National park · South Africa
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Enter Sabi Sand via your lodge’s gate; budget R400–R800 per adult for entry, book guided drives (≈R1500 per vehicle) and visit in May–Oct for dry game viewing.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
650 km² (251 sq mi)251 sq mi (650 km²)
approximate
Established
1934
Best months
May–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 11Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive befor…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- Southern Africa ↗A rental car may leave its home country only with the rental company's cross-border letter, the registration papers and paid road taxes at each post; driving into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Angola without them ends at the border.
- Southern Africa ↗Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive before sunset: livestock, wildlife, pedestrians and unlit trucks make night driving the main cause of serious visitor accidents.
- South Africa ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport with the Department of Home Affairs or a South African mission before booking; exemptions depend on nationality, and the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is optional for most visa-exempt visitors in 2026.
- South Africa ↗Travelling with children: accompanied foreign children no longer need a birth certificate, but unaccompanied minors, South African children and some passports that omit parents' names still do; check with Home Affairs and your airline before you fly.
- South Africa ↗Driving is on the left. If your licence is not in English or has no photo, get an International Driving Permit before you travel; rental companies also check it.
- South Africa ↗National park gates open and close at fixed times; you must be inside your camp before the gate closes, and speed limits in parks are enforced.
- Mpumalanga ↗Southern Kruger and the lowveld near the park are low-risk malaria areas; the escarpment above about 1,200 m is generally considered risk-free. Check current advice with a travel clinic before you go.
- Mpumalanga ↗There is no practical public transport between the escarpment towns and the park gates; plan on a rental car.
- Mpumalanga ↗The N4 from Pretoria is a toll road; keep cash or a card for the plazas.
At a glance
- Country
- South Africa
- Area
- 650 km² (251 sq mi)251 sq mi (650 km²)
- Approximately 650 km² (65 000 ha) of private land adjoining Kruger National Park; figures from reserve information (check).
- Established
- 1934
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Sabi Sand Game Reserve is a 65 000‑hectare private wildlife sanctuary bordering Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga, South Africa. With no fences between the two areas, animals roam freely, offering high‑density Big 5 sightings on guided game drives and walking safaris. Entry is managed through lodge‑controlled gates, and visitors must use licensed rangers for all vehicle and foot activities.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1934.
Size and age
650 km² (251 sq mi)251 sq mi (650 km²) · national park since 1934
Approximately 650 km² (65 000 ha) of private land adjoining Kruger National Park; figures from reserve information (check).
Why go
- Private reserve bordering Kruger with free‑range wildlife.
- Big 5 sightings on guided drives and walking safaris.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanSummer rain, hot.
- FebRainy, humid.
- MarRain continues.
- AprTransition, occasional showers.
- MayDry, cooler.
- JunDry, pleasant.
- JulDry, cool.
- AugDry, good game viewing.
- SepDry, warming.
- OctDry, warm.
- NovStart of rains.
- DecRainy, hot.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big 5 (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard, buffalo)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Cheetah, hyena, wild dogMar–Oct | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Birdlife (e.g., lilac-breasted roller, kingfishers)Sep–Feb | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Johannesburg
Fly 1 h to private airstrip (e.g., Skukuza) or drive 5–6 h to lodge gate.
1 h flight or 5–6 h drive
Open the page →
From Kruger National Park (rest camp)
Drive 30–45 min to nearest Sabi Sand gate (Shaws, Newington, Gowrie).
30–45 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Shaws Gate | Main southern entrance, near many lodges. | Open with lodge ticket. |
| Newington Gate | Northern entrance, access to central lodges. | Open with lodge ticket. |
| Gowrie Gate | Eastern side, less traffic. | Open with lodge ticket. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate gate locations based on reserve maps.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (per adult) | ZAR 400–800 (≈ US$25–50) | person | Check exact price with lodge; varies by gate. |
| Guided game drive (per vehicle) | ZAR 1,500–2,500 (≈ US$90–150) | vehicle | Typical cost; confirm with lodge. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Guided drives/walks permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- R 400–800≈ US$25–50
- R 1,500–2,500≈ US$90–150
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Check with the park or your operator before you go.
Park rules
- Guides
- All drives and walks must be led by a licensed ranger.
- Vehicle access
- Private cars may not leave the road; night driving prohibited.
- Camping
- Only in lodge‑provided camps; no open‑air camping.
- Firearms
- Only authorized anti‑poaching weapons; visitors may not carry firearms.
- Litter
- Carry out all waste; bins at lodges only.
Where to stay
In the park
Lodges within Sabi Sand
Luxury or tented accommodation, all‑inclusive.
Near the park
Nearby Hazyview town
Budget guesthouses and B&Bs, 30 km (19 mi) from gates.Budget guesthouses and B&Bs, 19 mi (30 km) from gates.
Safety
Heat and dehydration medium
Wild animal encounters high
Road accidents medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Main gates reachable by standard vehicle; walking safaris not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay in lodges that support community projects.
- Avoid single‑use plastics; use refillable water bottles.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Sabi Sand Game Reserve?
Entry fees range from R400 to R800 per adult; confirm exact price with your lodge as rates vary by gate.
What are the best hikes in Sabi Sand Game Reserve?
Guided walking safaris (2–3 h) are the main hikes; they require a ranger guide and are offered by most lodges.
When is the best time to visit Sabi Sand Game Reserve?
May to October offers dry weather and excellent wildlife viewing; January–March are hot and rainy.
Can I drive my own car on game drives?
No; all drives must be conducted by a licensed guide in a park‑approved vehicle.
Is night driving allowed for visitors?
Only with a guided night drive offered by some lodges; private night driving is prohibited.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Sabi Sand Game Reserve
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