Sabi Sands Game Reserve in South Africa
Situated in Mpumalanga, South Africa, the Sabi Sands Game Reserve is a 65 000 hectare (153 000 acre) wildlife sanctuary which forms part of the greater 2,3 million hectare (5,7 million acre) Kruger National Park game preservation area. The Sabi Sand shares a common 50km (31 mile) unfenced eastern boundary with the world famous Kruger National Park. No fences exist within this area and animals are free to roam unhindered through the enormous conservancy with habitat types ranging from riverine thicket to open savannah.
The Sabi Sands is an association of freehold landowners, many of whom manage commercially active photographic safari operations. Sharing a common environmental management program, this association is administered by a warden reporting to an elected executive committee.
Two perennial rivers supply the game reserve with a valuable water source. The Sand River flows through the reserve for 50km (31 miles) from north west to south east whilst the Sabie River flows on the southern boundary. The sustenance of these rivers ensures that this area enjoys one of the highest and most bio-diverse wildlife populations of any area in Africa. Over two hundred different species occur in abundance whilst the ever changing bird life provides even the most experienced ornithologist with rare finds. Such is the environment that the wildlife, save for the migratory birds, remain in their territories all year round.
