Savanna is situated near the Newington Gate entrance of the famous Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve and offers the ambience of a romantic bygone era. The luxury tented suites combine the romance of a tented roof and draped inner ceiling and ensure the utmost privacy.
Savanna prides itself on attention to detail and exceptional levels of personal service. With only 18 guests, the staff have the time and dedication to attend to your every need. In addition, the excellent food and world class Big 5 game viewing with knowledgeable and enthusiastic rangers will make your stay here totally memorable.
There is an attractive outdoor swimming pool which is ideal for cooling off after your morning game drive, or relax in the comfortable upstairs lounge and library area. These all overlook the waterhole which is floodlit at night, enabling you to watch some of Africa's most impressive wildlife coming down to drink. Full English breakfasts and lunches are served on the veranda and dinner is either served in the dining room or in the starlit boma, warmed by a roaring log fire.
Savanna has 4 luxury tented suites and 3 spacious executive tented suites. Rustic reed blinds, coir carpets, a draped canvas ceiling and built in lounge area all combine to create the most luxurious tents in Africa. Each suite has air-conditioning and a fan, a fully-stocked mini bar, a spacious en-suite bathroom with outdoor and indoor showers, and a private veranda and plunge pool.
There is also the exclusive 2 bedroomed Savanna Suite, ideal for families or friends travelling together, which also includes a private Land Rover and private dining options.
Special offers for longer stays or when booked as part of a longer itinerary may apply - details on request.
In addition to the room rate, guests will also be charged the Sabi Sand Guest Contribution (pppn)
Dates
Price
Basis
Type
Nights
1 January 2023 to 31 December 2024
GBP 8 USD 11 ZAR 190 EUR 10
per person per night
Standard
1+ nights
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Rates Include
Individual Suites: All meals; the Guest Conservation Contribution; twice-daily shared game drives; walking safaris; all drinks (excluding selected wines and imported beverages); and a laundry service are included.
Savanna Suite: Twice-daily game drives in a private Land Rover; the Guest Conservation Contribution; private dining with waiter in attendance; all drinks; and a laundry service are included.
IN ADDITION: For self-drive visitors, there is a R140 per person and a R310 per vehicle entrance fee, payable in cash at the entrance gate (subject to change).
Children Policy
Children aged 8 years and older are welcome. Rates available on request. Children of any age are welcome with their families when booking the Savanna Suite. Only children 16 years and older are allowed to go on bushwalks.
Bush Walks / Walking Safaris
Children under the age of 16 years are not permitted on guided walks in the reserve. Regardless of age, the final decision on whether a guest can join a guided walk remains with the guide and lodge manager.
Children of all ages are welcome with their families when booking the Savanna Suite, however no children under the age of 8 years will be permitted at the main lodge.
Each day there are 2 game drives, early morning and late afternoon. These game drives are broken up with a drink and snack break. During the middle of the day, there are various activities for the children – called the Bushbabies Club.
A children's menu is available on request with all the foods that bushbabies enjoy, if your child has any special needs, please be sure to advise us in advance.
Each child receives a goodie bush bag with items to add to their safari experience. All items collected from the activities during your child's stay will be put together in a scrapbook, showing all the items they learned about and have collected.
As the children enjoy different activities and are of varying ages, a daily programme will be put together according to their interests. The various activities included during your child's stay are
:In the bush:::Spoor identification: Tracking of small animals with your tracker and guide: find the Small 5. This concentrates on teaching children the different spoor and droppings of animals as well as tracking techniques. Children can be taught how to follow animals and look for distinguishing signs.
Plant uses: Plant identification as well as the medicinal and practical uses of these plants. Children can collect different plants during their walk and discover what can be used as substitutes for toothbrushes, toilet paper etc.
Bird watching: Identify the different species of birds. The field guide will explain how to do this from various visual aspects, as well as from bird calls.
Butterfly and bug catching: Find the smaller creatures such as butterflies, lizards, etc.
Picnics in the bush: Enjoy a picnic lunch where you can investigate the nearby surroundings and collect goodies for your scrap book.
Village Tour: One of the trackers will take the family on a village tour, which includes seeing the nursery school, seeing the traditional homes and learning how they make their food. There are also traditional dancers. An additional option is a visit to the Lilydale Primary School.
Traditional hair braiding: Have your hair braided traditionally by one of the Tsonga ladies.
Arts and crafts: Spend some time with a local African crafter.
Kitchen activities: Make and bake in the kitchen.
Face painting: Have your face painted as an African animal.
Night activities (depending on the weather):::Star drives: Go on a night drive and learn about the stars.
Frogging: Catch and identify frogs. Find them in their transition stages from tadpole to mature frog.
Back at the lodge:::African story books and educational children's books can be read in the library.
Children's games in the library.
Guest Rating: 5.0 / 5.0 based on 7 ratings
The staff at Savanna were also excellent and we had some wonderful wildlife viewings. The chef was also really thoughtful and checked each day on my dietary requirements. Given the remoteness of the lodge, the facilities were superb.
S DILLOW
Tracey did a wonderful job; everything went well without any problems! Savanna was absolutely wonderful; we enjoyed the resort, the staff and the game drives. I would return without a doubt.
K LOTFY
Savanna: what can I say? Utterly brilliant service. Lovely friendly atmosphere. Service of the highest standard without being stuffy. Everything done quietly and efficiently behind your back.
We will never forget our three days at Savanna and we both feel that we would go back in an instant. They are like magician's pulling rabbit after rabbit out of the hat (both in terms of the service, atmosphere and game viewing).
The food was fantastic especially for my vegetarianism. Even on the evening game drive, they had prepared something different for me every night. What a team! I could never recommend them highly enough!
