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First-hand Stay
First-hand Stay
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On-site inspection
On-site inspection
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Best air links are Hoedspruit (HDS) airport followed by a ~1.5 hrs drive or KMIA/MQP airport followed by a ~3 hrs drive; many guests also fly Airlink/Fedair to Arathusa Airstrip, then ~15–25 min open-vehicle transfer to the lodge (usually arranged by the lodge). Self-drive via Gowrie Gate is ~5.5–6 hrs from Johannesburg.
Guests most often request the Waterhole Suite for its air-conditioned lounge and the best, armchair-safari view of the waterhole, while the Honeymoon Suite sits more secluded for maximum privacy between drives; among the Luxury Suites, end units furthest from the main area are the quietest.
À la carte dinners and classic boma braais under the stars, bush breakfasts when sightings run hot, light salad-and-grill or wood-fired pizzas for lunch; Chef Matthews and team are often called out by guests for generous, flavour-forward plates - think butternut soup on cool nights, venison from the coals and a malva-pudding finish.
Neutral layers for cool dawns and warm middays, light windproof for winter drives, polarized sunglasses, soft-soled shoes for timber decks, swimwear for your plunge pool, and a soft duffel if flying lodge-link.
Request Mike as your guide - he’s guided here for many years with deep bush knowledge and is very much in demand, so no guarantees. If you do get him, ask for a post-dinner stargazing session in the boma; he turns the night sky into a storytelling masterclass.
Your stay contributes to Sabi Sand’s conservation levy funding habitat protection and anti-poaching across the reserve, and the lodge sources fresh produce from local community partners, including the Thornybush Community Garden, reducing supply miles and supporting livelihoods.
