Are your African safaris private and customizable?

Yes. Most One Big Planet safaris are designed as private trips for you and the people traveling with you. Our published tours are starting points, not rigid packages. We can adjust the route, dates, accommodations, activities, trip length and budget. Guided tours normally include a private local guide or driver-guide. We can also arrange independent options, including self-drive travel through Namibia.

Which African country is best for a first safari?

Kenya is a strong choice for travelers who want the classic East African safari experience. Namibia is better for travelers who enjoy road trips, deserts and scenery in addition to wildlife. South Africa is easy to combine with Cape Town, food, wine and the coast. Botswana is best for remote wilderness and water-based safaris, while Zimbabwe combines excellent wildlife with Victoria Falls.

How much does an African safari cost?

A safari can cost approximately $150 per person per day for a simpler self-drive or camping-style trip and more than $1,000 per person per day for an exclusive luxury safari. The final price depends on the destination, season, accommodation, park fees, transportation, guide, activities and number of travelers.

How many days do I need for my first African safari?

For most first-time travelers, seven to ten days is a good starting point. A five- to seven-day safari can work for a shorter introduction. Ten to fourteen days is better when you want to experience more of the country or add beaches, cities and cultural activities.

When is the best time to go on an African safari?

There is no single best month for every country. Dry periods often make wildlife easier to find around permanent water sources, but they can also bring higher prices and more visitors. Green-season travel can offer quieter parks, better value and beautiful landscapes, although rain may affect some roads and activities.

How far in advance should I book a safari?

For most trips, beginning six to twelve months ahead gives you a better choice of lodges, rooms, guides and routes. Consider starting twelve months or more in advance when traveling during migration season, Christmas, New Year, school holidays or when you need specific small camps and fixed travel dates.

What is normally included in a safari package?

Inclusions vary by itinerary, but a guided safari may include accommodation, ground transportation, a safari vehicle and driver-guide, national park fees, game drives, listed meals, airport transfers, drinking water and selected excursions. International flights, visas, travel insurance, tips and optional activities are often separate.

Can I combine a safari with a beach, city or another country?

Yes. You can combine a Kenya safari with Diani Beach, add Cape Town to a South African safari, connect Victoria Falls and Hwange with Chobe in Botswana, or combine Namibia with another Southern African country. We can also plan multi-country routes when the transportation and available time make sense.

Can children go on an African safari?

Yes, but the right itinerary depends on the children's ages, interests and ability to handle long drives and early mornings. Some lodges and safari activities have minimum-age rules. Family trips can include pools, beaches, shorter game drives, cultural experiences and rest days.

Can I take a safari by myself?

Yes. A private safari can be arranged for one traveler, although solo travel is often more expensive per person because accommodation, vehicle and guide costs are not shared. Some lodges charge a single supplement, while others occasionally offer better solo rates during quieter periods.

Do you offer self-drive African safaris?

Yes. Namibia is particularly well suited to travelers who want to explore independently. A Namibia self-drive safari can include the rental vehicle, accommodations and a planned route through destinations such as Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Damaraland and Etosha National Park.

Do I need vaccinations or malaria medication for a safari?

Health recommendations depend on the country, route, time of year and your personal medical history. Malaria precautions may be recommended for some safari areas, while yellow fever documentation can depend on where you are traveling from or transiting. Speak with a healthcare provider or travel-health specialist before departure.

Is an African safari safe?

No international trip is completely without risk, and conditions vary by country and region. One Big Planet works with trusted local partners, experienced guides and established accommodations. Travelers should review current government travel information, purchase suitable travel insurance and follow the instructions of their guide.

Sabi Sands Glamping From $1,495 USD Per Person — 3 Nights And Up

Contact to Book

Sabi Sands Glamping From $1,495 USD Per Person — 3 Nights and Up

Experience three nights in the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve at Umkumbe Bush Lodge, a comfortable tented safari camp surrounded by the Greater Kruger wilderness. Your stay includes three nights in a Standard Tent, all meals and two guided safari drives per day, giving you multiple opportunities to explore the reserve without having to change camps or rush between destinations.

Umkumbe combines the atmosphere of sleeping under canvas with the comforts most travelers still want on vacation. The tented suites have air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms, mosquito nets, coffee facilities and proper beds, while the lodge also has a swimming pool, dining and lounge areas, a boma and a treehouse deck.