S LUNNISS
Emma and myself would just like to say that you provided us with 3 of the most spectacular weeks we will ever have!! And we cannot thank you enough. Every loctaion and place we stayed was fantastic, and the people we met along the way were superb. The wedding at Savanna was perfect, Paddy and Jayne attended along with their dog 'Wally', John Parsons was the nicest man you could ever meet, and we even had a group of warthogs join the congregation. Absolutely wonderful!!! And if anybody says to me they fancy a trip to South Africa, there is only one company I would suggest booking it through!! Once again, we thank you for a brilliant experience, and we have already started saving to go back!!
E & D PEPPERALL
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Savanna Private Game Reserve Location.
Directions For Drivers
From Hazyview (R40/R536 Junction): Proceed through Hazyview until you reach a set of traffic lights with a shopping centre/mall on the corner. Turn here - the road is signposted to the Kruger Gate/R536.
Once on 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 and Savanna. Turn left here onto the sand road (if the MalaMala, Sabi Sabi and Londolozi signs are reached, or the Kruger Gate itself, you have gone too far and must turn back).
Once you have turned onto the sand road you will go through a cattle control gate. From this point the way is well signposted with the lodge signboards. The sand road has potholes and also goes past some villages, so please drive carefully. There is approximately 12 km of sand road, after which you will arrive at the Newington Gate entrance of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.
From the Kruger Mpumalanga/Nelspruit 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. Proceed through Hazyview until you reach a set of traffic lights with a shopping centre/mall on the corner. Turn right here - the road is signposted to the Kruger Gate/R536. Once on the R536, follow the directions as above from Hazyview (R40/R536 Junction).
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). Keep on the N4 until you reach Nelspruit, where you will 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. Proceed through Hazyview until you reach a set of traffic lights with a shopping centre/mall on the corner. Turn here - the road is signposted to the Kruger Gate/R536. Once on the R536, follow the directions as above from Hazyview (R40/R536 Junction).
From Johannesburg/Pretoria via Scenic Route: Take the N12 or N4 highway 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). Take the R36 to Lydenburg/Mashishing. In Lydenburg/Mashishing, follow the signs to Sabie over the Long Tom Pass (the highest tar road in South Africa). In Sabie, take the R536 to Hazyview. Just before Hazyview you will reach a T-junction. Turn right onto the R40 towards Hazyview. Proceed through Hazyview until you reach a set of traffic lights with a shopping centre/mall on the corner. Turn here - the road is signposted to the Kruger Gate/R536. Once on the R536, follow the directions as above from Hazyview (R40/R536 Junction).
From Hoedspruit Airport: Turn right out of the airport towards the R40. At the T-junction, turn left onto the R40 towards White River and Hazyview. Proceed on the R40 for approximately 88 km until you reach a set of traffic lights in Hazyview with a shopping centre/mall on the corner. Turn left here - the road is signposted to the Kruger Gate/R536. Once on the R536, follow the directions as above from Hazyview (R40/R536 Junction).
From the Paul Kruger Gate: Go through the gate, and follow the R536 to Hazyview. Continue along this road and on the right-hand side of the road, you will see lodge signboards for various lodges including Inyati, Idube and Savanna. Turn right here onto the sand road. Once you have turned onto the sand road you will go through a cattle control gate. From this point the way is well signposted with the lodge signboards. The sand road has potholes and also goes past some villages, so please drive carefully. There is approximately 12 km of sand road, after which you will arrive at the Newington Gate entrance of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.
ONCE AT THE NEWINGTON GATE: For self-drive visitors, there is a R140 per person and a R310 per vehicle entrance fee, payable in cash at the entrance gate (subject to change). 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.
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.
General Information For Guests
All the rooms have Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a fan, en-suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers, a mini bar, and tea/coffee making facilities. All rooms also have a private heated plunge pool.
The thatched ‘Savanna Suite’ consists of two separate en-suite bedrooms, each with their own deck and plunge pools. These rooms lead onto a central elegantly furnished lounge, ideal for families or a small group wanting privacy and exclusivity.
Guests will enjoy two game drives per day. The vehicles are specially adapted for comfort and to seat 6 guests, ensuring a personal safari. Game drives depart at 16:00 in Summer and 15:30 in Winter.
Bush walks are available in the morning with your ranger and will be tailormade around guests needs.
Guests can also enjoy a relaxing massage between safari activities in the privacy of their own suite.
The lounge and dining room is an impressive building under thatch, which is perfectly positioned with a view of the beautiful swimming pool and a few metres further, the waterhole. Guests can also enjoy game viewing in comfort from the upstairs library. There is also a well-stocked curio shop. The open air boma, also overlooking the floodlit waterhole, creates a warm, friendly atmosphere, where guests may enjoy a traditional African meal under the stars. The boma has a thatched bar and cooking area. There is also a small gym.
Bush dinners and bush breakfasts are on request, weather permitting.
Savanna is very involved with its local communities, and offers guests the chance to learn more about the projects they are running which include vegetable gardens and assisting the orphanage, as well as supporting an Elderly care home. A Village tour is also available to give guests an insight to the local people and their day to day lives.
If you are arriving/departing via FedAir, the lodge is a 40 minute drive away from the airstrip.
A Guest Conservation Contribution has been included within your rate. The proceeds go towards the Sabi Sand Wildtuin anti-poaching efforts, the community and ecology.
Bush Walks / Walking Safaris
Children under the age of 16 years are not permitted on guided walks in the reserve. Regardless of age, the final decision on whether a guest can join a guided walk remains with the guide and lodge manager.
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The staff at Savanna were also excellent and we had some wonderful wildlife viewings. The chef was also really thoughtful and checked each day on my dietary requirements. Given the remoteness of the lodge, the facilities were superb.