FAQs

Ulusaba is a private game reserve in South Africa’s Sabi Sand, next to Kruger National Park. It covers around 33,000 acres of bush and is part of Virgin Limited Edition.

There are two lodges. Every suite has floor-to-ceiling glass doors, a private deck and a plunge pool.

• Rock Lodge sits high on a rocky hill with wide views over the plains. It includes Cliff Lodge, two private suites on the clifftop with their own access road
• Safari Lodge sits beside a dam where hippos gather. It has eight Elephant Suites and The Hide, three treehouse-style suites with a shared lounge and firepit, ideal for groups of friends or families with older children

Ulusaba means “little fear” in Xitsonga (Shangaan), the language of the local Tsonga people, whose heritage inspires the design of the lodges.

Ulusaba is in the western sector of the Sabi Sand Reserve in Mpumalanga, South Africa, next to Kruger National Park.

Ulusaba is surrounded by around 33,000 acres of open bush in the Sabi Sand Reserve.

Ulusaba is undergoing a transformation and is reopening in phases. Safari Lodge welcomes guests from 5 January 2027, and Rock Lodge follows in April 2027. Until then, light work may take place during the day, with reduced rates to reflect this.

Safari Lodge at Ulusaba reopens, newly transformed, on 5 January 2027.

Rock Lodge at Ulusaba reopens in April 2027, once its transformation is complete. This marks Ulusaba's full reopening.

Between January and April 2027, while Rock Lodge completes its transformation, guests at Safari Lodge may notice some light work during the day. Evenings are undisturbed.

Ulusaba has been reimagined, with new suites, dining and wellness inspired by Tsonga heritage and the rhythm of the bush.

• Suites: every suite has floor-to-ceiling glass doors, a private plunge pool, a freestanding bathtub and a large private deck
• Dining: a new culinary journey built on pan-African flavours and seasonal, locally sourced produce. Each lodge has its own wine cellar for tastings of South African wines, including organic and biodynamic estates
• Wellness: new spas at both Rock Lodge and Safari Lodge, with saunas, cold plunge and hydrotherapy pools, a Rasul mud experience, yoga decks and a reflexology walkway. Treatments use Africology’s vegan, cruelty-free African skincare, and each lodge also has its own gym.

Yes. Guests save 25% on stays of three nights or more at Safari Lodge between 5 January and 31 March 2027. Find out more here. 

Safari Lodge, which opens on 5 January 2027, welcomes children aged 12 and over. Families with younger children can stay from April 2027, when Rock Lodge reopens.

Rock Lodge sits high on a koppie (rocky hill) with wide views over the bush and welcomes guests of all ages. Safari Lodge sits beside a lake popular with hippos, with suites at bush level, and welcomes guests aged 12 and over

Safari Lodge has two types of suite.

• Elephant Suites: eight suites, each with floor-to-ceiling glass doors, a private deck with a plunge pool, a freestanding bathtub and an outdoor shower.
• The Hide: three treehouse-style suites overlooking a dam where hippos gather, sharing a lounge, dining areas, a deck and a firepit. Each suite has its own private deck and plunge pool.

There are two ways to book The Hide: reserve a single Hide Suite, or book all three together as The Hide Three-Bedroom, ideal for groups of friends or families with older children.

Rock Lodge has the Rock Suite, the two Makwela Suites, which can be connected for families or small groups, and the Makwela Two-Bedroom Suite with a stargazing deck. Each suite has a private infinity plunge pool.

Cliff Lodge is a pair of private lodges on a clifftop next to Rock Lodge, with their own access road. Cliff Lodge 1 is designed for families and has a dedicated children's bedroom. Cliff Lodge 2 is suited to couples. They can be booked separately or together as Cliff Lodge Exclusive.

Exclusive use of Cliff Lodge includes your own game drive vehicle, guide, tracker, host and private chef.

Yes, every suite at Rock Lodge, Safari Lodge and Cliff Lodge has a private plunge pool. 

Yes, every room and suite at Ulusaba has air conditioning, and Wi-Fi is included. 

