Umkumbe Safari Lodge - Sabi Sands Game Reserve

Umkumbe Safari Lodge in the southern part of  Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, overlooking the sand river which makes it ideal for an incredible wildlife experience. Sabi Sands is known for being the most premier place to view Africa's Big Five, Umkumbe Safari Lodge is perfectly situated in one of the best Big Five game viewing destinations in Africa. 

Viewing the ‘Big Five’ (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, and buffalo) is much easier at Umkumbe, as well as cheetah, wild dog and hundreds of other species of animals, birds, and plants indigenous to the area. 

What makes an Umkumbe safari a memorable experience is that the owner is involved in managing the lodge and playing host to his guests, we recommend a minimum of three nights.

Guests regularly see elephants, hippos, buffalo, and antelope grazing in the river bed. Additional facilities include a swimming pool, lounge, bar and dining area and the traditional boma, where guests will be served delicious and hearty South African meals.

During the dry season, the vegetation is sparse and wildlife congregates around watering holes. During the wet season, the vegetation is dense and wildlife is more dispersed. At Umkumbe safari lodge, expect to see the Big Five and much more.

Sabi Sands Lodges Reviews!

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September 23, 2026 GB Website
Sabisandlodges has been amazing in…  

Sabisandlodges has been amazing in creating a dream holiday!!! They were attentive, quick to respond and arranged everything for us


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Sabisandlodges has been amazing in…  
Annelize Taylor    September 23, 2026   GB    Website   
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Sabisandlodges has been amazing in creating a dream holiday!!! They were attentive, quick to respond and arranged everything for us in great detail!!

Thank you so much for arranging all our travel - Ulusaba, amazing. The pick ups were great - through vumba tours!!
The La Rochelle tours were fantastic too. Drivers were helpful, friendly and professional.

Really enjoyed our experiences and everyone involved made it even better!!!!

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September 23, 2026 ZA Website
Thank you Max for your recommendation and great service.  

Our experience with Max from Sabi Sands Lodges was brilliant. His recommendation and attention to details were excellent. We highly

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Thank you Max for your recommendation and great service.  
Andrew W.    September 23, 2026   ZA    Website   
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Our experience with Max from Sabi Sands Lodges was brilliant. His recommendation and attention to details were excellent. We highly recommend booking with Sabi Sands Lodges as it saved us time & effort. Experience counts and Max's knowledge was invaluable.


  • 10 Luxury Suites
  • Sabi Sands Game Reserve
  • Big Five Safari Experience
  • Nearest Airport - Skukuza

Umkumbe Safari Lodge - Image Gallery

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Beautiful swimming pool area
Boma Area for Outdoor Entertainment
Splash Pool By Night
The Balcony of a Superior Room
The Indoor Dining and Breakfast Area
The lively boma where dinner is served
The lounge and patio area
The Small Gym Area
The Superior Room Outdoor Shower
The Superior Rooms
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Umkumbe s Main Lounge Area
Views of the Sand River from a Superior Room
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Rates

Room Type:
2026
2027
Standard Rooms
R6,510.00 per adult sharing per night
R8,465.00 per single adult per night
R3,255.00 per child per night (5-11 years)
R7,485.00 per adult sharing per night
R9,735.00 per single adult per night
R3,742.50 per child per night (5-11 years)
Superior Chalets
R7,650.00 per adult sharing per night (up to 2 adults)
R9,950.00 per single adult per night
R5,960.00 third adult sharing per night
R3,825.00 per child per night (5-11 years)
R8,795.00 per adult sharing per night (up to 2 adults)
R11,440.00 per single adult per night
R6,855.00 third adult sharing per night
R4,397.50 per child per night (5-11 years)

* Rates exclude conservation fees and gate fees

 

