One of our most popular safaris of all is the Savanna Plus, in which we take our guests to the magnificent Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve and lodge, adjacent to the Kruger National Park in South Africa. The Sabi Sands is a favourite place of ours in Africa and we have written about it often. Over the years, we have chosen — and continue to choose — the Sabi Sands because, in our view, it represents the best of both worlds. Essentially, it enables you to experience all that the Kruger National Park offers minus the crowds and popularity. The Popularity of the Kruger National Park Being such a vast, well known and popular wildlife destination, the Kruger rightfully attracts a huge number of visitors. However, because of this, it can get very crowded. This can make it less attractive than other private game reserves in the region, but there are other reasons why we prefer and recommend the private game reserves and lodges around the Kruger National Park. The Magnificent Sabi Sands The Sabi Sands never disappoints, no matter what the weather, with its spectacular opportunities to view Africa’s finest array of wildlife, including the Big Five, and is considered to be the supreme leopard viewing capital of the world. The staff treat you as one of their family and the entire experiences meets all the criteria for what we believe comprises a truly unforgettable African safari holiday experience. There are other private game reserves adjacent to the fence-free Kruger. They include: Manyeleti Timbavati Kapama Thornybush These game reserves also come with excellent accommodation and customer service, but most of all, you’ll be able to take advantage of the following benefits for viewing the African wildlife that are NOT available from within the Kruger National Park: Off-road game drives so you can get close to the animals living there Fewer tourists so less distraction and travellers vying for viewing opportunities Night drives allow you amazing opportunities to see the animals nocturnally The Dry Season in the Kruger Region Winter has come to the Kruger and, like so many other places in Africa, there simply isn’t a bad time to visit this region. Certainly June and July are the coldest months and it gets drier and drier as it heats up by October when its very hot. Daytime temperatures are mild and humidity is low, but evenings and early mornings can get quite chilly. However, depending on your preference, this can make a crisp and pleasing change to the days. In fact, many people consider the Dry Season (spanning April to November) as the best time to go on safari at Kruger, Sabi Sands and the surrounding game reserves. The bush is dry and open (so you spot the animals more easily) and temperatures are mild and pleasant. Furthermore, the dryness means the animals tend to congregate at the waterholes adding to their clearer visibility. Many of the animals, specifically the elusive big cats, also tend to move around a bit more as well, rather than lazing in the summer heat. Just be sure to pack your winter jacket as evenings and early morning game drives can be brisk! Extend Your South African Safari If you’ve been considering an African Safari to see, close up, the incomparable African wildlife, then we encourage you to include a stay at the Savanna Lodge in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve as part of a longer African holiday. We book out a fantastic luxury Safari lodge each year and pass on the considerable savings to our clients. Read more about Savanna Plus and register your interest Although a stay of 5 nights at Savanna Lodge is a great way to view a wide range of African wildlife, many clients use this as merely one leg of an extended holiday that usually lasts 14 to 25 days. The African continent is, after all, massive and it may not be often that you will travel there. Hence, while there it’s easy to take a short flight to some of the other amazing destinations in Southern Africa like Victoria Falls, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia. If we’ve whet your appetite for an African holiday adventure, we invite you to find out more about planning a trip with your partner or your family and/or a group of friends.
