Simbambili Game Lodge
An adults-only lodge in the quiet northern Sabi Sand, known for its excellent leopard sightings.
Overview
Simbambili is a small, owner-run lodge in the quiet northern Sabi Sand, under jackalberry and knobthorn trees on the banks of the Manyeleti River. It is part of the Thornybush Collection. The lodge is best known for leopard. The Sabi Sand has one of the highest leopard densities in Africa, and Simbambili’s guides find them regularly. The suites look out over open savanna and a waterhole, and the atmosphere is calm and adults-only. It suits couples and honeymooners who want serious game viewing without a big-lodge feel.
At a Glance
Type: Luxury safari lodge
Location: Northern Sabi Sand Game Reserve, on the Manyeleti River
Suites: 9, each with a private plunge pool, a sala (shaded day bed) and a bath with a view
Children: 16 and older
Included: All meals, morning and afternoon game drives, bush walks on request
Wi-Fi: Yes, including in the suites
Wellness: Spa treatments in a treehouse-style room or an open-air sala
Malaria: Malaria area. Speak to your doctor before travelling
Best for: Couples, honeymooners and leopard lovers
Activities & Dining
Game drives run in the early morning and late afternoon in open vehicles, with an experienced guide and tracker. Your guide can also arrange a bush walk. Leopard are the headline, but lion, elephant and buffalo are seen often, and the northern Sabi Sand is quieter than the busier south.
Dinner is in the boma or on the main deck around the fire. Bush breakfasts and dinners are arranged when the weather allows. Between drives there’s the pool, the library and the spa.
Getting There
Fly into Arathusa if your budget allows. It turns a two-hour road transfer into a few minutes.
Self-driving? Use Gowrie Gate and the lodge’s directions, not your GPS.
Insider Tips
Stay three nights or more. That gives you the best odds on leopard, and time to enjoy the plunge pool and the spa.
Book a treatment between drives. The spa’s outdoor sala is one of the best spots in the lodge.
Bring cash for the gate fees if you’re driving.