Sabi Sands, Kruger and Cape Town Safari Highlights:

• 4×4 Morning & Evening Game Drives in Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve
• Full-day Guided Kruger National Park Safari in open 4×4 vehicle
• Guided Bush Walk in Sabi Sands Game Reserve in Greater Kruger
• Half-day Cape Town City Tour
• Full-day Cape Peninsula & Cape Winelands Tour
• 3 nights Sabi Sands Umkumbe Safari Lodge Accommodation
• 3 nights Cape Town V&A Waterfront Hotel Accommodation

Day 1: Johannesburg to Sabi Sands & Umkumbe Safari Lodge – South Africa

Fly to the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMI Airport), the gateway to southern Kruger National Park. You will be greeted on arrival and driven to Umkumbe Safari Lodge, a beautiful tented safari camp inside the world-renowned Sabi Sands Game Reserve.

The first 3 nights of this epic Sabi Sands, Kruger and Cape Town Safari are spent at Umkumbe Safari Lodge in Sabi Sands. This private game reserve forms part of the Greater Kruger Park which shares unfenced borders with the famous Kruger National Park allowing for the free passage of animals and making for the best game viewing in South Africa. Check-in and freshen up in your luxurious tented room, taking in the stunning setting tucked away under the indigenous trees of Sabi Sands. These permanent canvas tents are built on raised wooden platforms and each has its own private balcony observation deck to immerse yourself in the serene surroundings.

There is time to relax and explore Umkumbe Safari Lodge before embarking on the first game drive of your South African Safari, in Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Head out in an open 4×4 safari vehicle with the camp’s professional guides who will take you in search of the African Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros) and many other species including giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, cheetah, hippopotamus, hyena, warthog, and baboon. Sunset is the perfect time for game viewing on African safaris as the diurnal animals become more active in the early mornings and evenings, while the nocturnal animals are just beginning to stir. Sabi Sands is particularly renowned for its leopard sightings.

Finish back at your Umkumbe Safari Lodge after your first exciting game drive. End a perfect day off with a sumptuous dinner and drinks around the campfire under the stars, in the spacious open-air boma. At the end of the day, retreat to the luxury of your tented room for a peaceful night’s sleep enveloped by the sounds of the African bush.

• Included Activity: Sunset Game Drive in Sabi Sands Game Reserve
• Meals included: Dinner at Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Day 2: Big 5 Kruger National Park Safari – South Africa

Day 2 of this epic Sabi Sands, Kruger and Cape Town Safari adventure begins with an early start to make the best of the dawn hours for animal spotting. Start with a coffee or tea in your tented room at Umkumbe Safari Lodge before we embark on our full-day Kruger National Park Safari.

You will be collected at Sabi Sands by your Kruger safari guide. In winter (April to September) pick-up is at 05h00 in the morning, and in summer (October to March) it is at 04h30. Be sure to pack your camera, binoculars, sunblock, and a sun hat, not forgetting warm clothes (jacket, gloves, beanie) as mornings and evenings are often chilly, especially in winter. Leaving Sabi Sands behind, you are driven to the Paul Kruger Gate entrance of Kruger National Park. Keep an eye out for wildlife en route.

Your whole day is devoted to exploring the vast Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s top safari destinations. At 19,485 square kilometres (7,523 square miles), the Kruger National Park is one of the largest reserves in Africa. Our full-day Kruger Safari is conducted in open-sided 4×4 game-viewing vehicles that provide optimal visibility for watching and photographing wildlife and birds.

Make a stop at one of the picnic spots where you can tuck into a packed breakfast prepared by Umkumbe Safari Lodge. Then continue on your way as the experienced guides take you to scenic viewpoints and waterholes that attract diverse animals and birds, pausing regularly for a leg stretch. Kruger Park is home to diverse habitats that make for a staggering variety of fauna and flora. There are over 147 mammal species, from the Big 5 to cheetah, hyena, giraffe, zebra, hippo, and endangered wild dog, not to mention plenty of antelope species. Kruger has reported 507 bird species, 114 reptile species, 34 amphibian species, 49 fish species and over 2,000 plant species with 336 tree types. Your guide will help to identify this mind-dazzling selection!

