3 Day Top-End Sabi Sand Safari

A short scheduled flight from Johannesburg carries you east across South Africa, with sweeping aerial views of the bushveld and the Greater Kruger area before you land at Skukuza or a nearby airstrip serving the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve. From here, a road transfer winds through the reserve to Leopard Hills, an exclusive five-star lodge perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the surrounding wilderness and a busy waterhole. After a warm welcome, you settle into your glass-fronted suite, complete with private plunge pool and panoramic views of the African bush.

Later this afternoon, you meet your expert ranger and tracker and set out in an open 4x4 vehicle for your first game drive in Sabi Sand. This renowned private reserve shares an unfenced boundary with Kruger and is celebrated for exceptional Big Five encounters and some of the most reliable leopard sightings in Africa. As the sun sinks, you pause for sundowner drinks before continuing your search for nocturnal species on the drive back to camp. A refined dinner under the stars or in the elegant dining area rounds off your first evening on safari.

Your second day on safari begins just after sunrise, with coffee and light snacks served before you climb aboard an open 4x4 for the morning game drive. The cool early hours are ideal for predator activity, and Sabi Sand’s reputation for frequent leopard, lion, and other Big Five encounters is well earned. Your ranger and tracker interpret spoor and animal behavior, positioning the vehicle carefully for close yet respectful sightings and ensuring outstanding photographic opportunities throughout the drive.

After around three hours in the field, you return to Leopard Hills for a generous brunch and some time at leisure. You may choose to relax by your private plunge pool, enjoy the views from the main deck overlooking the waterhole, or indulge in a spa treatment between meals. Later, you gather again for afternoon tea before departing on another game drive that continues into the early evening, with chances to see elephants, buffalo, a variety of antelope, and perhaps another elusive leopard. You return to camp after dark for dinner and conversation around the boma fire.

On your final morning, you rise early for one last game drive in the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, making the most of your remaining time in this remarkable wilderness. There is often time for a final memorable sighting — perhaps a pride of lions on the move, a herd of elephants at a waterhole, or plains game grazing in the soft morning light. Back at Leopard Hills, you enjoy a lingering breakfast while soaking up the views and reflecting on your Big Five encounters and the warm hospitality experienced during your stay.

After breakfast, you bid farewell to your hosts and transfer back to the airstrip for the flight to Johannesburg, retracing your route over the Greater Kruger landscape. On arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, your short but immersive top-end Sabi Sand safari comes to an end, with the option to connect with onward travel arrangements or extend your African journey. The seamless combination of scheduled flights, expert guiding, and luxurious accommodation makes this three-day itinerary an ideal high-end safari escape.