Sabi Sabi Top Camp South Africa Bush Camp Luxury Fun

Who said Africa is only primitive and rough? After experiencing the top bush camps and private reserves in Sabi Sabi, South Africa, I know what wild luxury is and what it means to hunt Africa in a noble way. Private jets, stand-alone jungle villas, super cool Land Rover off-road vehicles, close exploration of Africa’s Big Five and jungle feasts, everything here is worthy of its honor as the number one safari camp in Africa.

The Palace in the African Jungle

It was the first time I saw the introduction of Sababi’s top jungle camp hotel in a magazine. What impressed me deeply was that several tourists with cameras were sitting in a cool Land Rover convertible off-road vehicle, parked among a herd of elephants, surrounded by unique African jungle shrubs. It seemed like the elephant didn't mind the car or the people at all. This scene was so unforgettable that when planning my trip to South Africa, the first thing I thought of was to find the official website research I had browsed and saved from my computer favorites.

The flight arrived in the golden capital of Johannesburg in the early morning. The excitement and slightly sweet air outside the cabin dispelled the fatigue of the long flight. Then, I took a small plane on a specially designed tarmac and flew directly to Sabi Sabi’s top camps and private reserves. I watched as the bustling city under the wing of the plane gradually disappeared, replaced by endless jungle. I know it's true this time.

Sabi Top Camp and Reserve was established in 1979. This private reserve covering an area of ??more than 4.5 square meters borders the Kruger National Park, where animals can move freely. There are more than 200 species of African wildlife and more than 350 species of birds in the reserve. The name Sabi comes from the South African Tsonga word for awe. Because a long time ago, a large number of ferocious crocodiles and hippos lived in the Sabi River here. The jungle is divided into four luxurious sub-camps with different styles. The theme is: yesterday, present and future. The rooms are all independent jungle villas. The villa I stayed in was a futuristic theme, an artistic land camp. The other three are Serati Camp with colonial nostalgia, a modern African-style exquisite jungle camp hotel, and a very private small jungle camp.

My land-camped villa covers an area of ??120 square meters. The thick wooden door is the living room area, and the floor is covered with animal skins. A welcome letter signed by the general manager and a glass of sherry were placed on a large table cut vertically from the trunk of a full tree. Another small card thoughtfully wrote the daily sunrise and sunset times and weather forecast. I poured a glass of wine and continued my tour of my little world. The bed in the bedroom is so comfortable, the thick bedding is spotless, ironed straight, and the hygiene is reassuring. Looking up, there are beautiful chandeliers and skylights that let in natural light. Bypassing the bedroom is an oversized bathroom with an area of ??30 square meters. The bathtub, wash basin, and wash basin with a jungle view are all carved out of a single piece of stone, which is very African-style and artistic. After the floor-to-ceiling glass door was pushed open, there was actually a platform of dozens of square meters outside, which was also connected to another glass door in the living room. There is a telescope on the small table by the pool. This is good. You can take it with you when you go to the jungle to look for animals in the afternoon. Yes, it's time to enjoy.

Discovery Channel’s live audience

Sabi’s hunting experience is definitely worthy of its reputation as the best in Africa and its high price. First of all, this private reserve of tens of thousands of hectares borders the famous Kruger National Park, where a large number of animals can move freely. Because Sabibi is a private property, exclusive services are only provided to guests staying here. The chances of seeing the Big Five are much greater in Sapisa than in the national park, especially the African leopard in this private reserve. Richard, the jungle guide who served us, is definitely a zoologist. They can always find various wild animals for us based on their experience and clues such as animal tracks and excrement. Meanwhile, every new Land Rover convertible comes equipped with a dedicated animal tracker. They are local Shanggan people who have lived in the jungle for generations and have extremely keen vision and rich experience in animal tracking. With them, I really became a live audience on the Discovery Channel this time.

The jeep was very powerful and carried us through the endless jungle. There was a special smell in the oncoming wind, which was a combination of plants and earth, sweet. The experienced Richard kept in touch with the other vehicles via radio in Afrikaans he didn't understand, informing them of their findings, stopping from time to time to look at the footprints on the dirt road and say something. After several jungle safaris, I not only saw all of the Big Five (lion, elephant, rhinoceros, leopard, and buffalo), but I also had incredible close-up views of these animals many times. I even witnessed a leopard dragging a freshly caught wild boar up to a tree to gnaw on it. The sound of bones being bitten is still fresh in my memory. Along the way, there are many surprises. We encountered a grumpy elephant, a female rhino with her baby, an elegant giraffe, and many antelopes and zebras. The car drove to a hill with a wide view. Our guide asked everyone to get out of the car, spread a tablecloth on the hood, and magically placed a variety of delicious food and drinks. Everyone was drinking, chatting, and watching the fiery red sunset sinking into the horizon. On the way back, it was completely dark. Land Rover headlights seem to be two o'clock in the vast jungle. When I looked up inadvertently, I was stunned. The sky is filled with stars and the Milky Way is clearly visible!

Delicious, fun and enjoyable.

In addition to the two wonderful animal exploration experiences at the camp every day, three meals a day at Sabibi’s top camp are cooked by celebrity chefs. There's also a huge selection of South African wines, mouth-watering beverages and even two bush wine cellars. It was really enjoyable to have a drink at the bar by the pool and watch the animals under the terrace from time to time. Guests in the camp can also relax in the unique African Spa. After we returned from the exciting safari in the evening, the bonfire was lit, the African dinner on the sand was about to begin, the dancing flames in the kerosene lamp, the sky full of stars, the clearly visible Milky Way, and all kinds of delicious food on the table covered with white tablecloth The food welcomed us. The thin evening breeze blew across my cheeks, and I drank half of the red wine before I even tasted it.