Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge

Unique and innovative, the luxury suites at Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge exude an earthy atmosphere, with rugged stone walls and stone flooring, as well as polished wooden furniture and authentic African sculptures making guests feel as if they are deep in the earth.

The suites are spacious and bright, with the rawness of the architecture being softened by light cream curtains and mosquito netting hung above a soft and plush king-size bed which is sat overlooking a lounge area and the sweeping views outside. Sliding doors fill the space with natural light and can be opened to let fresh South African breezes fill the room.

A comfortable sofa covered with plump scatter cushions offers guests a relaxing space to unwind after a long day. All suites come with their own ensuite bathroom which includes double stone feature hand basins, a deep stone bathtub for indulging soaks, and a unique indoor shower which can be al-fresco if guests so wish.

A huge second lounge area includes a large cosy sofa, a hanging egg chair and wicker armchairs, and an open front that means guests can walk straight out into their sparkling private pool. The views from the pool are breathtaking and guests will be able to enjoy a refreshing dip while gazing out over the panoramic view of the endless plains.

Immerse yourself in the raw nature of Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge by staying in the Amber Presidential Suite. Elegantly moody, the suite combines natural earth features with sparkling chandeliers and plush sofas to create a space where guests will feel at one with the earth, but also surrounded by elegance and luxury.

The suite is built out of stone, and the stone walls and floors run throughout the whole suite. Wide picture windows let in bright and natural light, and work to frame the beauty of the vivid surroundings. In the bedroom, a cosy king-size bed sits in the centre of the room, with a unique and spectacular headboard carved from a tree.

Comfortable sofas and armchairs covered with scatter cushions in authentic African prints can be found around a small wood burning fireplace, making the perfect space for guests to gather on a cold evening. An ensuite bathroom includes a stone egg bathtub, double stone hand basins and shower.

This suite also comes with its own private plunge pool, where guests can enjoy a refreshing break from the afternoon’s heat before heading to the sun loungers for a brief afternoon siesta before dinner. An outdoor seating area is the perfect place where guests can chat into the evening immersed in the sounds, sights and smells of the bushveld.

Guests can make their way to the main dining room of Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge for mealtimes. Here, the natural stone walls continue and guests can dine on delicious and fresh food made by talented chefs while sitting underneath a huge feature chandelier made out of branches. With an underground wine cellar holding up to 6,000 bottles of wine, there will be no shortage of drinks with your dinner.

You can also choose to dine in the boma area of the lodge. Here you will be surrounded by the gentle glow of candlelight and a crackling fire as you dine on delectable food in the very heart of the bush, underneath the wide starry sky. Private dining can also be arranged for guests who wish to have a romantic dining experience with their loved one, surrounded by the wilds of the bushveld.

Head out on a traditional safari activity by exploring the spectacular bush on an exciting game drive. In the comfort of a 4×4 safari vehicle explore the bush with an experienced guide who will be able to drive you to all the best viewing spots. Game drives are offered in the morning and the afternoon, each lasting 3 hours and with a break for coffees or a traditional sundowner.

Immerse yourself in the bush as you head out on a guided walk through the wilds of the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. A friendly and knowledgeable guide will lead the way, imparting their wisdom on the flora and fauna which inhabits the area. Take some time to appreciate the micro-ecosystems which you may not see on a game drive, and learn how to identify animal prints.

If guests wish they can pre-book a tour of the local community with the funds from these tours being invested back into the community. After breakfast guests can head out to experience the authentic culture of the surrounding communities of Lilydale, Huntington and Justicia. Meet the locals and get to know how they live for a truly rounded and enlightening day.

Wellness is a key feature of a stay at Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge. Guests can unwind and indulge in a stress-relieving massage or rejuvenating facial treatment after days spent exploring. A fully equipped gym – with panoramic views of the surrounding wilds – is available to guests who wish to start their days with a workout.

Sabi Sabi is an example of how ecotourism can support and protect both the surrounding nature and communities. Sustainable benefits positively impact both the environment and the people, and ‘contribute substantially to the socio-economic development of the people living on the boundaries of the protected areas.’

There are two principles which guide the Sabi Sabi Foundation’s initiatives and projects, and these are the need to conserve wilderness areas and create a sanctuary for indigenous flora and fauna, and the second is the firmly held belief that Sabi Sabi ‘must be a true example of eco-tourism effectively linking tourism with conservation and the community.’

Conservation, ecotourism, and community are all linked together in the foundation’s work, and this is a prime example of how respect for the local surroundings and working with local communities and groups can create immeasurable benefits for future generations.

Many of the staff at Sabi Sabi lodges are employed from the surrounding local rural Shangaan villages of Justicia, Huntington and Lillydale. Each employee has their own dependents who rely on their wage so the employment benefits, not just the worker but also their family, creating more financially stable family institutions and allowing younger children to afford schooling.

Each team member is encouraged to explore and gain skills whilst working at Sabi Sabi, with ‘ongoing training in all areas’ of the business which empowers the employees and helps them improve on their skills. Many aspects of the running of Sabi Sabi lodges are outsourced from the surrounding communities, such as gardening, thatching and washing businesses helping to further support the local people and small businesses.

