No items found.
Get in touch
Umkumbe Safari Lodge is an owner managed and run lodge that nestles in the 65 000 hectare private Sabi Sands Game Reserve and shares an unfenced border with the world-renowned Kruger National Park. The Sabi Sands Game Reserve offers unrivaled game viewing with an abundance of wildlife moving freely between the reserve and the Kruger Park.
Children five years and older are welcome at the lodge.
Umkumbe Safari Lodge Riverside is perfectly situated in the heart of the Sabie Game Reserve, within the Greater Kruger area. The Sabi Sand region is widely regarded as South Africa's premier wildlife reserve, known for its high density of animals, particularly leopards. With no barriers separating the Kruger National Park from the private game reserves, wildlife roams freely throughout the area. The lodge overlooks the Sand River, a frequent gathering spot for a variety of animals, offering both standard and superior accommodations for couples and families with children over five. Guests can embark on twice-daily game drives, promising thrilling encounters with wildlife, and enjoy evening meals in a traditional boma under the stars.
The lodge overlooks the seasonal Sand River, where guests often spot animals grazing in the riverbed. It accommodates up to 20 guests in 11 chalets/rooms, with configurations that suit families, small groups, or friends. The clean and comfortable rooms offer an affordable stay in a predator-rich private reserve within the Greater Kruger.
Connected by walkways, the lodge’s main areas include a boma, bar, lounge, outdoor dining room, and gym. A swimming pool with sun loungers invites relaxation, while the unfenced grounds allow smaller wildlife to roam freely, providing guests with engaging views from their rooms. Safety for children is ensured by a tripwire that deters larger animals.
In the dry season, sparse vegetation draws wildlife to water sources, while in the wet season, animals are more dispersed due to denser vegetation. Staying at Umkumbe offers the chance to see the Big Five, especially leopards. Other frequently spotted animals include giraffes, zebras, warthogs, spotted hyenas, baboons, hippos, impalas, kudus, vervet monkeys, waterbucks, wildebeests, bushbabies, mongooses, duikers, and steenboks. You may also encounter wild dogs, cheetahs, honey badgers, porcupines, aardvarks, civets, caracals, and servals. Common bird sightings include vultures, owls, bee-eaters, rollers, eagles, bustards, hornbills, starlings, and shrikes.
.png){kind=small}
Time is luxury. We streamline your choices for the perfect safari.
✅ Free travel insurance before 25 February 2026
✅ A safari specialist will reach out to you within 24 hours
✅ SAFARI.COM voted Africa's Leading Safari Company in the World Travel Awards 2024 + 2025
✅ Same price as booking direct, with expert care included
✅ With you before, during and after your safari
✅ We handle it all. Flights, transfers, lodging & activities
February 6, 2026
Great service
Nerine was very communicative and responsive, answering all my questions and giving me a number of great options for safaris.
February 6, 2026
Great experience planning our trip
We have just finished finalizing our trip with safari.com. Our agent was Nerine Du Plessis. She made our planning so easy. All our questions and concerns were answered in such a timely manner. We gave her our wishes and she came back to us with a very exciting itinerary. Now just have to wait until we get to do our safari.
February 3, 2026
Last minute booking
We are living abroad in Australia, heading on a last minute trip to South Africa. We reached out to Safari.com and were allocated Nerine Du Plessis as our consultant. Nerine was so great in helping us to organise this trip with only 5 weeks until departure/arrival in South Africa. Nerine has been incredibly prompt in her responses, articulate in the requirements and easy to communicate with. So far, we can't fault our experience.
Crafting your journey from a curated portfolio of Africa's 500+ finest lodges and operators.
