Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge is part of the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World portfolio. This eco-conscious luxury safari lodge is refreshingly original. As the name suggests, the buildings appear to be sculpted out of the earth. Innovative architectural features and organic textures capture the spirit of the African bush, and allow you to further connect with this precious environment.
Location and Accessibility
Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is situated in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve within the South-Western section of the Greater Kruger National Park. It is one of South Africa’s most coveted safari regions, known for close encounters with the Big Five, as well as cheetah, hyena, giraffe, wild dog and over 350 species of birds.
There are daily flights from Johannesburg to the Sabi Sabi airstrip with Federal Airlines. Airlink also runs daily flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg to Skukuza Airport and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. Sabi Sabi provides open air 4x4 vehicle transfers to/from the airport. You’ll start seeing wildlife within minutes of your drive from the airport, so your safari adventure begins immediately.
Lodge Details and Room Experience
This quiet hideout is made up of a main lodge structure, and thirteen villas, surrounded by nothing but the open savannah. At certain angles the buildings are invisible, so don’t be surprised if animals pop by for a visit.
The design at Sabi Sabi deviates from the common colonial style safari lodge. Though the architecture and decor is more contemporary, and it may not be for the safari purists, it is one of the most unique hotel rooms in the world. The cavernous underground villas feel like the set of the Flintstones movie. The walls are literally made from the earth - you’ll notice straw and twigs mixed with the plaster. Stone and leather details top off the prehistoric ambiance.
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Although you are quickly reminded of your modern-day life with luxurious amenities like a sunken tub, indoor and outdoor showers, and a private pool. A stand-out design feature is the tables and chairs set in ankle-deep water, perfect for a soak after a dusty game drive. A bar made from a slab of twisted wood is another convivial gathering spot, where G&Ts and stories from the day are shared.
Suite Features
- Private plunge pool and outdoor living area
- Outdoor shower
- Soaking tub
- His and hers sinks
- King bed with mosquito canopy
- Sitting area
- Coffee station
- Fully stocked "mini" bar
Clad in mud repurposed from excavating the lodge’s foundations, Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge’s low-slung suites blend seamlessly into the surrounding bushveld. Each one is tucked beneath a cloak of grass and feels very private, without a neighbour in sight. Once inside, the suites are cavernous. An open-plan lounge and romantic bed laced in mosquito nets take up most of the footprint, while the en-suite bathroom has a full glass front leading out onto the terrace. Stone and wood feature heavily in the suites’ décor, with handcrafted headboards and chandeliers adding a good dose of local flair, and a suitably earthy palette of warm greys and beige with some leather accents. If you’re all safari-ed out, you could all too easily while away a lazy morning or a late afternoon in your private retreat.
Culinary Delights
Inventive meals highlight local ingredients, but with an international twist. The food is contemporary African, which fits the vibe of the lodge. Morning and afternoon tea, a hearty breakfast and lunch, and a multi-course dinner will keep your belly happy.
Those in the know will be familiar with the fact that, on safari, you’re fed practically all day long - so light and fresh dishes help lighten the load. Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge offers some pleasingly healthy options. Local organic produce is a focus, which pulls through in the flavours of the dishes. Breakfast is served buffet-style, but there’s also the option to order more elaborate dishes from the menu. The lunch menu is lengthy with plenty of salads and wraps alongside more substantial mains. Dinner is typically served a la carte, paired with wines from some of South Africa’s small independent wineries stocked in an underground cellar holding over 6,000 bottles of rare vintages.
The open-air restaurant leads out to a landscaped garden overlooking a nearby waterhole, and the lodge also hosts African-themed evenings in the romantic boma for a change of scene, with all sorts of meats grilled on the braai.
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What a day on a luxury safari looks like | Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, Africa
Safari Experience
There are no fences around the lodge, so you have the opportunity to see wild animals onsite and during your daily activities. Experience the bush in an open air safari vehicle or by foot, always accompanied by your armed and knowledgeable Game Ranger and eagle-eyed Shangaan Tracker. Safari life is all about the game drives and spotting wildlife.
Naturally, the aim of the game at Earth Lodge is the pursuit of exciting wildlife encounters. Game drives are held every morning and afternoon with a maximum of six guests per vehicle. With its privileged location, Sabi Sabi Game Reserve is home to a vast array of wildlife, including 47 large mammal species and more than 500 bird species. It’s a proclaimed hotspot for the Big Five - leopard, lion, rhino, elephant and buffalo - and all this amid a diverse and beautiful undulating landscape pocked with fever trees and umbrella thorns.
Typical Daily Schedule
- 5:30 AM: Wake-up call and gathering for beverages and pastries
- 6:00 AM: Morning safari (3 hours)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast
- Afternoon: Relaxation, spa treatments, or leisure
- 4:00 PM: Afternoon tea
- 4:30 PM: Evening safari
- 8:00 PM: Dinner
Wildlife Sightings
The Sabi Sand is known for great leopard viewing, healthy rhino populations and the rest of the Big Five, making it a great wildlife destination for all levels of safari experience.
Since there has been no hunting here for over half a century, the animals have become habituated to safari vehicles and are relaxed in our presence, allowing for exhilarating close-up photography. Safaris take place each morning and evening in open Land Rovers, which travel through a wide variety of habitats to maximize wildlife encounters. After breakfast, guests can venture out with a camp ranger on the reserve’s walking trails to experience the natural environment on foot.
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The below chart helps to illustrate major wildlife sightings often experienced here. Other typical sightings may include warthogs, baboons and a number of other mammals, birds and reptiles.
| Animal | Likelihood of Sighting |
|---|---|
| Leopard | Very High |
| Lion | High |
| Rhino | High |
| Elephant | High |
| Buffalo | High |
| Cheetah | Moderate |
| Wild Dog | Moderate |
Sustainability and Community Engagement
Sabi Sabi’s commitment to preserving the environment and empowering the surrounding Shangaan communities, from which many of the staff are drawn, translates into an exceptional safari experience. Earth Lodge lies within the private Sabi Sabi Game Reserve, which has created and implemented an extensive Habitat Management Plan that covers a wide range of complex sustainability issues, including wastewater management, alien species eradication and sustainable fire management.
Because of the success of its wetlands management program, Sabi Sabi received the Imvelo Award for the Best Practice in Conservation. Sabi Sabi is also deeply committed to integrating conservation and community development, engaging in a participatory relationship with local communities. Sabi Sabi employs 200 local community members who are promoted from within based upon merit and accomplishment and who have the opportunity to participate in internal skills training programs.
Sabi Sabi is also a major contributor to the Teach the Teachers and Reach and Teach Education Programs, which include workshops for rural teachers on the relationship between ecotourism, conservation and communities.
Additional Amenities
Following a day in the bush on safari, retreat to the comforts of the Amani Spa, where holistic body, skin and beauty treatments await. Shared spaces include an indoor/outdoor dining area overlooking a waterhole and the surrounding bush, a secluded library, art gallery and meditation garden. The walls of the outdoor ‘boma’ are sculpted from tree roots, evoking the power of the wilderness. The lodge also boasts an underground wine cellar with more than 6,000 bottles of rare wines to complement the impeccable cuisine.
Rates and Inclusions
Rates from £1,245 per person per night. This includes open vehicle safaris by day and at night, environmental awareness walking safaris, breakfast, lunch, ‘boma’ dinner, all drinks excluding French Champagne and Private Collection Wines, WiFi and limited laundry service.
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