Adjacent to the world-renowned Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve is famed for its intimate wildlife encounters, particularly its leopard sightings. With no boundary fences between the Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands Nature Reserve, wildlife, the Big Five included, roam freely in the huge natural conservation area that covers over two million hectares (almost five million acres).
Normally notoriously elusive, the Sabi Sand leopards have grown naturally accustomed to safari vehicles, thereby permitting close-up sightings and extraordinary photographic opportunities. Along with the reserve’s famous leopard, mongoose and civet cat are frequently encountered on night drives. In addition to Africa’s famous Big Five, safari-goers are likely to observe several clans of hyena and various antelope species, from impala, waterbuck and grey duiker to kudu and bushbuck.
The Sabi Sand consists primarily of bush savannah, which is made up of dense trees and shrubs, interspersed with grasslands. White rhino, as well as a variety of antelope species, giraffe and warthog can be found in the savannah. Both the Sabie and Sand rivers intersect the reserve, although the flow of the Sand River varies according to season, and it is often lined by wide, sandy banks. A forest of tall trees and thickets growing along the river’s course remains green throughout the year attracting leopard, bushbuck, buffalo and other animals.