Lodge · Ulusaba
Ulusaba Safari Lodge
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Ulusaba Safari Lodge
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Ulusaba Safari Lodge
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About the lodge
An overview of Ulusaba Safari Lodge.
Set along the banks of a dry riverbed in the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, Ulusaba Safari Lodge is Sir Richard Branson's ground-level retreat in Virgin Limited Edition's South African portfolio. Eight Elephant Suites and the three-suite Hide overlook an active wildlife corridor and hippo-filled lake, offering close-quarters Big Five viewing across 13,500 hectares of private traversing.
Exciting News! The reimagined Ulusaba Safari Lodge will be unveiled in April 2027. Secure your 2027 bookings now!
Highlights
- Eight Elephant Suites and a three-bedroom Hide built along a dry riverbed and active wildlife corridor
- Twice-daily game drives across more than 13,500 hectares of private Sabi Sand traversing with dedicated ranger and tracker
- Big Five sightings within one of South Africa's most renowned private reserves
- Guided walking safaris, spa, gym, swimming pool, wine cellar and boma
You Should Know
- Walking safaris are weather-dependent
- Unfortunately, no cubs under the age of 12 at Safari Lodge. In some rooms, we can accommodate kids on rollaway beds.
- Related Lodges: Ulusaba Rock Lodge
The Details
Location
Ulusaba Safari Lodge sits within the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve in South Africa's Greater Kruger region, built along the banks of a dry riverbed that draws wildlife past the suites throughout the day and night. Part of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Limited Edition collection, the lodge is the ground-level counterpart to the cliff-top Rock Lodge and shares traversing rights across more than 13,500 hectares of private reserve.
Rooms
Accommodation comprises eight Elephant Suites and The Hide, a trio of elevated treehouse-style suites overlooking a hippo-filled dam with their own shared living area. Every suite features floor-to-ceiling glass doors, a private deck with plunge pool, a freestanding bath with panoramic views and a private outdoor shower. Interiors draw on Tsonga heritage, layering vibrant textures and artisanal detailing.
The Hide can be taken as a three-bedroom exclusive-use space, with its own lounge, indoor and outdoor dining areas and an expansive deck with a boma firepit, ideal for families or small groups travelling together.
Dining
Communal areas at Safari Lodge include an indoor dining room, outdoor deck, indoor bar, wine cellar and boma, with meals served in a rotation of settings to match the rhythm of the day. Guests staying in The Hide also have the option of private dining within their own shared living area.
Activities
Twice-daily game drives leave in the early morning and late afternoon, each lasting around three hours and shaped by guests' interests by a dedicated ranger and tracker. The reserve is home to the Big Five, with mornings particularly rewarding for tracking the big cats returning from a night's hunt and afternoons often ending with sundowners in the bush. Weather permitting, guided safari walks invite a closer look at smaller creatures, tracks and the medicinal use of trees and plants.
Beyond game viewing, guests can enjoy the spa with double therapy rooms, cold plunge pools, sauna, hydrotherapy pool and Rasul mud ritual, along with a crystal eco-pool, yoga deck and reflexology walkway. Tennis and a new pickleball court, a gym, a private observatory for stargazing and Pride 'n Purpose community visits round out the offering.
Price Includes
- All meals and drinks
- Twice-daily game drives with a ranger and tracker
- Daily walking safari, weather dependent
- Use of the spa facilities, swimming pool, gym and tennis and pickleball courts
- Conservation and traversing across more than 13,500 hectares of Sabi Sand reserve
The same as booking direct
Rates and pricing.
Per person sharing, per night. Final pricing depends on dates, room category and party size.
Valid until 4 Jan 2028
Why book through us
You pay the lodge's rate, never a markup. What you get on top is a specialist who knows Ulusaba Safari Lodge personally, looks after every detail of the trip, and stays reachable on WhatsApp from the moment you enquire to the day you come home.
By season
Low season
5 Jan 2027 – 31 May 2027
All Inclusive — All meals and drinks, twice daily game drives and daily walking safari - weather dependent.
