Sabi Sands or Addo & Shamwari
 

I'm planning a few days in March 2006 game viewing, would my time be more rewarding spent in Sabi Sands or at the end of my Garden Route trip at Addo Elephant Camp and Shamwari Private reserve? I can only fit in about 3 or 4 days and would like to see as wide a variety of game as possible. All suggestions gratefully received.

Sabi Sands cant be beaten IMO. Though of course anti-malarials will be needed.

Shamwari has been voted Africa’s leading safari for the past five years and the world’s greatest conservation program.

Addo National Park has the world’s highest density elephant population.

Added to this it is malaria free so no medication is required.

Shamwari is expensive but the rand per animal rate is excellent, you will get very close to all the big 5.

I've been to Shamwari and Sabi Sand - and if you weren't traveling in March, I'd say hands down Sabi Sand. However, you may have lots of rain in the Kruger area, and a much better chance of good weather in the Cape Area, which will also translate to better wildlife viewing.

Hello,

I'd vote for Sabi Sands -- the game viewing is spectacular. Shamwari gets good reviews, but personally I wasn't impressed -- it felt like a giant zoo rather than the bush.

If you want a malaria-free option, I'd recommend Phinda Game Reserve (near Durban). Phinda has seven different environments and a huge range of actvities.

Cheers.
Julian

We spent one day at Addo (actually stayed at the River Bend lodge) at the end of our Garden Route trip. It was very nice and we saw huge herds of elephants, including baby twins.

However, it is NOTHING like real game viewing we experienced later in Botswana (I've not been to Sabi Sands but heard it's similar to Botswana). You only really see elephants and other antelops, and often times it can be quite hard to find the elephants. It would be boring to spend 2 days there, much less 3-4.

Judy

We have had lots of comments about Shamwari. Boring has never ever been one of them.

Shamwari has been voted Africa’s leading safari for the past 5 years for good reason.

Take a longer vacation stay at both and let us know.