Lower Sabie Rest Camp, Kruger National Park

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Lower Sabie must be the most popular destination in the Kruger National Park. It is exceedingly hard to get a booking here if you don’t book a year in advance. In peak season, even just finding parking to visit the shop or restaurant can be a challenge, as visitors from all over the the southern sections of the Park flock to the camp. The camp’s location on the banks of the Sabie River, in an area of exceptionally high-quality grazing in the south-eastern corner of the Park, ensures that its surrounds is frequented by an astounding variety and number of herbivores and their attending predators, making for game-viewing heaven!

Lower Sabie (22)

The Sabie River got its name from the Shangaan word “saba” meaning fear, probably due to the large number of enormous crocodiles that call the river home. The dam in front of the camp came about after the causeway across the river was built in 1987 (it had to be rebuilt higher after the floods in February 2000).

The first tourist accommodation at Lower Sabie was a 5-bedroom house converted from ranger Tom Duke’s quarters in 1930, but this was demolished again just two years later after becoming dilapidated. The only access to Lower Sabie was via Gomondwane from Crocodile Bridge until the road from Skukuza reached it in 1931. The next attempt at providing guest accommodation at Lower Sabie then commenced in 1936, when three buildings, built in a u-shape and each housing six bedrooms, were erected – these units are still used as accommodation to this day, but has been extensively renovated since. Over the years, more accommodation and a camping site was added to the camp, leading up to an extensive project to revamp and enlarge Lower Sabie in the early 2000’s. Today the camp provides overnight accommodation in 117 huts, bungalows, cottages and safari tents and has space for 34 caravans and tents in its camping area. Lower Sabie’s restaurant (Mugg & Bean), with its deck overlooking the Sabie River, is especially popular. The camp has a well stocked shop for groceries and curios, a fuel station, swimming pool for overnight guests and a day visitors picnic area near the gate. Along the river, in front of the bungalows south of the restaurant, lush lawns and deep shade provided by enormous trees is just the place to spend a lazy afternoon, surrounded by Lower Sabie’s prolific birdlife.

Lower Sabie’s restaurant sen from across the river
The deck at Lower Sabie’s restaurant
Lower Sabie restaurant
Lower Sabie shop
Lower Sabie swimming pool
Lower Sabie picnic area
Lower Sabie cottage 93, December 2015
Lower Sabie bungalows
Lower Sabie bungalows and gardens
Lower Sabie bungalows and gardens
Lower Sabie Tent 26, July 2015
Lower Sabie safari tents
Lower Sabie huts
Lower Sabie huts
Lower Sabie camping area
Beauty in Lower Sabie
Well camouflaged agama
Cape Glossy Starling
Arrow-marked Babbler
Southern Masked Weaver
Spectacled Weaver
Blue waxbill
White-Browed Robin-Chat
Grey Go-away-bird hiding from the heat in a shady Lower Sabie tree
Elephants and impalas mingle on the bank of the Sabie
Crossing the Sabie
Elephant passing right in front of our cottage
Elephant next to the fence
A family of Greater Greater Cane-rat
Night time view from our tent’s deck

We can certainly recommend joining at least one of the guided activities on offer from Lower Sabie, as excellent sightings are almost guaranteed.

All aboard!
Night drive scorpion
The guides are expert at seeing chameleons in the spotlight
African wildcat seen on a night drive from Lower Sabie
Verreaux’s Eagle Owl

Sunset Dam is a brilliant spot just a kilometer from Lower Sabie, and as its name suggests is very popular with visitors whiling away the last minutes before they have to get back to camp in the evening. You can park your vehicle right on the water’s edge, allowing excellent photographic opportunities of hippos, crocodiles, wading birds and herds of game coming to quench their thirst.

Sunset Dam, in daylight
Hippo returning to the water
Yaaaawwwwwnnnnn!
Common sandpiper at Sunset Dam
Yellow-billed Stork at Sunset Dam
Guineafowl hoping for a morsel – don’t be tempted!
Wood sandpiper at Sunset Dam
This crocodile may seem fast asleep, but if anything ventures into the water he’ll be quick to react.
Lurking crocodile
Sunset Dam, at sunset…

Heading north from Lower Sabie along the H10 tarred route to Tshokwane, you’ll encounter the first highlight of this route just minutes after leaving camp. The causeway across the Sabie River is a favourite spot for many visitors, who flock here to enjoy glorious sunsets and an abundance of game and bird species attracted to the water. The plains between Lower Sabie and Tshokwane is home to incredible herds of zebra and wildebeest at the end of winter, and is also an excellent place to look for reedbuck, one of the rarer antelope that occurs in Kruger. Of course, with so many herbivores roaming around it stands to reason that the predators are not far behind. If you, like us, enjoy your game viewing with as little other traffic as possible, try the gravel S29, S122 and S128 loops that turn off the main road as alternatives to explore this area. Two other beautiful places not to be missed is Mlondozi Picnic Spot, overlooking a large dam from Muntshe mountain, and Nkumbe Viewpoint, which offers an exceptional view over the open plains of Kruger.