Sabi Sand forms part of the Greater Kruger open ecosystem. The fences between Sabi Sand and neighboring Kruger National Park were removed in 1993, allowing wildlife to move freely across the wider protected area. Learn more about the reserve from the official Sabi Sand Nature Reserve.

Price is subject to exchange-rate fluctuations and availability. The advertised price is based on two adults sharing a Standard Tent and is valid for travel during 2027. Upgraded tent categories are available at an additional cost.

Comfortable Glamping in Sabi Sands

Umkumbe Bush Lodge offers a more intimate alternative to a traditional hotel-style safari lodge. The tented accommodation keeps you connected to the surrounding bush while still providing the comforts needed for a relaxing stay.

Standard Tents include air conditioning, mosquito nets, an en-suite bathroom, coffee-making facilities, a safe and comfortable twin or double-bed arrangements. Guests wanting additional space or amenities can upgrade to Luxury, Superior or Superior Honeymoon accommodation.

Luxury and Superior options add features such as private verandahs, outdoor showers, bathtubs and double vanities, while the honeymoon category offers additional privacy and its own plunge pool.

Between safari activities, guests can use the lodge swimming pool or relax in the communal lounge, dining and boma areas.

Highlights

Getting there: One Big Planet can help coordinate domestic flights and transfers to Sabi Sands. Skukuza Airport, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and Hoedspruit Airport provide convenient access to the Greater Kruger region.

Start and finish: Sabi Sands, South Africa.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included during your stay, along with tea, coffee and drinking water.

Safari activities: Two guided safari game drives per day are included. Optional guided bush walks can be arranged separately.

Transportation: Transfers to and from Umkumbe Bush Lodge can be added to your itinerary. Safari transportation during scheduled game drives is included.

Accommodation: Three nights in a Standard Tent at Umkumbe Bush Lodge, based on two guests sharing. Luxury, Superior and Superior Honeymoon tents are available as upgrades.

Difficulty level: Easy. Most wildlife viewing takes place from a safari vehicle. Guided bush walks are optional and must be arranged separately.

Minimum: Price is based on two adults sharing. Single-traveler pricing is available on request.

Children: Umkumbe welcomes children aged 10 and older. Children aged 10–11 receive a reduced accommodation rate, while guests aged 12 and older pay the adult rate.

Why you will love it: Stay inside one of South Africa’s best-known private safari areas with twice-daily wildlife drives, full-board accommodation and enough downtime between activities to actually enjoy the lodge.

Flexibility: Stay for three nights or extend your safari for a longer experience. One Big Planet can also combine Sabi Sands with Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, Kruger National Park, Namibia, or our Botswana and Zimbabwe safaris.

What’s Included in Your Sabi Sands Stay

Three nights at Umkumbe Bush Lodge
Standard Tent based on two adults sharing
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Two guided safari game drives per day
Tea and coffee
Drinking water
2027 Sabie Game Reserve conservation levy
One Big Planet trip-planning assistance

Not Included

Flights and transportation to the lodge are not included unless specifically added to your One Big Planet itinerary. Bar drinks, gratuities, optional guided bush walks, spa treatments, private safari vehicles, special dining experiences, personal expenses and any services not specifically listed above are also excluded.

Stay in the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve

Sabi Sands is one of South Africa’s best-known safari destinations and forms part of the wider Greater Kruger ecosystem. With no wildlife fence separating the reserve from neighboring Kruger National Park, animals can move through this connected wilderness rather than being confined to one small property.

Your days at Umkumbe are built around morning and afternoon game drives. Between drives, return to camp for meals, relax by the pool or simply enjoy having a few hours with nothing scheduled.

That balance is one reason we like a three-night stay. You have enough time for several safari drives without turning the trip into a race, and if you want a longer safari, additional nights can easily be added.

One Big Planet can also create a complete South Africa itinerary around your Sabi Sands stay. Combine your safari with Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, Kruger or continue farther through Southern Africa.

Sabi Sands Safari Package

If you have dreamed of seeing South Africa’s wildlife without spending your entire vacation moving from lodge to lodge, three nights in Sabi Sands is a great place to start.

Your package includes accommodation at Umkumbe Bush Lodge, meals and two guided safari drives each day. Morning and afternoon drives give you several chances to explore the reserve at different times of day, while the hours between activities are yours to relax at camp.

Want more time in the bush? Additional nights, upgraded tent categories, private safari vehicles and optional activities can be added to your stay.

Contact to Book