Located in the world-renowned Sabi Sand Game Reserve, part of South Africa’s Greater Kruger Park, Idube Game Reserve offers an unforgettable Big 5 safari experience. This family-run, luxury safari lodge prides itself on its friendly service and ongoing conservation efforts. Idube Game Reserve is a very comfortable property with outstanding access to wildlife and is suitable for solos, couples, groups, and families.
Location of Sabi Sand Game Reserve within South Africa.
The lodge sits in the approximately 36-square miles private Idube Game Reserve within the larger Sabi Sands Reserve. Sabi Sands Game Reserve shares thirty-one miles of unfenced land with the world-famous Kruger National Park. Together the two parks form a conservation area of almost five million acres, roughly the size of New Jersey. Set between the perennial Sand and Sabi Rivers, the Sabi Sands Reserve comprises 160,618-acres and boasts one of the highest and most bio-diverse populations of any reserve in Africa.
A Legacy of Passion and Conservation
Forty-two years ago in 1983, the Marais family purchased Idube Game Reserve in the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve and chose the beautiful and isolated site amongst gorgeous large rocks and overlooking a dry but occasionally running riverbed to build their camp. Idube was named after the Shangaan word for ‘zebra’.
Initially the family’s sole accommodation was a caravan with no available water or electricity and their most common visitors was a family of giant-plated lizards living in the clefts of nearby boulders. Idube as a business was set up in 1989, with Sally Kernick joining Louis and Marilyn Marais as one of the directors. She led all the marketing efforts in the early days, accompanied groups, bought the food and cooked for them. She even had to drive a Landrover to fetch guest after walks and only knew one road, called Sally’s Road, for good reason. Sally has been well known in the travel industry for her outgoing, friendly and positive nature, and has assisted the Idube team through many trials and tribulations over the years.
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All those years ago, Louis and Marilyn Marais bought Idube out of a complete passion for the bush, which they wished to instil in their children. And now eight grandchildren are blessed to know and love the oasis of Idube and the graceful nyala that live there. As a family, we put conservation first. We do not want to overburden our land and do our best to protect the fauna and flora that inhabit this breathtaking place so we can share it with our guests. We hope to instil in them the same love of the bush that we have.
South Africa Safari - Idube Game Reserve
In terms of the environment, Idube Game Reserve was one of the first lodges in the Sabi Sands to focus on water sustainability, building a wetland to recycle this much-needed resource. We also buy locally whenever we can and support South African art and clothing in our curio shop. Our staff are hired, whenever possible, from our local communities and we pride ourselves on treating people-both staff and guests-extremely well, looking after them in the best way we can. We believe in hiring on merit and do not discriminate based on gender or race. We’ve also been proud to train young people just starting their careers, and family members have also passed the Idube baton on from one generation to another.
Luxurious Accommodations
Accommodations at the lodge consist of eight charming safari chalets, one lovely leadwood suite, and two ultra-luxurious Makubela suites for a maximum of twenty-three guests. Each four-star chalet is individually decorated for a unique experience and includes comfy beds that can be configured as either two twins or a king. The en suite bathrooms feature a deep bathtub as well as both an indoor and an outdoor shower. Every chalet and suite is cooled by both air-conditioning and overhead fans.
Guest accommodation consists of nine safari chalets and two suites, called the Makubela Suites. All chalets are positioned in the shade of trees. They have brick walls and tiled roofs. A few steps lead up onto the deck, which is a lovely location for guests to sit and take in views of the reserve. Inside, each chalet is individually decorated, featuring a double bed or twin beds, bedside tables and lighting, a couple of easy chairs and a coffee table, a desk and chair, ample storage space, air conditioning, a fan, tea- and coffee-making facilities, mosquito nets, and mosquito gauze around the windows.
The en-suite bathrooms contain a flush toilet, twin washbasins, a bathtub, a shower - and there is an outdoor shower too! The Makubela Suites are also pretty special. Accessed via a wooden walkway, each has an entrance hall, a bedroom and lounge area, and all the amenities of the safari chalets in addition to a mini-bar! The suites have sliding doors that open onto a private patio complete with sunloungers and plunge pool.
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Idube Game Reserve now offers 4 Linked Suites, designed for families and groups. Each unit includes two private rooms connected by a shared deck, with a larger plunge pool for both suites. Enjoy all the luxury features of the Safari Suites, including a minibar, coffee and tea station, bath, indoor/outdoor granite shower, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, mosquito nets, and African-inspired décor.
Each luxury suite has its own coffee and tea station, bath, inside and revitalising outside showers (or combined indoor/outdoor shower), hairdryer, safe, air conditioning and improved wi-fi. And don’t worry about mosquitos as nets cover all windows and doors as well as the beds themselves. You can’t help but relax in these sumptuous settings at Idube Game Reserve.
One of the luxurious suites at Idube Game Reserve.
Dining and Amenities
The communal buildings are sturdy in style, with brick walls and either thatched or tiled roofs. Inside the lounge, there is plenty of comfy seating around coffee tables, as well as a cozy fireplace, a few bookshelves, and a satellite TV. The dining room contains upright chairs around chunky wooden tables and some interesting wall art to admire while you tuck in to your meals! Food and drink is also available on the Lodge’s dining deck and in the delightful dining boma. You can head to the outdoor bar as well, to enjoy a drink in a classic safari setting.