All Sabi Sabi properties offer guests a community tour, led by Clerence Mkansi, who is a second-generation Sabi Sabi family member, his father being ‘one of Sabi Sabi’s long-standing stalwart trackers.’ As well as allowing guests an insight into the local way of life these tours are also vital for the Sabi Sabi Foundation as the fees from the tour are sent straight to the Sabi Sabi Foundation, which then uses the money to fund their many community projects.

Since its opening in 2002, the Mazinyane Pre-School has gone from strength to strength with the help of both the Sabi Sabi Foundation and Reservations Africa. As a pre-school their aim is to prepare children for the school years ahead, and also has a strong focus on supplying healthy school meals to the children. With a joint belief that children represent the future, Reservations Africa and the Sabi Sabi Foundation have helped Mazinyane Pre-School go from 85 children to 450 children, ‘with 5 classrooms and a total of 18 staff.’

Another project the Sabi Sabi Foundation is involved in is the Lilydale Digital Learning Centre. They have understood the growing gap between rural life and the ever-growing need to know and understand digital skills in today’s economy. Partnered with the Good Work Foundation, Sabi Sabi Foundation have helped reach over 400 students who wished to ‘improve their knowledge in this technological age and determine career paths to which they are suited and well prepared’ through the Lilydale Digital Learning Centre. Programmes are also run by the Sabi Sabi Foundation to train teachers, with over 120 teachers from neighbouring communities being trained to this date.

The Swa Vana Care Centre is another initiative that the Sabi Sabi Foundation supports. This centre provides meals and care to vulnerable children and youth, as well as looking after orphans, creating a safe space for children after school and distributing ‘clothing donations and hygiene items.’ When this project began there were only six children and now they can support up to ‘390 children.’

Over 30 staff members help with the running of the care centre and help to organise the games the children play, as well as counselling and home visits. The overarching aim of the Swa Vana Care Centre is to give the children involved a sense of self-worth, purpose and ‘becoming employable, self-sustainable and valued members of their community.’

Partnering with Dreamfields in 2008 the Sabi Sabi Foundation has aimed to offer opportunities to local children through the sports of football and netball. To help the children develop strong characters and to stop them from being drawn into bad environments both a netball and football league were created in 2008. To make the games as professional and fair as possible this project also encompasses coach training and referee training. This initiative ‘is about building dreams, building relationships and fostering a healthy outlook on life.’

To aid with conservation efforts Sabi Sabi has a detailed guide and ranger training programme. Future guides are taken through a training camp before being involved in on-site training which helps them find their feet in the surrounding areas and habitats. The training is intensive to best prepare the guides for their role as ‘environmental educators’. The trackers also go through the same intensive training procedures, and many of them are local Shangaan people allowing for an ‘innate appreciation and deep knowledge of the bush.’

Beginning in 2015 the Sabi Sabi Chef Mentorship Programme has been implemented by the head chef at Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge. Creating a fully functional training school which provides students with housing, transport and uniforms, successful students are registered with the South African Chefs Association before taking part in ‘week long kitchen courses.’ After these courses students then complete internships at Sabi Sabi lodges, giving them first-hand experience in a working kitchen. At the end of the course, students can either find employment at a Sabi Sabi lodge or are in a much better position to be able to find skilled employment elsewhere.

For many of the local communities, there is no easy access to fresh water. Sabi Sabi’s not-for-profit company ‘Innovation: Africa’ has created the technology to be able to ‘supply sustainable portable water to a sizeable part of the Huntington community.’ When the water pumps are constructed local empowerment companies are used, which employ 5 local men and women for the project. These employees remain after the completion of the pumps and help to ensure that any issues are resolved quickly to maintain the water supply for the community.

Sabi Sabi has their own habitat management team, which help to develop and implement a ‘competent management programme’ with help from ‘qualified ecological consultants.’ The programme is continually assessed to make sure that all the practices are working in a way that helps protect and preserve the local surroundings.

One practice is the controlled burning of sections of the reserve. This burning helps to promote the growth of new, fresh grass and to help nutrient recycling when the native herbivores come to the new open areas. Another practice is the rotation of manmade waterholes and water resources. To stop vegetation from being impacted in one area of the reserve the waterholes are rotated meaning the animals have to travel on different routes, allowing the vegetation to grow back in the areas where it has recently been in the path of the animals.

If any roads need to be placed within the reserve, the habitat management programme helps to make sure that they are placed in a way that ‘minimises water run-off’ and erosion. All roads are sensitively placed so as not to disrupt the animals and to follow the natural drainage lines. Erosion is not just managed by the placement of roads, but by planting shrubs on highly grazed areas to maintain a high level of biodiversity within the reserve. The habitat management team also work to remove harmful alien plants which threaten the indigenous species of the reserve.

All Sabi Sabi properties work to separate and recycle as much of their solid waste as they can. All their lodges have ‘specially constructed wetland systems’ which mean they can recycle wastewater and sewage which is then purified, finishing the recycling process as clean water. Any plastic that is used at the lodges are returned to the suppliers and they use all wet waste as compost.

To protect the wildlife within the reserve Sabi Sabi have their own specialised anti-poaching unit. There are specialised conservation units as part of this APU that help to enhance the programme and the anti-poaching activities.