crowded here compared to any other lodge at Sabi Sabi. There are two swimming pools (beside some private pools in some of the 3 bigger suites) and even a spa and gym available for you (which could be used by as a guest of the other lodges too). If you travel with kids, this should be the lodge of your choice. There is a kids club with a lot of activities available, which consists over indoor and outdoor areas and bush walks with the kids within the loge and many other activities.

Firstly I was shocked to hear about the amount of rooms at Bush Lodge - but you need to compare this number to other lodges and you need to decide, whether socialising is something nice to you or not. Let‘s have a look at some pictures of the bush lodge below:

4 - The Future - Earth Lodge

Welcome to the future! This lodge is out of this world. The style is completely different to anything I’ve seen in Africa so far. It is classy, luxury, grounded and integrates with its nature at the same time. We had to take several attempts to get from room 1 (the closest room from it) to the lobby, because an elephant was close by. Yes: This could happen in every lodge at Sabi Sabi, because all of them are unfenced. But I’ve experienced this right there. A huge elephant bull was eating leaves out of a bush just in between the room and the lobby area. It took us several attempts to move these about 20 meters from the room to the main area. But I will never forget how the elephant tried to charge us for it - in a good way!

The Earth Lodge is just a unique place and consists over 13 identical suites. Situated as the only lodge in the southern part of Sabi Sabi. Its architecture is just magnificent and minimalistic. Each suite has a private pool and there is a spa and gym available as well. You can even find a wine cave at Earth Lodge, where dinners are being served at some days with candle light. If you want to stay in one of the top lodges around the world and if you don't care about real African style then this is the lodge to be. Many guests are booking a combination of lodges - and this lodge would be the big finale. Somehow I feel a bit jealous about doing not the same, but I‘m happy to have seen it on my trip.

Let‘s have a look into the future:

Sabi Sabi in General

Once again I've really enjoyed my stay. It was fantastic to know the place already from my last visit, so I've felt at home from the beginning. I had the same room, the same ranger and I was being greeted from almost the same staff. The food was out of this world and the service as professional as in the best hotels of the world - just in a very personal way. 

The big benefit of being in a private game reserve within the Kruger National Park are the always changing animals. Whenever some lion prides are resident in this area, there is always another lion popping up. Same applies to all the other species. This makes it more interesting and a richer experience. This time I've even seen a lot of leopards - from day 1 onwards. On my first day on safari I was lucky enough to see the big five, plus cheetahs, a hippo, giraffes, zebras and different antelopes. I'm still not completely happy with the size and shape of Sabi Sabi - especially because of these two completely separated areas, which just interconnect at one of the gates - but it is a big enough area with always changing animals. I would wish, that they would partner up with one of the neighbouring reserves to make it a bit bigger or at least more interesting when you are travelling in between these two sections. But I will be back there for sure!

…and did I mention that excellent food?

Conclusion

I was happy to be back again at Sabi Sabi and I miss the place already. But after two visits, I would maybe need to try out another place at Kruger Nationalpark the next time. Whenever this wouldn't be easy to surpass...

I'm looking forward now to my next trip to Africa in a few days. We've decided to make it a family trip to Cape Town, the Garden Route to Port Elizabeth and finally to some wildlife at Shamwari Private Game Reserve. The next time at Shamwari I will focus as well on kids on safari and the benefits for families. Means: You can expect another blog entry and the newest pics very soon.

As always I'm not being paid for writing this blog post. It's my personal experience and I don't get compensated at all for it.