After five years of planning and rehabilitation, the Sabi Sabi Collection’s much-anticipated Sandringham Private Game Reserve has officially welcomed its first guests. Sandringham is the newest addition to the Sabi Sabi Collection, complementing Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve in the Sabi Sands region, and The Claremont Boutique Hotel in Cape Town. Once a hunting reserve, this landscape has been transformed into a protected area where nature can thrive. A place where people who appreciate the slower pace of the bush can immerse themselves in some of the most authentic bushveld experiences.
Located at the confluence of four rivers, bordering the Timbavati and Thornybush Game Reserves, Sandringham is – according to Sabi Sabi Collection’s Managing Director Rod Wyndham – “probably one of the last pieces of great African bushveld part of the Greater Kruger that one could get hold of.” Now, guests can experience the reasons for this statement firsthand while staying in one of Sandringham’s two camps, or the fully serviced, exclusive use Sandringham House.
Whether you’re perched on an elegant barstool overlooking the river – wine in hand – or on a blissful sunset safari; at Sandringham nature will come to you in more ways than you could possibly imagine. A vast expanse of water – framed by Shisaka and N’Weti Camps’ suites – instantly lures you onto the main lodge’s expansive, all-weather deck that extends from the indoor lounge through to the water’s edge. This is where African Jacanas tiptoe and fish eagles call in the distance. The dam on the Timbavati River is just one of the drawcards of Sandringham and naturally inviting bird photographers and novice birders alike. Not to mention the herds of elephants coming past and hippos grunting and groaning – their nostrils and ears revealing their underwater position. Even the odd lion or leopard might be spotted, slowly approaching for a sip of water.
A Full-Circle Moment as Wildlife and Guests Peacefully Co-Exist
Sabi Sabi Collection’s Marketing Director, Jacques Smit says: “It’s been exciting, humbling and rewarding to see wildlife reclaim their rightful place on the reserve as a protected species. Over the years, wildlife has naturally returned to this part of the Greater Kruger because of the protection and conservation efforts here. Not only is the Sabi Sabi Collection now calling this place home, but importantly, so is the wildlife that freely inhabits the space.”
Extending an Already Trusted Brand
A new addition to the Sabi Sabi Collection and the South African luxury safari offering, it’s been rewarding launching this remarkable destination under a brand that people know and trust. Building on more than 45 years of heritage, Sandringham comes in with the exceptional hospitality travellers have come to love about the Sabi Sabi Collection, continuing the mission of connecting guests to both people and place. Smit adds that the Sabi Sabi Collection’s longstanding reputation ensuredthat Sandringham could enter the market with well-trained guides and experienced staff, offering guests the five-star service they expect from the brand. “With this brand-new destination under the Sabi Sabi Collection’s portfolio, we’re not only giving wildlife a second chance to thrive on the reserve; we’re also bringing our guests Sabi Sabi’s hospitality in an exciting new place.”
Food for the Soul at Sandringham
Executive Chef, Dion Von Wielligh’s menus have been developed around the soul of Sandringham, focusing on how nature is continuously being revived and wildlife thrives on the reserve. “Food is not just something you put on a plate. It must have soul,” he says. He researched the cultures and people from the region, and also those across South Africa. With his international experience and the ideas sprouting from his research, Chef Von Wielligh has combined local flavours with contemporary culinary mastery, bringing guests authentic cuisine that offers a taste of Africa while still being accessible to the modern diner. The menu speaks of Sandringham’s successful transition with the use of older cooking methods and going back to basics whilst combining it with more modern culinary approaches and surprising flavours.
Inspired by Bushveld Views and Natural Light
Sandringham Private Game Reserve also brings something distinct to the safari scene when it comes to architecture and design. Apart from its unique location, the considered architecture and interior design echo Sabi Sabi Collection’s ethos of blending in with the environment. Architect Nick Plewman and interior designer Cate Simpson of Reflecting Africa succeeded in ensuring that Sandringham’s contemporary design is still grounded in place. Together, they drew on the textures, colours and materials of the surrounds, blurring the lines between the outdoors and indoors with full-length windows and folding doors, effortlessly allowing Sandringham’s incredible bushveld vistas and stunning natural light to be the hero in the design.
An elevated timber walkway connects the two camps, gym, spa, library, museum and bush boutique to the main lodge, which echoes the essence of the region’s colours and cultures. The bar resembles African drums and green tiles throughout public and private spaces serve as a golden thread and a reminder of revival. Earthy screed, stone tones and thatch-like structures reflect the river and the hues of the bushveld. Subtle glimmering details and quartz stone transport the mind to golden African sunsets and Sandringham’s granitic soil.