At midday you make your way to one of the Kruger National Park rest camps for a break to doze under the shade, browse the curio shops, buy snacks and refreshments or get some lunch at the camp restaurant. Then game-viewing continues until late afternoon when you start making your way out of Kruger, towards Sabi Sands. You should be back at Umkumbe Safari Lodge by 16h30, depending on wildlife sightings along the way.

Sit back and enjoy a cold drink around the campfire and relate tales of the day, before before enjoying another hearty meal in the comfort of camp.

• Included Activity: Full-day Kruger National Park Safari
• Meals included: Packed Breakfast & Dinner at Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Day 3: Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Greater Kruger – South Africa

Today is another early start as you take in the sunrise over the African bush with a morning tea or coffee on your deck. Then, take advantage of the dawn and head out on a morning wildlife drive in Sabi Sands. The camp’s skilled guides drive you out in open 4×4 safari vehicles to spot the many animals and birds that cross your path in the warm morning light. Early mornings are ideal for game-viewing in the African bush because many of the animals and birds are also particularly active. Sabi Sands is known for its close-up wildlife encounters and Big 5 animal sightings, so you are in for a treat! Your guides go to great lengths to track the wildlife, getting you into prime positions to provide superb photographic opportunities.

Enjoy a well-deserved hearty breakfast on your return to the tented safari camp, secluded in the African bush. After breakfast, take an exhilarating bush walk in Sabi Sands Game Reserve led by an armed game ranger experienced in encounters with all of Sabi Sand’s creatures encountered on foot. The guided walk starts at the camp and will last approximately an hour. A walking safari provides the best opportunity to encounter the secrets of the African wild up close as your guides point out little details in the bush, teaching you more about Greater Kruger’s smaller creatures and micro-habitats.

After your bush walk in Sabi Sands, your time is free to unwind at Umkumbe Safari Lodge. Take a refreshing dip in the pool and relax in one of the recliners, enjoy a quiet time in your cosy walk-in tent or enjoy a refreshing drink while you observe animals from one of the viewing decks. Lunch will be served and then later in the afternoon, return to Sabi Sands Game Reserve for a sunset game drive as your guide takes you on a journey to track down as many creatures as possible. As evening draws in, head back to your safari camp, keeping your eyes open for any nocturnal animals that cross your path on the way back.

Return to camp for a last evening around the campfire with a cool beverage before tucking into a delicious dinner in the open-air boma under a blanket of stars. Soon after you will be retiring to your cosy tented room for some much-needed slumber.

• Included Activity: Morning Game Drive & Bush Walk in Sabi Sands, Afternoon Game Drive in Sabi Sands Game Reserve
• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner at Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Day 4: Sabi Sands Game Reserve to Cape Town – South Africa

Begin the day early once more with a steaming cup of tea or coffee on your deck as you soak up nature’s sounds as the day begins. Then embark on the final morning game drive of your safari adventure as the camp’s skilled safari guides continue to share their deep knowledge of Sabi Sands and love of the African bush during your drive. The guides make the most of your last chance to see African wildlife and provide insights into the native fauna and flora of this unique location in South Africa. Make sure to bring your camera and binoculars to capture any wildlife action.

After your final 4×4 game drive, return to Umkumbe Safari Lodge for a delicious breakfast on the covered veranda overlooking the bush. Then it’s time to catch your transfer to KMI Airport for a flight to Cape Town. You are met at Cape Town International Airport for the next leg of your Sabi Sands, Kruger and Cape Town Safari. A shuttle will take you to your V&A Waterfront hotel, the Signature Lux Hotel, which will be home for the next three days in the ‘Mother City’. After settling into your hotel you can set off and explore your surroundings. The V&A Waterfront is a modern development, incorporating the oldest working harbour in the Southern Hemisphere, and offers a bustling ambience and vibrant mix of shopping, dining, entertainment, and historic landmarks, with the distinctive silhouette of Table Mountain as your backdrop. The Cape is known for its gastronomic delights and you are spoilt for choice with restaurants.

• Included Activity: Morning Game Drive in Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Airport Transfers
• Meals Included: Breakfast at Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Day 5: Cape Town City Tour – South Africa

After a hearty breakfast at your V&A Waterfront hotel, you are collected by your guide for an action-packed half-day Cape Town City Tour that will introduce you to some of Cape Town City’s top attractions. Discover the diverse cultures and fascinating history of Cape Town as you journey through the city districts.

