Umkumbe Safari Lodge – Kruger National Park, South Africa

Overview

Location: South Africa–>Kruger National Park–>Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve
Accommodation Type: Lodge
Comfort Level: Luxury

Good For: Solo, Couple/Romantic, Family |

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.

Accommodation

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.

Wildlife

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

More Info

Children 
• Children of all ages welcome.
• Children under 12 pay 50% of the adult rate.
•​ Children 12 and over pay the full adult rate.

Directions

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.