A Purpose That Runs Deeper
With the Sabi Sabi Collection’s strong ethos around caring for the environment, the people who work for the brand, the guests they welcome and the wildlife they protect, the impact of Sandringham’s opening stretches far and wide. An integral part of its rewilding programme was the partnership with the Tracker Training Academy, which supports the training of young people from the surrounding communities. Smit says: “Having these students walk the reserve daily while learning the art of tracking has been instrumental in reintroducing ourselves as non-threatening to wildlife and rather as observers and custodians.” Partnering with Bushwise also provides expert education, ensuring that a new generation of conservationists isafforded the opportunities they need.
In addition, the Sabi Sabi Collection invests in community through the Sabi Sabi Foundation, creating opportunities for local people to train and work across safari, hospitality and conservation. This not only serves as skills development but also offers lasting employment opportunities, with students becoming employees and employees migrating between lodges under the same brand, essentially providing for families and communities. Ultimately, this ripple effect is what Smit believes gives Sandringham its deeper purpose.
As the latest (but certainly not the last) chapter in the story of the Sabi Sabi Collection’s legacy, Sandringham taps into over 45 years of excellence in conservation, responsible tourism and world-class safari hospitality. Here, tourism is done intentionally and with care and through that, both people and place can thrive.
Sandringham Private Game Reserve – a place of second chances – now affords guests the opportunity to have a unique safari experience across both the Sabi Sands and the Greater Kruger regions, connected by an easy flight between two private airstrips. A quick flight from the bush to the Mother City will also allow guests to experience Cape Town like a local under the same brand, with The Claremont being based in one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, surrounded by mountains and fynbos, the incredible Cape Peninsula and the wonders of the Constantia winelands.
Staying at Sandringham
The versatility of Sandringham Private Game Reserve allows guests to pick and choose their preferred accommodation – from Shisaka Camp with its nest-like rooftop salas and N’Weti Camp’s classic canvas safari feel with a modern twist, to Sandringham House just upstream from the main lodge, which offers a more private and exclusive experience.
Shisaka Camp
With its name derived from the Tsonga word for ‘nest,’ the suites at Shisaka Camp pay homage to the Tsonga culture. These suites are positioned within a Tamboti thicket along the banks of one of the many tributaries that flow into the Timbavati River and allow guests to enjoy views that stretch far beyond the river, across to the Drakensberg Mountains in the distance. Apart from daydreaming on the daybed, cooling off in the suite’s private infinity pool will do wonders for the soul. Or enjoy a long indoor or outdoor shower – both with bushveld views.
Shisaka Camp includes two luxury villas with the same architectural language. These come with two en-suite bedrooms, an expansive lounge, a pergola-shaded deck, a sunken outdoor lounge and larger infinity pool, as well as the use of a private game drive vehicle.
N’Weti Camp
Earthy browns, soft greens and calming neutrals bring the bush into N’Weti Camp’s suites effortlessly, with wooden floors, natural stone and timber finishes throughout. This canvas camp – also an ode to the Tsonga culture, with its name referring to the view of the mountains on moonlit nights – boasts suites that are located on an elevated piece of land, also overlooking the Timbavati River and the Drakensberg Mountains. Similar to Shisaka Camp, this camp’s suites also feature their own dedicated infinity pools, as well as a half-moon lounge nook and an impressive, freestanding bathtub that allows you to bathe like royalty whilst enjoying glorious bushveld views.
A curved deck wraps around each suite, providing the ideal vantage point for wilderness views and a sunken deck lounge brings things full circle, drawing guests closer to the water’s edge and the surrounding landscape.
Sandringham House
This exclusive-use 1,100m² residence can host up to eight guests across its four elegant ensuite bedrooms and includes a dedicated chef, butler and ranger, as well as the use of a private vehicle. Unfolding through a series of linked wings, wide passages and multiple generous living spaces, Sandringham House’s flow constantly draws the eye to the outdoors where the slightly elevated pool, 360-degree views and a fire pit invite connection. It is the ultimate hideaway for families or small groups in search of privacy, flexibility and comfort.
Whether it’s a business retreat or a family gathering, this spacious luxury villa’s more personal approach offers the ultimate home away from home whilst staying true to the standards of the Sabi Sabi Collection. Here, one can slow down and intentionally immerse oneself in the moment.
