Ulusaba Safari Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve,
South Africa
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Private Reserve
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ULUSABA SAFARI LODGE RATES: Ulusaba Safari Lodge Rates
ULUSABA
SAFARI LODGE -
SABI SAND GAME RESERVE
Ulusaba Private Game Reserve
is part of the Sabi Sand Reserve which is a 66,000-hectare
reserve bordering the Kruger National Park. Some
of this land has been in private hands since 1869
and was initially hunted. During the early 1920's
most of the area was stocked with cattle and by 1927
they were competing with wild game for grazing. A
Foot-and-Mouth epidemic broke out in 1938 which resulted
in all the cattle being shot.
The hills of Ulusaba are spectacular as they rise
above the surrounding bushveld offering a view unsurpassed
anywhere in the reserve. The tribe occupying
the area long ago used the hills as an outpost for
the chief and senior warriors. The elevation gave
them tremendous advantage during battle and meant
the enemy was unlikely to win, as surprise attack
was virtually impossible. The tribal members could
therefore live in safety and the place was called
Ulusaba, meaning "place of little fear."
In 1984 the road up to Rock Lodge was built with
the lodge itself being completed in 1985. In those
days, it was comprised of a dining room, bar and
four chalets. In 1990 the self-catering Safari Lodge,
comprising 3 chalets was completed. Sale of the property
occurred in 1991 with both lodges being transformed
into world-class lodges. Disaster struck in 1988
when Rock Lodge was hit by lightning and the main
lodge burned down. Two months later, a massive bush
fire ravaged the area and Safari Lodge was almost
completely lost. Mid-1999 saw the dawning of a new
era for Ulusaba
with the property being sold for the first time to
a foreign investor - Sir Richard Branson. Since then,
Ulusaba has undergone a major transformation.
Safari Lodge is a romantic, tree-house-style
lodge nestled in the heart of the riverine bush under
a canopy of trees. Elevated chalets have netting-enclosed
windows and private, shaded decks which overlook
the tropical forest. The wooden interiors are complemented by
handcrafted furniture and warm fabrics throughout.
Safari Lodge borders the Mabrak River and stands
close to a well-trafficked watering hole, allowing
guests to view all manner of game from a viewing
deck. The lodge has undergone major refurbishment
with all rooms now enjoying private entrances and
en-suite bathrooms. Safari Lodge also comprises three
spectacular free-standing rooms adjacent to the main
lodge and another three suites across the riverbed
that are linked to the main lodge by a wooden swing
bridge. A new swimming pool completes this brilliant
project. Guests of Safari Lodge are welcome to use
the spa facilities at Rock Lodge.
Accommodation  For
images of Safari Lodge, click Safari
Images
Built
along the banks of the Mabrak riverbed, Safari
Lodge is a romantic, rustic style lodge nestled
in the Riverine bush, offering superb game viewing
from the nearby watering hole. There are three
Safari Rooms, three Elephant Rooms and four River
Rooms, all of which have their own private sundecks,
ideal for whiling away the glorious African sundown's
against sounds of wildlife preparing for the night.
The rooms at Safari Lodge are built 'tree house
style', with wooden bungalows on stilts, offering
that extra degree of privacy and exclusiveness,
the Elephant and River Rooms being accessed by
specially designed wooden swing bridges. These
bridges pass through treetops allowing safe access
to guests' rooms while Giraffe and Elephant pass
below.
Each of the rooms has king-size beds and most rooms
can be converted to twin beds upon request. Safari
Lodge has been decorated in a more contemporary
style, while retaining the atmosphere of being
"on safari." The elevated swing bridges
lead to thatched chalets that have been positioned
to ensure privacy and each chalet captures individual
views. The handcrafted bush beds and furniture
were produced by local craftsmen. The antique Mali
Mud cloth cushions and throws are traditional fabrics
from Western Africa.
All rooms include telephones. A complimentary laundry
and pressing service is included on a daily basis.
Hair dryers and international adapters are available
in all rooms. Business facilities
are available upon request. Also
available are DVD, video, music, a library, board
games,
children's books and games. Guests at Safari Lodge
are free to use the tennis courts, spa and gymnasium
located at the nearby Ulusaba
Rock Lodge.
Cuisine
Ulusaba's internationally
renowned chefs have developed numerous Pan African
dishes influenced by many African cultures, flavors
and spices. No dietary requirement is too difficult
and all requests are catered for. Whether dining out
under the African sky, in the boma, on a deck or in
the dining room, Ulusaba's menus and meals promise
to be exciting, social and inspirational. All breads
and pastries are baked daily and they will gladly cater
for private meals and special occasions.
Dinner is served in the traditional safari manner and
can be enjoyed in the contemporary dining room or outdoors
by the warmth of the Boma fire, where the local Shangaan
staff welcome the opportunity to impart their legacy
of African knowledge.
Activities
Experience
a real bush adventure with twice-daily game drives.
Drive through the reserve accompanied by a qualified
ranger and tracker who personally look after each guest. Or if you prefer, contemplate nature's bounty by
encountering the many different species of birds
and fauna on a guided walking safari. Whatever adventure
you have encountered during the day, you can be sure
that the staff will be on hand not only to talk to
you about it, but to look after all your needs.
After an exhilarating day's game viewing, relax at
the Aroma Boma beauty treatment center, enjoy a game
of tennis, take a swim in the pool or
perhaps
a workout in the fully equipped gym. The spa, gym and
tennis courts are located at the nearby Ulusaba
Rock Lodge but are available for use by guests of Safari
Lodge. Whatever you desire, you will be sure to find
a place
that really
is heaven
on earth.
Guests come to Ulusaba for the game but many will want
to add an extra couple of days to enjoy the exhilaration
of the bush. As well as the extensive facilities available
at the lodge, guests may relax by the side of the freshwater
Shikwenga dam while fishing or visit a local animal
orphanage to get close to the younger animals. Guests
also have an opportunity to stop by one of the local
breeding projects to see the efforts that go
into retaining the numbers of wildlife so abundant
in this beautiful area of South Africa.
Ulusaba also offers day excursions by road or air to
Sudwala caves, Crocodile Reptile Park, whitewater rafting,
Shangaan Cultural Village, shopping at Graskop, and
Pilgrims Rest.
Wildlife
The Sabi Sand Game Reserve
borders the world-renowned Kruger National Park,
but there are no fences
here and wildlife moves and migrates freely
throughout the region, providing fantastic game-viewing
opportunities from open, four-wheel drive vehicles. The
Sabi Sand Reserve has a higher bio-mass of animals
per hectare than the internationally renowned Kruger
National Park, which borders the Sabi Sand Reserve.
Ulusaba
Private Game Reserve is a Big Five viewing area. A variety
of animal species can be found in this wilderness
haven, including Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard,
White Rhino, Cheetah, Giraffe, Zebra, Hippo, Kudu,
Wildebeest and a variety of over 300 bird species.
The watering hole adjacent to Ulusaba Safari Lodge
provides regular sightings of Elephant, Leopard,
Giraffe, Waterbuck and Monkeys coming to drink.
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of Limpopo Province
For
tourist information and activities in the
Limpopo Province, click More
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For further information about Kruger National Park, click More
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