H10 Causeway at Lower Sabie
H10 Causeway at Lower Sabie
Making waves!
Tigerfish in the Sabie River
Giant Kingfisher hunting from the bridge
Green-backed heron
White-crowned Lapwing on the bridge
Warthogs drinking from the Sabie
Hippo jaw on a Sabie sandbank
Lion love at Lower Sabie
Lion love at Lower Sabie
Warthog
Reedbuck are often seen between Lower Sabie and Tshokwane
Muntshe mountain seen from the north
Hyena on the S29 to Mlondozii
Elephant bull with Muntshe in the background
Mlondozi picnic spot
Mlondozi picnic spot
Mlondozi picnic spot
Zebra crossing a very wet road
Giraffe under heavy skies
African Rock Python just north of Muntshe Mountain
Black-bellied Bustard
Plains zebra
Pearl-spotted Owlet at Mlondozi
Giraffe, with Nkumbe in th background
Klipspringer ewe enjoying the drizzle
Klipspringer ram on Nkumbe
Wet waterbuck
Nkumbe viewpoint
Nkumbe viewpoint
Herd of wildebeest far below Nkumbe viewpoint
Waterbuck at the Mapilini stream just north of Nkumbe
Lower Sabie sunset

The tarred H4-2 Gomondwane Road leading south to Crocodile Bridge is another very productive route for game viewing, though we personally prefer taking the gravel loops running roughly parallel to the main road (S28 Nhlowa Road, S82 Mativuhlungu Loop, S130 Gomondwane Loop and S137 past Duke’s waterhole) as these carry a little less vehicle traffic.

Lower Sabie sunrise
Scrub hares are often seen in the early morning
Kudu crossing the road
Passing close-by!
Leopard tortoise feeding on fresh shoots next to the road
African Green Pigeon
Plains zebra are plentiful along the roads south of Lower Sabie
Plains zebra are plentiful along the roads south of Lower Sabie
Kori bustard, one of the biggest flying birds on earth
Impalas are a regular sight around these parts
Side-striped Jackal
Spotted hyena mother
Excited young elephant
White rhinoceros
Landmark on the S130
Swainson’s Spurfowl
Warthog cooling off in the midday heat
Fight for dominance
Crested Francolin chick
Blue wildebeest

The H4-1 road between Lower Sabie and Skukuza carries more traffic than any other road in Kruger, and not without reason. There’s an excellent chance of seeing all the “big 5” game animals and so much more along this route, which follows the course of the Sabie River, on just one drive. The vegetation along the portion of this road nearer Lower Sabie is much more open than the stretch between Nkuhlu and Skukuza, making for even better game viewing. Keep your eyes open for lions and leopards at the rocks at the Lubyelubye stream crossing about 5km from Lower Sabie, as this is one of their most reliable haunts. Also, don’t miss the short S79 gravel loop that crosses the Nwatimhiri causeway, which is another favourite spot for feline predators. Nkuhlu Picnic Spot is a great place to get out, stretch the legs and have a bite to eat (though beware the monkeys and baboons that hang around here, as they will attempt to steal your picnic if they get even the slightest chance!). The gravel S30 Salitje Road along the northern bank of the river is a wonderful alternative route back to Lower Sabie.

Elephants on the move in the Sabie
Leopard lying in the bed of the Nwatimhiri near Skukuza in the Kruger Park
Buffalo crossing the H4-1
Nkuhlu Picnic Site
Arrow-marked babbler at Nkuhlu
Water Monitor at Nkuhlu
Saddle-billed Stork fishing at Nkuhlu
Elephant cow and calf
Common Duiker ewe
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Baboon
Kudu bull
Lion greeting near Lubyelubye
Rocks at Lubyelubye

If all these photos did not convince you, allow us to reiterate: Lower Sabie IS game-viewing heaven! Remember to book early if you also want to enjoy all it has to offer.

58 thoughts on “Lower Sabie Rest Camp, Kruger National Park”

  1. Pingback: On our way to the wilderness – day 3 | de Wets Wild

  2. Pingback: Not for sensitive viewers: a vicious Baboon assault | de Wets Wild

  4. joannesisco

    It’s always such a treat to go through all your photos. I’m equally awed by the quality of your photos and the fact you know the names of all these animals and birds!!
    The biggest *wow* picture for me was the agama blending into the tree. Talk about being a Master of Disguise! I had never heard the name *agama* lizards before and now can add it to my list of things I learned today 🙂

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thanks for the kind comment, Joanne! Seeing the agama “disappear” in front of your own eyes the moment they stop moving along the tree trunk is an incredible experience, and just proves again that its not only the “hairy and scary” creatures that can leave us amazed!!

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  5. anotherday2paradise

    Fantastic photo gallery, Dries. I can’t believe how many animals and wonderful birds you managed to photograph. An excellent virtual tour of a place I have yet to see. I know that my sister has been to Lower Sabie a couple of times when she lived in Nelspruit.

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  8. petrujviljoen

    ‘n Buurman wat onlangs hier ingetrek het, het ‘n foto van ‘n padda wat van kleur verander het toe dit in die water gespring het, weg van ‘n grasslang af. Ek het die fotos en hulle het navorsing gedoen op die internet maar niks gekry nie. Ander Suid-Afrikaanse kenners, die Pretoria Dieretuin direkteur ingesluit weet niks daar van nie. Waar kan ek die foto heen epos en as jy die padda kan identifiseer sal hulle baie bly wees. Petru

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  12. MJF Images

    Great variety Dries! I stayed in the campsite, and loved the area (lions!). I thought the Big 5 stuff was dumb, until after a lot of near-misses I finally saw my leopard at Kruger (further north). Then despite myself I felt somehow complete.

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      I know what you mean Michael! We don’t measure the success of our trips by the number of close encounters we have with the Big 5, but we certainly don’t mind having our paths cross with theirs either!

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thank you very much Kathy! Five months have passed since our last visit to Lower Sabie, and with the next trip just around the corner it was about time we highlight what keeps drawing us back there!

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  16. aj vosse

    To think that not too many years ago the whole lowveld and surrounds look like this!! It’s so good that Kruger has maintained it watchful protection of the environment! Long may it last! 😉

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  19. Cal Butler

    Awesome post and pics of Lower Sabie and surrounds! Brings back so many memories and possibly my favourite section of the park too. I managed to get accommodation for January.

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