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| Lower Sabie | |
| Coordinates: | -25.1197°N 31.915°W |
| Location: | South bank of Sabie River, southeastern Kruger Park |
| Elevation: | 174m (571feet)[1] |
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| Residences: |
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| Restaurants: | Mugg & Bean |
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| Operated By: | South African National Parks |
| Established: | [2] |
Lower Sabie is one of Kruger National Park's Main rest camps and is situated on the southern bank of the Sabie River, in the southeastern section of the park. It is connected to the main Skukuza camp by the H4-1 tarred road (43km (27miles) apart), which is often considered to be the busiest road in the park.[3]
When the Sabie Game Reserve was first proclaimed in 1898, the area around where Lower Sabie now lies was undeveloped. The initial road to the area was a two-track gravel road running up from Crocodile Bridge and continuing to Skukuza, built in 1926 and 1927 after the park was re-established as the Kruger National Park. The Gomondwane Road (H4-2) and the Mativuhlungu Loop (S82) roughly follow this route today. In 1930, the quarters of ranger Tom Duke were converted into a five-bedroom wood-and-steel guest house, made available to tourists. Between 1928 and 1931, the Sabie River Road (H4-1) was built between Skukuza and the site of what is now Lower Sabie. This guest house was a financial failure and was demolished in 1932. A set of 3 six-bedroom units was built to provide replace the guest house and provide accommodation in this region of the park.[4] In 1935 a portion of a £50,000 grant was used to expand Lower Sabie to accommodate 200 visitors, which included retrofitting the old huts to be made mosquito-proof. The first camp supervisor was appointed in 1936.[5]
As with all major rest camps in Kruger, Lower Sabie provides a park shop, restaurant, braai and communal kitchen facilities, a first aid station, laundromat, and filling station.[6]
Lower Sabie has a single restaurant, franchised by Mugg & Bean.[7] [8] The restaurant has a large seating area overlooking the river and is often the location of game sightings. Near the restaurant is a shop, which sells reference books, maps, food and drinks (including beer, wine and spirits), as well as a variety of clothing, collectables, and curios.[9] [10]
Other general facilities include:
Lower Sabie has a designated day visitor area with picnic sites and a swimming pool.
thumb|right|250px|Sunset dam, situated just west of the campNear to the camp, but outside of its gates, are the picnic areas at Nkuhlu (± 20km (10miles)), Mlondozi Dam (17km (11miles)) and Tshokwane (43km (27miles)). Sunset dam is a 1 km drive from the camp and often features large numbers of animals in the morning and evening. Nthandanyati Bird Hide is about 11 km from camp.[11]
Accommodation is available on a self-catering basis, in 30 huts and 62 bungalows, as well as one large guest house. Last, but not least, for visitors wanting to enjoy the outdoor, there are camping sites for 33 caravans or tents, all equipped with electrical power.[12] The camp also has 25 fully-equipped safari tents, giving it an African bush feeling. The camp is laid out on the Sabie River banks, visitors can be seated on the restaurant's wooden floor stoep, having a cold beer and viewing the plenty game wandering in the river bed below.[13] [14]
Guided bush walks, game drives, breakfasts in the wild, and the Kruger Park "Bush Braai" (a barbecue-style dinner) are all available from Lower Sabie, but are subject to availability.
Lower Sabie is within the range of all of the big five game animals. Genet, serval, cheetah and porcupine also frequent the area.[15] Hippos are often visible on the river banks, even from inside the camp.
Kingfishers, storks and cormorants are often visible from the restaurant deck, which overlooks the river.[16] Southern masked weavers, bulbuls, Cape glossy starlings, Natal spurfowl and several types of hornbill can often be seen within the camp.[17] Ntandanyathi Bird Hide is about 12 km southeast of the camp and offers good viewing, including marabou and black storks. [16]