Ulusaba – an exceptional year round safari destination
The Sabi Sand Game Reserve – home to Virgin Limited Edition’s Ulusaba – is renowned for its excellent wildlife viewing and while Autumn and Winter are often the most popular seasons during which to travel, each season offers a unique safari experience in this unspoilt part of South Africa.
Visit from January to March
January not only rings in the new year but also Sabi Sand’s short rainy season. Wildflowers are in full bloom and fauna and flora flourish making for stunning, verdant landscapes. While the abundant vegetation during this time of the year makes it harder to spot wildlife straightaway, the Sabi Sand is a private game reserve which allows Ulusaba’s expert rangers and trackers to go offroad and with information being shared among guides to ensure the best sightings, there are still plenty of opportunities to spot the Big Five during twice-daily game drives.
It's also an ideal time for birdwatching – observe young being reared before taking their first flight, discover the many migratory birds that have made the reserve their temporary home or spot rare species such as the bat hawk, the martial eagle, and the lapped-faced vulture
Visit from April to June
The rainy, humid weather makes way for clear skies and pleasant daytime temperatures, making the animals in the Sabi Sand more active and easier to spot as vegetation starts to thin out, ideal for seeing leopards, a notoriously elusive species. Autumn also marks the start of the rutting season – be prepared to watch male impala, wildebeest and antelopes compete for mating opportunities.
Towards the end of May and throughout June, the vegetation starts to dry out and water in the Sabi Sand becomes scarcer, meaning animals start to gather in and around water sources, making for optimal game viewing within the game reserve.
Visit from July to September
With temperatures dropping the time has come to start wrapping up during the early morning and late afternoon game drives. A great time to visit, throughout July and August dry conditions prevail resulting in good visibility and plenty of animal sightings by watering holes and dams. With larger herds starting to fan out, budding photographers will have some prime opportunities for capturing that perfect image of a lone animal set against the never-ending landscape.
During September, pregnant females can be seen roaming the reserve, animals are eagerly awaiting the first rains and pops of green start to appear in the dry bush – spring is in the air.
Visit from October to December
During this time of the year, the Sabi Sand slowly turns into nature’s maternity ward with plenty of newborn babies all around the game reserve. Migratory birds start returning also, making for a beautiful daily dawn chorus.
Spring moves into summer and with the Sabi Sand teeming with life and predators on the prowl, the game viewing is exceptional – ensuring the festive season here comes with an exciting safari twist!
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