Sabi Sand · Tented camp
Umkumbe Bush Lodge
A private corner of the reserve, where people and nature live side by side in a luxury tented camp.
From R6 100 pp / night sharing
Sabi Sand · Sand River
Umkumbe Safari Lodge
A riverside lodge on the Sand River, unfenced from the Kruger, with eleven rooms and game drives twice a day.
FromR6 510pp / night sharing
The lodge
Located on the banks of the seasonal Sand River, Umkumbe sits in one of the finest Big Five game viewing destinations in Africa.
Umkumbe Safari Lodge sits on the banks of the seasonal Sand River in the Sabie Game Reserve, which shares unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park, MalaMala and the Sabi Sand. Animals move freely across those boundaries, and the deck above the river is a place to watch them in its own right.
The days follow the rhythm of the bush: a game drive at dawn, an optional guided walk after breakfast, and a second drive into the evening with sundowners. Between drives there is a pool, a lounge and bar, a gym and a traditional boma, with dining that looks out over the river.
Highlights
- On the banks of the seasonal Sand River
- Unfenced from the western boundary of the Kruger National Park
- Game drives twice a day, with an optional bush walk after breakfast
- Children from five welcome on game drives
In pictures
A look inside
Your stay
Where you sleep, how you spend the days
Accommodation
- Eight superior chalets with an en-suite bath, outdoor shower and private deck
- Three standard rooms with an en-suite shower
- King or twin beds and air conditioning in every room
- Interleading rooms for families, in both room types
Activities
- Morning and afternoon game drives
- An optional guided bush walk after breakfast, for up to eight guests, weather permitting
- Game viewing from the river deck
The fine print
What your rate covers
Included
- All meals
- Game drives
- The optional bush walk
- Tea and coffee
- Local drinks at sundowners
Not included
- Other drinks
- Conservation levy: R500 per person per night in 2026, R600 in 2027
Good to know
- Children aged 5 to 11 pay half the adult rate; from 12, the full rate
- The camp is unfenced; a tripwire deters large animals
Getting there
Finding your way to the bush
Routes and transfers
- Flights to the area take about an hour from Johannesburg and two from Cape Town
- From Skukuza airport, about an hour by open 4x4 through the Kruger and the Sabi Sand
- From Kruger Mpumalanga International, about three hours by closed vehicle via Shaw's Gate
- Self-drive from Johannesburg takes about six hours, via the N4, R40 and R536 to Shaw's Gate
Every stay is arranged around you. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and we will confirm availability and shape the rest.
Request availability
Tell us when you would like to stay
Send your dates and we will confirm availability and the rate for your stay.
Or email us directly
- Emailhello@lepden.com
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