Out of Africa: 09/13/18

The Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve is beautifully situated along the banks of the Sand River in the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve.The Sabi Sands Game Reserve's popularity lies in its diversity of species and big game, allowing for intimate sightings and close-up photography. Situated in the private Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Inyati Game Lodge is synonymous with exclusivity and one of a kind game viewing. The reserve is not open to the public, giving the lodge the exclusive old hunting concept of the Big Five which was revived in the Sabi Sands and stands today as the Holy Grail of wildlife viewing all over Africa. These were the five animals that hunters considered the most dangerous to hunt and the term was re-marketed by the Sabi Sands as the ultimate in sightings on a safari. The five animals are Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo.
With riverine vegetation being the natural habitat of elephant and hippo, you are sure to see these animals enjoying the cool of the water during the heat of the day when you are not out on game drive. The conservation history of Sabi Sands began in 1898 when the area became part of the Sabi Reserve, which also incorporated the Kruger National Park. In 1926 the National Parks act of South Africa was passed and the private land owners were excised from national land and the Kruger Park was extended.
The landowners formed the private Sabi Reserve in 1934, which became the Sabi Sand Wildtuin in 1948. Some of the landowners have since become independent of the Reserve, but are still linked geographically to the 'Sands'. The landowners formed the private Sabi Reserve in 1934, which became the Sabi Sand Wildtuin in 1948. Some of the landowners have since become independent of the Reserve, but are still linked geographically to the 'Sands'. Sabi Sands shares a 50km unfenced border with Kruger National Park and offers some of the best wildlife viewing in South Africa. Animals, landscapes, lightning storms and the ever-changing skies at dawn and dusk make it impossible to put the camera down for fear of missing yet another captivating moment.Much of the land surface of what now is the Sabi Sands Game Reserve used to be agricultural land. As cattle farms occurred in the area, a reliable source of water was needed on the farms. To provide this water many boreholes were drilled providing a steady supply of water. After the establishment of Sabi Sands as a game reserve these waterholes and dams were kept intact and still function as water source. It is now not cattle that drinks this water, but the many wild animals in the game reserve. As the waterholes provide an abundance of water throughout the year (and seasonal influences are not much of a factor).

The original Sabi Reserve was already proclaimed in 1898. It turned out to be the forerunner of the massive Kruger National Park. Many of the original landowners were excised from the area when in 1926 the National Parks Act was passed. In turn, the former land owners created the Sabi Private Game Reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park in 1934. Of these pioneering land owners, six families still own land in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, they are now third and fourth generation owners. In 1948 the landowners formally formed what now is the Sabi Sands Reserve.

Beautiful young lioness

Mama baboon and her baby

Leopard we saw that had his kill up in the tree

Mama & her twin cubs

Nyala buck

Intent gaze

This is actually a yawn

Situated in the Sandford Conservancy on the banks of the Sabi River in Hazyview, Mpumalanga, Elephant Whispers offers an Elephant Experience of a lifetime which will leave you with a renewed respect and admiration for these gentle giants of Africa.

The mighty African Elephant is the world’s largest living land animal. The mere sight of these magnificent tusked creatures is enough to inspire awe in the mind of even the most moderate of wildlife enthusiasts.