Umkumbe Safari Lodge – Sabi Sands Game Reserve – Information

Umkumbe is a rustically elegant lodge in the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve. Sabi Sands covers about 65 000 hectares of pristine wilderness bordering the Kruger National Park. It is an area of unrivalled wildlife diversity, and there are no barriers between the private reserve and the park. The lodge’s location on the banks of the Sand River offer a plethora of water related birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians to be seen. Umkumbe Safari Lodge is an owner run and managed family friendly lodge. The small, secluded lodge offers its guests an intimate and personal safari experience.
Umkumbe Safari Lodge accommodates a maximum of fourteen guests in seven spacious chalets, all with splendid views of the surrounding bushveld. All of the chalets have spacious en-suite bathrooms, six with a shower and one with a bath and shower. The chalets have either twin or double beds, draped in flowing mosquito nets. Furnishings are tasteful and comfortable, creating a refined homely atmosphere. Four of the chalets have inter-leading doors, making them ideal for families or groups of friends. Most of the chalets have verandahs and glorious river views.
Sabi Sands is home to a huge diversity of plants and wildlife, which includes the Big Five, cheetah and wild dog. Night drives may reveal some of the many nocturnal species such as honey badger, bush baby, porcupine, genet, bat-eared fox, and aardvark. Leopard sightings are also more frequent after dark. Birdlife is prolific, with recordings of about 350 species in the Sabi Sands Reserve. These include the renowned 'Big Six', namely Ground hornbill, Martial eagle, Saddle-billed stork, Pel's fishing owl, Kori bustard and Lappet faced vulture. A variety of night jars and owls can be spotted after dark.
• Children of all ages welcome. • Children under 12 pay 50% of the adult rate. •​ Children 12 and over pay the full adult rate.
From Johannesburg/Pretoria: Take the N12 or N4 highway respectively to Witbank / eMalahleni (from Johannesburg Airport, follow signs to Boksburg to find the N12). Follow the N4 highway past Middleburg (Toll Plaza), Belfast / eMakhazeni and Machadodorp (Toll Plaza). Follow the Schoemanskloof option on the N4 towards Nelspruit / Mbombela. At Nelspruit / Mbombela, turn left onto the R40 to White River. In White River, at the first set of traffic lights in the town itself, turn left, following signs to Hazyview and Wildtuin / Kruger National Park. At the next set of traffic lights, turn right. Cross over the next set of traffic lights and then at the final set, with a Caltex garage on your right, turn left on the R40 for Hazyview (the R538, via the Numbi Gate, is a busy road and not recommended). After approximately 45 km, you will go down a steep hill towards a T-junction. Turn left, staying on the R40 and drive towards Hazyview and follow as per the below. From Hazyview: Proceed through Hazyview until you reach a set of traffic lights with a thatched shopping centre on the corner. Turn here onto the Paul Kruger Road which will be signposted Kruger Gate and the R536. Continue along this road for approximately 34.5 km and on the left-hand side of the road, you will see lodge signboards for various lodges including Inyati, Idube, Exeter and Savanna. Go past these, and approximately 3 km further on, on the left-hand side of the road, you will see signposts for the private game reserves of MalaMala, Sabi Sabi and Londolozi. Turn left here onto the gravel road. Travel for approximately 8.5 km and you will get to the Sabi Sand Game Reserve Shaw’s Gate. For all visitors, there is a cash entrance fee payable from 1st October 2010 of R20 per person (subject to change) to enter the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, which is payable at the entrance gate. Self-drive visitors must ALSO pay a R110 per vehicle entrance fee, also payable in cash at the entrance gate. Please retain your receipt as proof of entrance and have it stamped at your destination when you are leaving, which acts as your Exit Permit. Once inside the gate, follow the signs to the lodge through the reserve. Allow between 30-50 minutes to drive from the gate to the lodge. Do not get out of your car until you reach the lodge. You may see some wildlife on your way – if you do, slow down and maintain a good distance. Do not drive off-road in any circumstances. From Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport: Turn right out of the airport onto the R538 and follow the signs to White River (Witrivier). Continue for approximately 12 km, until you reach the first set of traffic lights in White River, with the mosque on your left. Turn right and travel towards Hazyview on the R40. After approximately 45 km, you will go down a steep hill towards a T-junction. Turn left, staying on the R40 and follow the directions from Hazyview as above.

Includes

* All meals * 2 game drives per/day * Bush walks * Teas & coffees * Sundowner drinks

Umkumbe Safari Lodge Contact Details

Please contact us for assistance
Our team is available

☎ +27 (0) 21 6969615

☎ +27 (0) 606191220

☎ +27 (0) 642831384

Book viaWhatsAppbook via WhatsAppEmail for assistance

Umkumbe Safari Lodge - Wildlife Image Gallery

Birding in the Sabie Game Reserve
Birding in the Sabie Game Reserve
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Birding in the Sabie Game Reserve
Dazzle of zebra
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Elephant calf on game drive
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Finding Elephants on Game Drive
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Pride of lions on Umkumbe
Sunsets in the Sabie Game Reserve
Umkumbe is a Haven for Leopards
Umkumbe is big cat paradise
Wild dogs spotted on game drive
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Incredible wildlife!

This was our third lodge to visit during our holiday, we can honestly say it was fantastic. We stayed in a spacious bungalow with outside shower. There are 2 safari drives every day and our guides really went above and beyond to find us all the animals we asked for 🙂 We took amazing wildlife shots as we got so close to lions and leopards, it was wonderful.
Colin CurtisJuly 2018 - UK

Enquiry Form - Umkumbe Safari Lodge