Sausage Tree Safari Camp

Sausage Tree Safari Camp  

A private lodge in the Balule Game Reserve – part of the Greater Kruger National Park

Safari – a Swahili word used originally in early East African times means “long-journey”. Our game drives are journeys where we experience through all our senses ... the sights and sounds of the vast surrounds from our private and unique Camp. What you might not see during the day, you could hear at night.

Sausage Tree Safari Camp is situated in the Balule Nature Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger Park and sanctuary to Africa’s Famous Big Five. With almost 3000 ha of traversing you can look forward to a true safari experience of wilderness and undisturbed biodiversity.

Uniquely positioned in the bush between Marula and Acacia trees with it’s own special view above and beyond the thorn trees, our waterhole, the Olifants River and the majestic Drakensburg range on the horizon, Sausage Tree Safari Camp is a place not easily forgotten!

Safari Tents - Remember the old-style safari and sleeping under canvas? Well there truly is nothing like it! The sounds of the night are closer, the smells are stronger, and the feeling of actually being in the bush is so much more intense. Our African safari-styled tents are nestled in between Marula, Knobthorn Acacia and Sausage Trees and overlook a dry river bed, the bush and the Northern Drakensberg Mountains. Each tent is spacious and built in an elevated position with it’s own special view.

The tents are fully furnished and have their own private deck and ensuite bathroom with a bath and outdoor shower. Inverter or Eco based Air-conditioners are fitted in each tent ensuring that you stay cool during those warm summer nights ... and can even be set to warm during those colder nights in winter. Insect gauze on all the windows and doors keep the insects outside where they belong.

Facilities

Set in the Balule Nature Reserve, which forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park, Sausage Tree Safari Camp is not only surrounded by the African wilderness, but also offers spectacular views of the Northern Drakensberg Mountains. This family-owned and operated safari camp prides itself on a warm atmosphere and African safari-styled tented accommodation.

Each morning and late afternoon, an experienced and professional guide will take you on a safari game drive through thick bush and along open plains in search of the Big Five (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard) as well as general game species such as giraffe, zebra, warthog, kudu and impala. During the drives there is a lot of emphasis on giving information on everything that is encountered – whether your interest is birding, insects, plants and trees, your guide will happily share his knowledge with you!

Breakfast and lunch is served on an open deck with views of the bush and a water hole frequented by a variety of resident animals. Dinner is mostly served under the stars, in front of the fire in the boma. The camp has a lounge for those lazy siesta’s, and a cosy bar complete with a variety of first class South African wines. The deck pool becomes a remedy for those hot summer days. Should dinner be eaten on the deck on those calm, bright evenings, the fire place is lit adding some romance to those magical African nights.

Game Drives

Experience 360 degree panoramic views while in search for the Big 5 ...

Sunrise and sunset safari’s in open 4×4 vehicles are the highlights of the day, with our professional field guides visitors can go in search of some of Africa’s famous variety of mammal and bird life, such as giraffe, zebra, African fish eagles, vultures and the notorious Big 5. Our rangers can even focus on some of the less noticeable aspects of the bush such as the Rhinoceros Beetle, how to make rope from a Raisin Bush or spend a while becoming aquainted with termites and their mounds.

The Cuisine

Their distinguished Chef Orlando was born in Chokwe, Mozambique, and moved to South Africa with his mother and two sisters when he was nine years old to escape the troubled period Mozambique was experiencing at the time. He was schooled in Bushbuckridge and spent all of his school holidays working and learning in a Lodge kitchen to earn his pocket money. This was where his passion for the culinary arts began. After matriculating, he attended a chef’s training course where he successfully received his qualification. His passion is ongoing and evident in the deliciously different, delectable cuisine he now shares with our guests at Sausage Tree. He is at present compiling his own book of African recipes.

Other than enjoying the amazing Safari cuisine from Orlando’s kitchen, his very special seeded bran rusks will definitely have you looking forward to your first cup of coffee at sunrise ... before your exciting game drive.

Originally from Zimbabwe, Sebastian is Orlando’s right hand in the kitchen and makes a marvelous peanut butter that will melt in your mouth.. absolutely wonderful with breakfast on a fresh piece of toast! The above mentioned Rusks and Peanut Butter can be purchased at the lodge for those who would like to take a souvenir of their safari culinary experience home with them.

The Big 5 Reserve

Balule Nature Reserve was established by a group of like-minded private landowners in the early 1990s. From the start, their objective was to create a larger open system with no fences to hinder animal movement thus creating a much healthier habitat for fauna and flora.

The Reserve has since grown from the initial 11,000 ha to 40,000 ha, approximately 150 km of fences have been removed, and it consists of both private and corporate properties. In 2004, the eastern boundary fence was removed and Balule was officially incorporated into the Greater Kruger National Park (established in 1898).

Balule is mostly made up of mixed Acacia and Combretum woodlands, which sustain 94 mammal, 280 bird, 72 reptile and 128 tree species, not to mention the insect, fish, amphibian and other plant species.

Sausage Tree Safari Camp is proud to be part of this massive undertaking, and will continue to help protect and support this very special conservation area for future generations. It is in these amazing wilderness areas where a traveller can still find an authentic safari experience.

Eco Friendly

We endeavour to train and employ staff members drawn from the local community.

1. We procure products and services locally as much as possible
2. We adhere to a policy of clearing alien vegetation and controlling erosion and planting indigenous flora only
3. We strive to inform our guests about local natural areas of interest, wildlife and conservation issues and local cultures
4. We regularly donate to a selected number of rhino supported organisations
5. We actively support Daktari Animal Orphanage and Bush School, a charitable based organisation for teaching conservation through education of local rural underprivileged schoolchildren

Traditional African Wedding

Imagine exchanging your vows overlooking a waterhole at sunset and on to the majestic Drakensberg mountains, which makes the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable, romantic celebration. Situated in the Balule Private Nature Reserve, part of the world-renowned Kruger National Park, Sausage Tree Safari Camp gives you the unique opportunity to create the safari-style wedding of your dreams.

Let us worry about the details of the catering, flowers, decorations, wedding cake and the minister while secluded from the stress and pressures of city life. You can relax, unwind and truly enjoy this most wonderful day. With just 5 luxury safari tents Sausage Tree can accommodate 10 of your close family and friends, or 16 with the additional accommodation from our neighbouring camp.

As wedding traditions and customs vary, our ceremonies are bespoke and flexible to suit your needs, so sit back, relax and leave all the preparations to us whilst you enjoy being pampered on-site by your personal and professional beautician. Unwind before your celebration of love with an indulgent ‘His and Hers’ massage, have your hair and make-up done to create your perfect look whilst a professional photographer will be on hand to capture every moment thereby creating unforgettable memories. Other treatments can be arranged on request and at an additional cost.

Our distinguished chef will add another memorable dimension to your special day by skillfully preparing your meals using fresh, local produce. He blends African and European flavours to create delectable cuisine and various menu options are available to choose from. Our meals are complimented by superb South African wines from our extensive collection.

Let Go SAfari design a Big 5 holiday for you!

Allow our experience to work for you

Book Now!

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