The Sabi Sands game reserve is a privately owned region situated within the Greater Kruger National Park ecosystem, one of South Africa's most treasured natural sanctuaries. Notten’s forms part of the southern section of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Its neighbours are Mala Mala on its eastern boundary and Sabi Sabi on its western boundary.
The Sabi Sand Game Reserve was formed in 1950 and comprises of many privately owned game lodges covering an area of 56,000 Ha of savannah thornveld. It is now part of the Greater Kruger National Park and there are no fences between them, so the game moves freely through this enormous natural reserve.
The climate is sub-tropical with summer rainfall and averages about 550mm (± 22 inches) per annum. Summer temperatures reach ± 40° C (± 104° F). Winters are dry. Notten's’ Sabi Sand lodge lies approximately 300 metres (± 1 000 feet) above sea level.
Big 5 game - elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard - all roam the reserve. One therefore has an excellent chance of a close encounter with these animals. Notten's prides itself in having highly qualified guides and Shangaan trackers who ensure that their guests experience an informative and enlightened exposure to the area
All game drives are undertaken in an open 4-wheel drive Land Rover with an experienced game ranger and Shangaan tracker. The tracker is innately and instinctively attuned to the environment of the African bush. He uses his acute sense of sight and smell to navigate easily and swiftly through the bush to locate game.
Night drives begin in time to experience the spectacular lowveld sunsets. On these drives one sees the nocturnal bush creatures as well as other game under spotlight. The tracker is able to spot the eyes of the animals in the pitch dark of night fall.
Background
History
The birthplace of sustainable wildlife tourism in Southern Africa.
Owned and operated by 3rd and 4th generation families.
Focus and Foresight is on Conservation
It is the oldest of all the private reserves in South Africa.
Formed in 1934; and became a formal association in 1948.
Wilderness
Part of the largest conservation area in Southern Africa.
Part of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park
It has only ever been a wilderness area.
It is home to a number of endangered species, which include:
- Wild Dog: The most endangered species in Southern Africa. The Kruger National Park contains the only viable South African population of Wild Dogs.
- Bats: They are the only flying mammals that are blind; 10 of the species are on the endangered list. They play an important role through eating harmful insects and pollinating plants.
- Honey Badgets: Badgers can be useful in reducing the populations of rats, scorpions and dangerous snakes.
- Oxpeckers: With scissor-like movements the Red-billed Oxpecker combs their host's hair in search of ticks.
- Ground Hornbill: There are less than 1 500 Ground Hornbills left in South Africa.
The lodges are involved in environmental management programs and studies
These include:
- Alien plant control
- Micro catchment management to combat erosiion
- Monitoring of wildlife and habitat densities
- Anti-poaching units
- Control of runaway fires
Community Empowerment
Including activities which help them to generate income; provision of health care and provision of drinking water.
South African Game Safari Checklist
Virtually all of the large mammals that occur naturally in the area are resident in the reserve as well as many of the smaller mammals. See South African mammal checklist.
About 300 species of bird have been observed at Notten's including a diversity of summer migrants. See South African birding checklist.
A variety of snakes, lizards and tortoises and other reptiles have also been seen, mainly during the summer as well as a variety of insects and other invertebrates. See South African reptile tour checklist.
A bewildering diversity of grasses, shrubs and trees abound. The vegetation type is Mixed Combretum, Marula and Acacia Thornveld. This beautiful Sabi Sand lodge is situated under a canopy of indigenous riverine trees e.g. African Ebony and Marulas (leadwoods). See South African tree checklist.
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