R 34 000
Peak / migration
1 Jun 2027 – 30 Sept 2027
All Inclusive — All meals and drinks, twice daily game drives and daily walking safari - weather dependent.
R 36 500
Shoulder
1 Oct 2027 – 19 Dec 2027
All Inclusive — All meals and drinks, twice daily game drives and daily walking safari - weather dependent.
R 34 000
Festive
20 Dec 2027 – 4 Jan 2028
All Inclusive — All meals and drinks, twice daily game drives and daily walking safari - weather dependent.
R 36 500
Rates are per person sharing, per night. A single supplement may apply for solo travellers. We offer a price match guarantee, just ask your safari specialist.
Family policies
Travelling with children.
What our safari specialists know about bringing children to Ulusaba Safari Lodge: minimum ages, activities, family rooms and child rates, current as of May 2026. They plan family trips here all the time, so anything below that needs arranging, they will sort. For the bigger picture, see our guide to safari with children .
Minimum ages
- Stay
- All ages
- Game drives
- All ages
- Walking safari
- 12+
Programmes & care
Kids' programme
Babysitting available
Accommodation
Family unit available.
Child rates
Infants (0–5) stay free of charge when sharing with at least one adult. Children (6–11) sharing with adults: ZAR 6,720 per night (2025). ZAR 7,070 (2026) on top of the relevant occupancy rate. A single child in own room is charged at adult single occupancy rate; 2+ children sharing own room incur the per-child supplement on top of the adult single rate. 2027 rate card adds ZAR 11,000 per child per night in some rooms. Adult age: 12+.
Notable exceptions
- Children and infants are welcomed at Rock Lodge only; the sister property Safari Lodge does not accept infants or children for safety reasons. Within Rock Lodge, family-friendly units include Rock Suite (2-bed, max 4), Cliff Lodge 1 & 2 (max 4), Makwela Suites (max 4, 1 child + infants), and Cliff Lodge Exclusive Use (max 8: up to 4 adults + 4 children, with own private game vehicle included). Children can join game drives with parents or a guardian but cannot participate in walking safaris (12+). The Cub's Club kids' programme is aimed at infants (0–5) who are too young for game drives, and babysitting is complimentary at Rock Lodge. A private vehicle can be pre-booked at ZAR 18,000 per day (2025), subject to availability. Due to Sabi Sand Reserve restrictions on guest/vehicle numbers, extra children may not always be accommodated.
Walking safari
Built for walking.
Documented walking safari options at Ulusaba Safari Lodge. Distinguishes short bush walks from dedicated walking trails and overnight wilderness journeys.
Short walk
Daily Walking Safari
Ulusaba includes a daily guided walking safari as part of the standard all-inclusive rate. The walk is weather dependent and takes place alongside twice-daily game drives, offering guests an on-foot wildlife experience in the Sabi Sands.
Frequency: daily (weather dependent). Included in the rate. No further details on duration, group size, or guide qualifications stated in the excerpts.
- Cost
- complimentary
- Availability
- Daily, weather dependent
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.
Cultural
Beyond the game drive.
Community visits, cultural walks, and dining experiences documented at Ulusaba Safari Lodge.
Cultural experience
Tours to the Local Community
Ulusaba Safari Lodge offers tours to the local community as an optional, bookable add-on to a stay. The experience is available on request and is not included in the standard lodge rates.
Listed under 'Available on Request (Not Included in the Rates)'. No further details on duration, group size, or guide provided in the excerpts.
- Availability
- subject to availability
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.
Imagery
A closer look.
18 photographs · click any image to expand
Speak to a safari specialist
Plan your dream safari at Ulusaba Safari Lodge.
From your first enquiry to the day you come home, one named safari specialist looks after every detail. We can handle the whole trip, not just the stay at Ulusaba Safari Lodge: multi-country itineraries, internal flights, road transfers, tipping guidance, travel insurance, the lot. A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours.
Ready when you are
Let's design your stay.
Your specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours with availability, exact pricing, and suggestions for what to combine it with.