Sabi Sabi Collection opens Sandringham – a former hunting reserve returned to the wild

Six years in the making, the Sabi Sabi Collection’s new 5,000-hectare private reserve opened on 1 August with two safari camps, two villas and a standalone private residence in the Greater Kruger

The Sabi Sabi Collection has opened Sandringham Private Game Reserve in South Africa’s Greater Kruger, completing a six-year rehabilitation project that has transformed a former hunting reserve into a fully operational private wilderness area. The property welcomed its first guests on 1 August 2026.

Located at the convergence of four rivers and bordered by the Timbavati and Thornybush Game Reserves, Sandringham spans almost 5,000 hectares. The property’s centrepiece is a large dam on the Timbavati River – one of the main perennial rivers flowing through Kruger National Park – with the Drakensberg as a backdrop.

“It’s been exciting, humbling and rewarding to see wildlife reclaim their rightful residence on the reserve as a protected species, no longer threatened,” says Jacques Smit, Sabi Sabi Collection’s Director of Marketing. “Over the years, wildlife has naturally returned to this part of the Greater Kruger because of the protection and conservation efforts here.”

The reserve’s main lodge sits on a curve of the Timbavati River. Designed by architect Nick Plewman, it features polished screed and stone finishes, thatch structures and quartz detailing drawn from the reserve’s granitic soils, with large stacking doors opening onto an all-weather timber deck. A walk-around fireplace anchors the social spaces, a boma with sunken firepit is used for evening gatherings, and one of the property’s original stone buildings has been converted into a small museum documenting the reserve’s history. Interiors are by Cate Simpson of Reflecting Africa.

Shisaka Camp

Named for the Tsonga word for “nest”, Shisaka Camp offers six suites positioned within a Tamboti thicket along a tributary of the Timbavati River. Each suite features a rooftop sala – an elevated outdoor platform above the tree line – along with a private infinity pool and indoor-outdoor shower. Two villas sharing the same design language are also available, each with two ensuite bedrooms, a pergola-shaded deck, a sunken outdoor lounge, a large infinity pool and exclusive use of a private game drive vehicle.

N’weti Camp

N’weti Camp’s six suites are set on a hill overlooking the Timbavati River and the Drakensberg Mountains. Interiors feature earthy tones, natural stone and timber finishes, with floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors opening onto a curved timber deck. Each suite includes a stone-clad infinity pool, a half-moon lounge nook and a freestanding bathtub positioned to face the river view.

Sandringham House

Set upstream from the main lodge, Sandringham House accommodates up to eight guests across four ensuite bedrooms within a 1,100-square-metre residence. A dedicated chef, butler and ranger are included, along with exclusive use of a private vehicle. An infinity pool and firepit sit elevated above the Timbavati River, with 180-degree views across the reserve.

Conservation and community

A partnership with the Tracker Training Academy and Bushwise supports training for young people from surrounding communities as professional safari trackers and conservationists. The Sabi Sabi Foundation creates employment across safari, hospitality and conservation, with Smit noting that a single salary at Sabi Sabi supports up to 30 people in family and community.

“We have a very strong ethos around caring for our environment, for the people who work for us, for the guests we welcome, and for the wildlife we look after,” says Smit.

Sandringham complements the Sabi Sabi Collection’s existing four lodges in the Sabi Sands, with guests able to combine both regions via a short flight between the reserves’ private airstrips.

sabisabicollection.com