Sabi Sands vs. Kruger: Here’s How to Decide

Kruger: Government-owned and managed

Sabi Sands: Privately owned and managed

Kruger: The park is huge as seen from the map above. There is a greater variety of habitats and wildlife than Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve.

Sabi Sands: Sightings are more limited to a smaller transversing area compared to the neighboring national park.

Kruger: No trackers. A tracker sits on a little seat at the front and looks for animal prints as clues to finding the animals.

Sabi Sands: You have a safari ranger AND a tracker- best of both worlds!

Kruger: The safari guides cannot call in sightings on the radio in the national park.

Sabi Sands: The safari guides can radio to each other, which helps find the animals faster.

Kruger: Driving after dark on your own is not allowed. You must be back at camp by sunset. Night drives with a safari ranger are possible at the main camps, although space is limited.

Sabi Sands: You often do a safari drive after dark. On our first night at Lion Sands River Lodge in Sabi Sands, we saw a leopard consuming her kill up in a tree on a night drive.

Kruger: No limit on the number of vehicles per sighting, so you may encounter more traffic and congestion.

Sabi Sands: The number of vehicles is limited at wildlife sightings. Usually 2-3 vehicles max.

Kruger: Guided safari drives use open vehicles with a canopy and canvas sides.

Sabi Sands: Guided safari drives use open vehicles with no cover.

Kruger: You have two safari drive options: a DIY self-drive OR a guided drive. No off-roading allowed. You must stick to the main road network.

Sabi Sands: You have only one option: a guided drive. Off-roading is allowed. This really allows you to have some close-up encounters, especially with leopards and lions! Sabi Sands has one of the highest leopard densities in the world.

Kruger: Schedules are flexible. You can stay out as long as you want, but you have to be back by sunset.

Sabi Sands: Schedules are fixed. Most safari lodges offer an early morning and late afternoon safari drive. Here’s what our typical safari day looked like.

Because these drives start at sunrise and stretch into warm afternoons, packing smart layers is key.

My detailed safari packing list breaks down everything you’ll need, and I also put together a guide to safari clothes you won’t just wear once if you want pieces that work beyond the bush.

Kruger: The majority of the camps are fenced in, so there are no animals roaming through the camp.

Sabi Sands: The majority of the lodges are not fenced, so you MUST be escorted to/from your room at night.

Kruger: The accommodations in the national park are basic with not a lot of amenities. Some camps have a community pool.

Sabi Sands: The safari lodges are more luxurious with amenities including a pool (some rooms even have private pools!), a gym, and spa services.

Trying to pick a safari lodge and not sure what actually matters?

We were in the same boat before our trip. After a lot of research (and trial + error), I put together a list of the 11 things you really want to pay attention to before booking.

Kruger: You bring your own food, or there are also restaurants in the camps.

Sabi Sands: Meals are all-inclusive, and most lodges include all-inclusive drinks (make sure to try the incredible South African wine!).

If you are staying in Cape Town before or after your South Africa safari, do not miss visiting the Cape Winelands and make sure to take a wine tour!

Kruger: Less expensive. For a price comparison, the Skukuza Rest Camp, one of the largest camps in Kruger National Park, will run you R 2,746 (~$155 USD) for a bungalow for 2 people. Food and safari drives are not included.  

Sabi Sands: More expensive. For example, the Lion Sands River Lodge in Sabi Sands starts at $1,574 USD per person per night. This cost though includes all meals, drinks, amenities, game drives, and airport transfers.

Some people will combine both experiences and spend a few days in Kruger National Park and a few days at one of the private game reserves like Sabi Sand.

Each to their own, but choosing a lodge for a 3-night stay in Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve was an easy choice for us for the following reasons:

• High concentrations of wildlife without fighting with other vehicles to get a good view
• Almost guaranteed to see all the Big 5 on a first-time experience
• Highly skilled rangers and trackers
• Close-up encounters
• Amazing gourmet food, service, pool/spa treatments

Plus, this was our first safari experience ever (and definitely not our last!), and we were celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary.

If you want to know more about the safari lodge we picked in Sabi Sands, be sure to read my detailed lodge review.

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Questions about our stay in Sabi Sands?

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