Visit highlights such as the colourful Cape Malay Quarter of the Bo-Kaap, Green Market Square with its African arts and crafts market, the old Company Gardens and the Parliament buildings in the heart of the city, before paying a visit to the South African Museum. You will pass the beautiful City Hall building and historic Castle of Good Hope and then head up past Lion’s Head to Signal Hill for spectacular sweeping views over the city from Table Mountain and the city to the Waterfront and Table Bay with Robben Island. Next head to the fashionable palm-lined strip of trendy Camps Bay and the secluded Clifton seafront areas.

You also have the option of taking the cable car up Table Mountain (own expense) for the stunning views from the top, and there is also a short diamond factory tour on offer. If the weather is not suitable for going up the mountain, you have the option of taking a drive to the northern Table View district on the other side of Table Bay where you have the iconic picture postcard view of Table Mountain in the distance across the waters of the bay. Return to your V&A Waterfront hotel after all the excitement to freshen up and relax, before you spend the evening exploring more of Cape Town’s excellent dining scene and vibrant nightlife.

• Included Activity: Half-Day Cape Town City Tour
• Optional Activities: Diamond Factory Tour, Table Mountain cable car (extra cost), Table View visit
• Meals Included: Breakfast at V&A Waterfront Hotel

Day 6: Cape Peninsula & Winelands Tour – South Africa

After breakfast today you have a full day of activity ahead when your guide collects you for a Cape Peninsula and Cape Winelands Tour. Set out to explore the stunning Atlantic Seaboard, from fashionable Clifton beachfront, along the scenic coastal road past the Twelve Apostles mountain peaks to the fishing village of Hout Bay, before heading out along the dramatic Chapman’s Peak cliff drive, for breathtaking views around each of the 114 thrilling bends along the route!

Your drive takes you further south, to the very tip of Africa, with its wild beauty of crashing waves and the fauna and flora of the Cape Point Nature Reserve. Your guide will lead you through the reserve to the lookout point at the lighthouse, while introducing you to the Cape’s indigenous fynbos vegetation which is a floral kingdom all of its own, and pointing out various wildlife species, from ostriches to a few species of antelope and some very cheeky baboons! From there continue the drive to the historic naval town of Simonstown, where there is the option to visit the well-known Boulders Beach and its colony of adorable Jackass penguins (entrance fee not included). Continue further around the False Bay coastline past charming seaside villages, from the quaint shops of Kalk Bay to the surfing mecca of Muizenberg. Be sure to keep an eye out for whales if you’re there during the whale season (July to September).

Then, head out to the Cape Winelands. The first stop is the historic town of Stellenbosch, nestled among the vineyards and mountain peaks, with charming streets and rich heritage. The tour continues to one of the excellent vineyards, where you can indulge in a wine-tasting experience and a cellar tour. Pair the wines with a selection of locally produced cheeses to enhance the sensory experience. If you wish, you have the opportunity to buy your favourite wines for a memorable keepsake of your Cape Winelands visit.

After a full day of adventure, return to your V&A Waterfront hotel to relax before heading out to another excellent restaurant for dinner.

• Included Activity: Full-Day Cape Peninsula & Winelands Tour
• Optional Activities: Penguin Colony visit
• Meals Included: Breakfast at V&A Waterfront Hotel

Day 7: Cape Town to Greater Kruger Park – South Africa

After breakfast at your V&A Waterfront hotel, it’s time to bid farewell to Cape Town as a shuttle arrives to transfer you to Cape Town International Airport. This brings your unforgettable Sabi Sands, Kruger and Cape Town Safari in South Africa to a close.

• Included Activity: Airport Transfer
• Meals Included: Breakfast at V&A Waterfront Hotel

About Umkumbe Safari Lodge in Sabi Sands Game Reserve

On the Sabi Sands and Kruger leg of this South Africa safari, you are accommodated at Umkumbe Bush Lodge, a private safari camp in the southern area of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. This is one of the premium game viewing regions of the entire prestigious Sabi Sands Game Reserve and makes an ideal base for exploring the Greater Kruger.