No. Flights between Johannesburg and Ulusaba's private airstrip are not included in your rate and are booked through a third-party airline. The reservations team can provide more information.

Direct flights from the UK to Johannesburg take about 10.5 to 11.5 hours, then it is about 1 hour 20 minutes to Ulusaba's private airstrip.

Flights from the US East Coast to Johannesburg take about 18 hours, then it is about 1 hour 20 minutes to Ulusaba's private airstrip.

Yes. Ulusaba is about 2.5 hours by road from Nelspruit. Guests who drive themselves pay Sabi Sand conservation fees for each person and vehicle at the reserve gate.

Check-in at Ulusaba is from 2 pm and check-out is by 11 am. Earlier arrivals and later departures can be arranged on request.

Rates at Ulusaba depend on the lodge, suite and season. Check availability and rates online, or contact the reservations team here.

A stay at Ulusaba includes all meals and drinks, including alcohol, two game drives a day, guided walking safaris (weather permitting), a stocked minibar, Wi-Fi and laundry.

We want you to feel as relaxed as possible from the moment you arrive. You can see what is included below, and if you have any questions or special requests, please do not hesitate to get in touch. 

What's included?

Flights between Johannesburg and Ulusaba's private airstrip are booked separately. Third-party transfers, tours and excursions are also extra, as are conservation fees for guests who drive into the Sabi Sand

A 30% non-refundable deposit confirms a standard booking at Ulusaba, with the balance due 42 days before arrival. Bookings made within 42 days of arrival must be paid in full. Festive, group and exclusive-use bookings have different terms.

For standard bookings at Ulusaba:

•        If you cancel more than 42 days before arrival, you lose 30% of the booking.

•        Between 41 and 21 days before arrival, you lose 75%.

•        Within 20 days of arrival, you lose 100%.

Festive, group and exclusive-use bookings have separate terms. Comprehensive travel insurance is recommended.

South Africa uses the South African Rand (ZAR), and major credit cards are accepted at Ulusaba. Most costs are included, so you'll rarely need cash. Tipping is optional.

Yes. Guests at Ulusaba can see the Big Five on twice-daily game drives, guided by an experienced ranger and tracker.

Besides the Big Five, guests at Ulusaba regularly see hippos, giraffes and zebras, and sometimes even the elusive African wild dog. Ulusaba also streams a live safari camera from Xikwenga Dam, where animals gather to drink.

Ulusaba runs two game drives a day, in the early morning and late afternoon, when the animals are at their most active. Each drive lasts about 2.5 to 3 hours.

Yes. Guided walking safaris are included at Ulusaba, weather permitting.

Ulusaba is a year-round safari destination, with excellent game viewing in every season. Each time of year offers something different.

• Summer (October to April): the bush turns green and lush, and it’s the season for newborn animals, with baby impala arriving from around November. Migratory birds return, making this a highlight for birdwatchers. Days are warm, often with dramatic afternoon thunderstorms.
• Winter (May to September): the bush thins out and animals gather around waterholes, making wildlife easier to spot. Days are dry, sunny and mild, with crisp early mornings and evenings.

Whenever you visit, twice-daily game drives give you the best chance of seeing the Big Five.

Pack pale or neutral clothing for game drives, layers for early mornings and evenings, and warm clothing in winter. Also bring trainers for walks, a hat, sunglasses and swimwear.

Between game drives, guests can use the spa, gym and pool, take a walking safari, or book cultural, scenic or helicopter tours. Find out more on our Things to do page here. 

Kids of all ages are very welcome at Rock Lodge; however, at Safari Lodge kids under the age of 12 cannot be accommodated. In some rooms, Ulusaba can accommodate kids on rollaway beds.

To protect the Sabi Sand Reserve, the total number of vehicles is limited. Sometimes this means Ulusaba is unable to accommodate extra kids in rooms whilst Ulusaba is fully booked, but the team will always make sure to update guests at the time of booking.

Children aged six and over can join game drives at Ulusaba.

