What Does a Sabi Sands Safari Include?
A fully inclusive Sabi Sands safari typically covers accommodation, all meals (from early morning coffee to three-course dinners), twice-daily game drives in open 4×4 vehicles with a dedicated ranger and Shangaan tracker, house wines and local spirits, laundry service, and guided bush walks. The only standard exclusions are premium imported alcohol, spa treatments, curio shop purchases, and gratuities for staff and guides. Everything else — the drives, the food, the accommodation, the wildlife experience — is included in the nightly rate.
Game Drives: What Is Actually Included?
Every Sabi Sands lodge rate includes two game drives per day:
- Morning drive: departs at first light (typically 05:30–06:00); returns for breakfast at approximately 09:00–09:30; 3–3.5 hours in the field
- Afternoon/evening drive: departs approximately 15:30–16:00 depending on season; continues after dark with a spotlight; returns for dinner at approximately 19:30–20:00; includes sundowners in the bush
Each drive is in an open Land Cruiser or similar vehicle with a maximum of 6–8 guests (many lodges limit to 6). You have a dedicated FGASA-accredited ranger and a Shangaan tracker — typically seated on a raised tracker’s seat at the front of the vehicle — as part of every drive. The tracker reads footprints, broken branches, and animal behaviour; the ranger interprets what you’re seeing. This combination is what makes the Sabi Sands private safari fundamentally different from a national park game drive.
Food and Beverages: What Is Included?
All meals are included at every Sabi Sands lodge:
- Early morning: coffee, tea, and a light snack before the morning drive
- Brunch/breakfast: full cooked breakfast on return from the morning drive
- Lunch: typically a lighter meal served mid-afternoon
- Afternoon tea: cake, savouries, and tea/coffee before the afternoon drive
- Sundowners in the bush: drinks and snacks served from the vehicle at a scenic stop on the evening drive
- Dinner: three-course or multi-course dinner, often served in the boma or at a bush dinner setting under the stars
Beverages included: house wines, local beers, local spirits, non-alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, fruit juices, coffee, and tea throughout the day. Not included: premium imported spirits, champagne, and international wines. These are available at extra cost.
Activities: What Else Is Included Beyond Game Drives?
- Guided bush walks: typically included at most lodges; led by a qualified armed field guide; available most mornings on request
- Night drives: the evening game drive continues after sunset as standard; no separate charge
- Sundowners: included in the evening drive — the vehicle stops at a scenic point and drinks and snacks are served from the vehicle’s bar box
- Bush dinners: some lodges include periodic bush dinners (dinner served in a dry riverbed or open clearing) as a standard experience; others charge extra or offer it on request
- Star gazing: informal at most lodges; Sabi Sands has minimal light pollution and extraordinary night skies
Not standard: spa treatments, special helicopter flights, private vehicle hire, specialist photography guiding (available at extra cost at many lodges).
A Typical Day on a Sabi Sands Safari
- 05:00–05:30: Wake-up call; coffee, tea, and rusks at the boma fire
- 05:30–06:00: Depart on morning game drive in open 4×4
- 09:00–09:30: Return to lodge; full breakfast served
- 10:00–14:30: Leisure time — pool, spa, room, or guided bush walk option
- 13:00–14:00: Light lunch
- 15:30–16:00: Afternoon tea; depart on afternoon game drive
- 17:30–18:00: Sundowners in the bush — vehicle stops at scenic viewpoint
- 18:00 onwards: Drive continues after dark with spotlight
- 19:30–20:00: Return to lodge; shower and change for dinner
- 20:00–20:30: Dinner — often at the boma fire or in the bush
How Much Do the Extras Add Up?
For guests who don’t drink premium spirits or use the spa, the “fully inclusive” rate genuinely means almost no additional spend. The main variables are:
- Gratuities: customary to tip your ranger (ZAR 200–400 per person per day is a standard guide), tracker, and room butler separately. Not included in lodge rates.
- Premium alcohol: single malt whiskies, champagne, premium imported spirits — charged separately; typically ZAR 200–500 per serving
- Spa: massages and treatments at lodges with spa facilities; typically ZAR 800–2,000 per treatment
- Helicopter flights: scenic flights over the Escarpment or Blyde River Canyon available from some lodges; ZAR 5,000–15,000 per person
Does the Rate Include Park Fees?
Yes — Sabi Sands is a private reserve, not a SANParks national park. There are no separate conservation fees payable by guests; the lodge rate covers all reserve levies. This is one advantage of Sabi Sands over a Kruger self-drive, where conservation fees (approximately ZAR 480–520 per person per day for international visitors) are additional.
What Is Not Included in a Sabi Sands Safari Rate?
- International and domestic flights to/from South Africa
- Road or air transfers to/from Sabi Sands (typically ZAR 2,500–6,000 per person each way)
- Premium imported alcohol and champagne
- Spa treatments
- Curio shop purchases
- Gratuities (rangers, trackers, general staff)
- Travel insurance
- Any personal medical expenses
Frequently Asked Questions
Are children included in Sabi Sands safari rates?
Most Sabi Sands lodges charge children at reduced rates — typically 50–70% of the adult rate. Age policies vary: most lodges welcome children of all ages on self-drive; open vehicle night drives typically require children to be 6 years or older. Check your specific lodge’s policy when booking.
Is laundry included at Sabi Sands lodges?
Yes — laundry service is standard at virtually all Sabi Sands lodges. Clothes left in the laundry bag in the morning are returned cleaned and pressed by evening.
Is Wi-Fi included?
Most Sabi Sands lodges offer Wi-Fi, though connection quality varies — satellite internet is the norm in remote bush locations. Some lodges deliberately limit connectivity as part of the digital detox experience.
Plan Your Sabi Sands Safari
African Safari Group designs fully inclusive Sabi Sands itineraries across all price points — from excellent value mid-range lodges like Elephant Plains and Nkorho to the ultimate luxury of Singita, Londolozi, and Dulini. We’ll help you understand exactly what’s included at each property before you book.
Enquire Now to plan your Sabi Sands safari.