Umkumbe Safari Lodge is set amongst tall indigenous trees, hidden away in the African bush, creating a real African safari atmosphere. This Sabi Sands tented camp features a main treehouse building, six luxurious Meru-style safari tents, an open-air boma, and a swimming pool for cooling off after time in the bush. Experience an exceptional yet affordable African safari in one of South Africa’s top game reserves that offers high-quality service, comfortable accommodation, and all the amenities.

The main area of the Umkumbe Safari Lodge is a thatch-roofed construction of natural stone and wood with a beautiful large wooden terrace surrounding a dramatic old Weeping Boer-bean tree. Breakfast and lunch are taken on a thatched veranda boasting views of Sabi Sands’ wildlife close by. There are also indoor and outdoor lounge areas, as well as a bar and an indoor fireplace for chilly winter nights. For the rest of the time, there are recliners beside the pool for relaxation between game-viewing trips.

Umkumbe Safari Lodge Accommodation Options

This lantern-lit tented safari camp can accommodate up to 12 guests, making for an intimate bush escape featuring six en-suite safari tents with air conditioning. The permanent canvas tents at Umkumbe Safari Lodge are built on raised wooden platforms and each has its own private balcony observation deck. The tents are elegantly equipped and set apart from each other in the bush to guarantee guests’ privacy.

Each tent includes a tea/coffee station, standing fan, air conditioning, baggage stand, hairdryer, mosquito net, safety box and bathroom facilities. The safari tents provide comfy beds with crisp linens, tasteful furnishing and a modest private seating area on the wooden deck. These tented accommodations provide seclusion and luxury with true African safari flair.

The cost of this tour is based on accommodation in standard tents, but there are three types of semi-luxury tents to choose from at Umkumbe Safari Lodge. The camp features four standard tents, one luxury tent, the Leadwood, and one superior tent, the Monkey Thorn suite, all well-equipped to ensure your safari stay is comfortable. You are welcome to discuss this with our friendly travel consultants who can quote on a different accommodation option should you prefer. Note that tent types are also subject to availability at the time of your booking.

Standard Tents at Umkumbe Safari Lodge

Standard tents at Umkumbe Safari Lodge are spacious, walk-in tents set on wooden platforms. They each have a small outside deck area covered in canvas. These canvas tents come with en-suite bathrooms with showers. The tents have king-sized or twin beds and can accommodate two visitors each.

Luxury Tent & Superior Tented Suite at Umkumbe Safari Lodge

The luxury tent, the Leadwood Tent, is a larger and more private tent suite. This luxurious tent is tucked away for even more privacy and comes with a king bed and a sofa bed. It includes a bathtub, his and hers basins, and an outdoor shower. The Leadwood Tent can accommodate two guests and one child.

The superior tented suite, The Monkey Thorn, is an even larger tent nestled in the bush. It provides a completely private stay. The Monkey Thorn Superior Suite at Umkumbe Safari Lodge has a king bed and two single beds and can accommodate up to three children and two adults. Apart from the outside deck, this superior tented suite includes a sitting area and a full bathroom with a bathtub, his and hers sinks and an outside shower.

Sabi Sands and Kruger Safari Game Drives

This Sabi Sands, Kruger and Cape Town Safari includes four game drives in Sabi Sands Game Reserve and one full-day safari in the Kruger National Park. Experienced guides accompany each game drive to share their extensive knowledge about the local wildlife and environment. Open 4×4 safari vehicles offer optimal views for the best wildlife viewing and photography. Sabi Sands and Kruger National Park are home to Africa’s Big 5: lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, buffalo, and elephants, so you are sure to enjoy some unforgettable animal sightings. Your guides are dedicated to ensuring you get the most out of your game-viewing, seeking out the best routes for game sightings and getting you into the best positions for wildlife photography in Sabi Sands Game Reserve and Kruger. Bottled water, rainproof ponchos, and blankets are provided on the game drives.

About Sabi Sands Game Reserve

Game drives are held in the private Sabi Sands Game Reserve, which shares unfenced boundaries with Kruger National Park. This affordable safari also includes a guided bush walk with an armed game ranger in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve for the full experience of the African bush.