A new lounge, the Gazebo, is glassed in on four sides for panoramic views and leads to an outside boma with a firepit. Delicious breakfasts are served in the open-thatch area overlooking Shadulu Dam. While dinner is enjoyed by candle and star light in the boma. Occasionally dinner must be moved to another venue when the leopards invite themselves to dine.
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Other amenities include a beautiful pool and deck, gym, and curio shop. The swimming pool, just a short walk from the bar, is also in a fabulous location for watching wildlife. Flanked by sunloungers under parasols, this is the perfect place to cool off in the heat of the day. Relax at the bar, Baobab Spa, gym, lounges, gazebo, cellar, or curio shop, and cross the swing bridge to the hide.
Guests like to gather at our fully-stocked bar in the day or the evening, our welcome lounge or our gazebo, with its glass walls has a view on three sides, often overlooking our resident Nyala or abundant bird life. We have a cellar with local and international wines. At night, our bar patio, fire pit and boma also offer a hospitable place to meet other guests and discuss the sightings from your evening safari. We have a wine cellar with a great selection of local wines and an extensive drinks menu. There is main lodge pool and big patio is available to all our guests.
For those who want some pampering we have a dedicated spa, the Baobab spa, where you can receive a range of relaxing treatments. We also have a large gym, with the necessary equipment to keep you fit and healthy.
Relaxing treatments at the Baobab Spa.
Unforgettable Safari Experiences
Adjacent to the world-renowned Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sand Game Reserve is famed for its intimate wildlife encounters, particularly leopard viewing. Traversing 10 000 hectares of pristine wildlife area, Idube Game Reserve is home to the Big Five - lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo - and many other fascinating animals, large and small. Our leopard sightings draw safari guests from all over the world, and our visitors are enthralled by the abundant wildlife they can view from their suite patios, especially the resident family of nyala we call our welcoming committee.
Twice daily game drives are offered at the lodge. Each game drive is conducted by expert guides and trackers in open 4×4 safari vehicles and lasts around three hours. The afternoon drives uses a spotlight to track nocturnal animals once the sun has set. An hour-long guided safari walk takes guests on an in-depth and intimate look at the smaller flora and fauna often missed from the vehicles as well as lessons on tracking game.
Early morning and late-afternoon game drives bring close encounters with Africa’s iconic wildlife - including frequent leopard sightings - alongside more than 300 bird species. Drives last three to four hours, with breaks for coffee or sundowners in the bush. Beyond the game drives, guests can enjoy guided morning walks, spend time in the expanded Shadulu Hide, or unwind with treatments at the new Baobab Spa. A fully equipped gym is available for those wanting to stay active between safaris.
It is not uncommon for warthogs and nyalas to trot through camp, while the trees attract monkeys and squirrels!
Recent Sightings at Idube Game Reserve:
- Spotted hyenas at one of our den sites
- Pied Kingfishers
- Ntomi (male) and Rixaka (female) leopards
- The Plains Camp male lions hanging out with the Bateleur pride
- A Hyena with a Waterbuck bull head, on her way to their den so the young can also have a snack
- Bateleur pride having some fun in the Sand River in beautiful morning light
- A young male Bushbuck
- Centipede eater
- Leopards eating
- Xihangu feasting on her very own Leopard tortoise kill
Getting to Idube Game Reserve
The property stands in the south-east of the Sabi Sand Reserve, within a small area of forest. Visitors opting to land at the nearby airstrip are transferred to the Lodge by Land Rover, driven by a member of staff. Alternatively, you can be picked up from Kruger Mpumalanga Airport, or you can self-drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria, a journey of about five-and-a-half hours.
Please note: You will need to pay a gate entrance fee of R160 per vehicle and R40 per person. The entrance fee can only be confirmed at the time of making your reservation (Prices subject to change)
Important Safety Information
This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns.
Recent Renovations
Idube Game Lodge has recently undergone an extensive transformation, elevating the safari experience while retaining the warm, authentic charm for which it is loved. Set in an indigenous garden shaded by tall trees and visited daily by nyala and warthogs, the lodge blends natural textures with refreshed contemporary design. The thatched bar, café-style patio and fire pit provide welcoming spaces to gather, while the new wine cellar, upgraded dining areas and extended pool deck make every moment at Idube a celebration of safari living.
An extensive upgrade was completed in June 2025, and this big project was taken on by members of the family covering three generations, so the legacy continues! Not only that, but a total of 100-120 other hard working people, including permanent lodge staff, construction staff from Jo’burg, many sub-contractors and their teams and many members of the local community contributed their efforts to the project (and received new skills as they went).
Wildlife is never far away at Idube. From viewing decks and the newly expanded Shadulu Hide you can watch animals visit the dam, or simply cool off in the main pool while enjoying bird calls overhead. The highlight of the 2025 renovations are the eight brand-new Safari Suites, each a spacious private haven of around 87 m². Every suite comes with its own deck and private pool, flexible King or Twin beds, indoor and outdoor showers, and African-inspired décor. Large windows and screened doors invite the sights and sounds of the bush, while modern comforts such as air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, minibar, coffee station and mosquito nets ensure complete ease. It’s not unusual to spot nyala, monkeys or even elephants wandering past while you relax on your deck.
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