Yes. Ulusaba's Cub's Club is for children aged up to 11. Children get a welcome backpack and safari cap, and there's no fixed schedule, so they choose their own activities. These include a treasure hunt, a mini-ranger tracking course, baking and a family community tour.

Ulusaba's pools have no lifeguard, so children under 12 must be with an adult.

Yes. All meals and drinks, including alcohol, are included at Ulusaba, along with a stocked minibar.

Yes. Ulusaba can cater for special dietary requirements if you let the team know before you arrive.

Ulusaba’s cuisine celebrates pan-African flavours, made with seasonal ingredients and locally sourced produce. Dishes draw on the food cultures of the continent, rooted in tradition with a few surprises. Breads and pastries are baked fresh every day.

Mornings start with freshly baked treats before the early game drive. Breakfast and lunch are served restaurant-style at the lodge. In the evening, guests gather at the boma to share the day’s sightings before sitting down to dinner by firelight, candlelight or starlight.

Yes. Ulusaba hosts bush dinners under torchlit skies beside a flaming log fire, as well as traditional South African braais (barbecues) in the bush.

On the afternoon game drive, your ranger and tracker choose a special spot to stop for drinks as the sun sets over the bush. Morning drives can include a stop for pancakes along the way.

Yes. Private dining is always available at Ulusaba and is tailored to each guest.

Yes. Rock Lodge and Safari Lodge each have their own wine cellar, focused on South African wines. The collection ranges from small family-owned cellars to established names and exciting new producers, including organic and biodynamic estates.

Yes. Wine tastings at Ulusaba are tailored to you, starting with your own preferences and guiding you through the best of South African wine.

Yes. Ulusaba offers child-friendly meals and snacks, and families can share any food and drink requests for their children before arrival.

Ulusaba’s days are built around twice-daily game drives and guided walking safaris with a ranger and tracker. In between, guests can relax at the spa, swim with views over the savannah, play tennis or pickleball, or use the gym. 

Yes. Ulusaba has a tennis court and a new pickleball court.

Yes. Both Rock Lodge and Safari Lodge have their own gym.

Yes. Both Rock Lodge and Safari Lodge have a spa, with saunas, cold plunge and hydrotherapy pools, a Rasul mud ritual, yoga decks and a reflexology walkway. Treatments use Africology’s vegan, cruelty-free African skincare.

The Canyons, Cultures and Contrasts tour is a full day out along the Drakensberg Escarpment. It visits Blyde River Canyon, the Three Rondavels, God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Lisbon Falls and the historic town of Pilgrim’s Rest.

Yes. The Cascades and Canyons Spectacular is a helicopter flight over Blyde River Canyon, God’s Window and the Three Rondavels, ending with a scenic picnic.

Yes. Ulusaba hosts safari weddings, with set packages or a fully tailored celebration.

Yes. Ulusaba is a perfect safari honeymoon destination. Days are spent tracking the Big Five, followed by sundowners in the bush, private dinners by firelight or starlight, and couples’ treatments at the spa.

To add the Cape Winelands, the Winelands and Wildlife package pairs Ulusaba with Mont Rochelle in Franschhoek, for stays from 1 May 2027. Find out more here. 

Yes. You can hire Rock Lodge, Safari Lodge, Cliff Lodge or the whole of Ulusaba for celebrations, family holidays and group stays. Exclusive-use bookings have their own deposit and cancellation terms.

Yes. Ulusaba is in a malaria area. Speak to your doctor before travelling. All rooms have mosquito nets and insect repellent. 

Both lodges at Ulusaba have first aid equipment and trained staff. The Sabi Sand is served by 24-hour paramedics and 4x4 ambulances. Doctor consultations are charged, so travel insurance is recommended.

Yes. The Winelands and Wildlife offer combines Ulusaba with Mont Rochelle in Franschhoek, in either order. It is available for travel from 1 May 2027, subject to availability. Find out more here. 

Yes. The reservations team can plan trips that combine Ulusaba with Mahali Mzuri and Finch Hattons in Kenya, or Mont Rochelle in South Africa.