The Sabi Sands Game Reserve is a renowned wildlife sanctuary in South Africa, covering 65,000 hectares (153,000 acres) of pristine African wilderness. It shares a 50-kilometre (31-mile) unfenced border with the world-famous Kruger National Park, allowing animals to roam freely between the two reserves. Established in 1934, Sabi Sands is South Africa’s oldest private game reserve and a pioneer of sustainable wildlife tourism in Southern Africa. The game reserve protects a wide diversity of wildlife species in their natural habitat, including endangered species such as African Wild Dog, Cheetah, Red-billed Oxpeckers, Ground Hornbills, Honey Badgers, and Bats.

Sabi Sands is famous for its close-up wildlife encounters, including Africa’s Big 5 animals (lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinos). The reserve is particularly renowned for its exceptional leopard sightings, offering visitors an unparalleled opportunity to observe these elusive creatures in their natural habitat. Sabi Sands is part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a joint Peace Park initiative between Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. The reserve is also a pioneer of the Greater Kruger Park, which consists of Kruger National Park and surrounding private game reserves. The original Sabi Reserve, established in 1898, incorporated what is today the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, as well as the main Kruger National Park, making Sabi Sands an integral part of South Africa’s rich wildlife heritage.

About Signature Lux, Cape Town Waterfront Hotel

Unwind in style at the Signature Lux Hotel by ONOMO Waterfront, your luxurious home base for exploring Cape Town. This modern hotel boasts an unbeatable location in the heart of the vibrant Waterfront district, placing you just steps away from the iconic V&A Waterfront (500 meters), the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC, 300 meters), and convenient public transport links (My Citi Bus Stop & Water Canal Stop, 50 meters). With the beach only 15 minutes away and the city centre within easy reach, the Signature Lux Hotel offers the perfect blend of convenience and comfort.

The Signature Lux Hotel offers a contemporary design, blending modern amenities with urban comfort for a cosmopolitan city stay. Accommodation for this Tour is on a B&B basis, in standard rooms providing a comfortable and stylish space to rest.

The well-equipped rooms at the Signature Lux Hotel feature comfy beds, ambient lighting, a 40-inch SMART TV with access to Netflix and Showmax, high-speed Wi-Fi, and in-room amenities such as air-conditioning, a minibar, safe, tea & coffee facilities, automated wake-up calls, laundry & housekeeping services, and an en-suite bathroom with a water purification system for added peace of mind. Essential toiletries, bathrobes, hairdryers, an iron & ironing board, a dedicated workspace, and international plug points for devices are also provided.

Signature Lux Hotel’s stylish restaurant offers a delectable fusion of South African and European flavours, with a menu boasting tapas, bistro meals, and fresh salads, all prepared with local ingredients. Guests can enjoy live music by local musicians every evening or opt for room service for ultimate relaxation.

The hotel features smart technology, such as contactless check-in/out, an in-room service app, and a 24-hour reception, ensuring a seamless and convenient experience for guests. For added convenience, the hotel offers a smartphone-enabled room key, ensuring a hassle-free stay.

Sabi Sands, Kruger & Cape Town Safari Notes

This tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town. Should you wish to start and end in Cape Town see our 7-Day Cape Town and Kruger Safari to Umkumbe Bush Lodge in Sabi Sands.

The Sabi Sands, Kruger & Cape Town Safari package includes 4 airport transfers:

1. Transfer from KMI Airport to Umkumbe Bush Lodge on arrival
2. Transfer from Umkumbe Safari Lodge to KMI Airport on day 4
3. Transfer from Cape Town International Airport to Signature Lux Hotel in Cape Town on day 4
4. Transfer to Cape Town International Airport from Signature Lux Hotel at the end

To add a transfer to OR Tambo Airport at the start of your tour (at a small extra cost) and/or book extra nights of post-tour accommodation in Cape Town, talk to one of our travel experts.

Kruger and Cape Town Flights

Flight costs are not included in this Sabi Sands, Kruger and Cape Town safari package and must be booked separately. Our friendly travel advisors are happy to assist with booking your flights through our trusted flight partners.

Customise your Sabi Sands, Kruger & Cape Town Safari

Our affordable Sabi Sands, Kruger & Cape Town Safaris are all customizable upon request. Talk to our budget travel experts to have your safari tailored to your needs. You can add pre-tour or post-tour accommodation, spend extra days in Cape Town, Sabi Sands or Kruger National Park, book day tours, add a Victoria Falls Safari, change where to start and end your trip, and more.

For more details contact African Budget Safaris