Wildlife · Twice Daily
Open-vehicle Game Drives
Morning and afternoon drives with Themba (FGASA-qualified Guide (promoted from tracker)), Polite and Life. Olifants West is open-system, Big 5 landscape — the fences with Kruger are down.
Learn More →Owner-hosted · Olifants West Nature Reserve · Greater Kruger
Where the wild calls you home.
Five luxury safari tents, family-owned since 2012 by the Carne and van der Ploeg families. Twice-daily open-vehicle game drives, ten adults in camp at most, twelve with children.
Check dates before comparing elsewhere Owner-hosted reply within a day · NightsBridge live availability.
Greater Kruger
Big 5, Open-system
Olifants West Nature Reserve is part of the Associated Private Nature Reserves. Fences with Kruger National Park are down — wildlife moves freely between us and the wider park.
Intimate by Design
Five Tents, Ten Adults
Three Superior Safari Tents and two Luxury Tented Suites. Ten adults in camp at most — twelve with children in the Luxury Tented Suites — keeps the experience personal.
Since 2012
Family Owner-hosted
The Carne and van der Ploeg families — four co-owners. Fourteen seasons of ownership, and staff with us from the very start.
Full Board
R50 to Daktari
All meals and twice-daily open-vehicle game drives, with a sundowner drink on the afternoon drive. Bar drinks and guided bush walks are extra. Every booking contributes R50 to Daktari Bush School.
Where You'll Stay
Five Luxury Superior Safari Tents
3 Superior Safari Tents and 2 Luxury Tented Suites — all en-suite, all on raised platforms, all with private viewing decks and outdoor showers. The daily rhythm and the bush around you are identical regardless of choice.
Rates & Inclusions
Transparent Pricing. No Surprises.
All rates ZAR per person per night, VAT 15% inclusive. Full board: meals and twice-daily open-vehicle game drives, with a sundowner drink on the afternoon drive. Bar drinks, guided bush walks, the conservation levy and airport transfers are extra.
1 Jan – 31 Dec
Superior Safari Tents
R 8 900
PPPN sharing
- En-suite tent with private deck
- All meals — breakfast, lunch, high tea, dinner
- Game-drive drinks, coffee, tea and Wi-Fi
- Twice-daily open-vehicle game drives
- R50 per booking to Daktari
1 Jan – 31 Dec
Luxury Tented Suites
R 9 400
PPPN sharing
- Larger footprint · most generous interior finish
- All meals — breakfast, lunch, high tea, dinner
- Game-drive drinks, coffee, tea and Wi-Fi
- Twice-daily open-vehicle game drives
- Single supplement +25%
Year-round · whole camp
Exclusive-Use Buyout
POA
Ten adults, twelve with children · whole camp privately
- All five tents · private vehicle
- Children under 6 welcome on exclusive-use only
- Flexible dining & drive timings
- Owner-hosted
- Enquire for season-by-season rate
Children 50% of adult sharing rate. Olifants West Nature Conservancy
levy R450 per person + R120
per vehicle, payable in cash at the gate. 10% returning-guest discount mentioned at enquiry.
View full rate sheet (2026 + 2027) →
South African residents: ask us about resident rates.
Getting Here
Hoedspruit Eastgate (HDS) is 30–45 minutes Away
Sausage Tree sits inside Olifants West Nature Reserve, part of Greater Kruger. Around 25 minutes from Hoedspruit town and 30–45 minutes from Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS) by road.
Hoedspruit Eastgate (HDS)
30–45 min road transfer
Closest airport · daily flights from JNB & CPT
Johannesburg (JNB)
~1hr 10min flight to HDS + transfer
Or ~5hr scenic self-drive via N4 → R36
Cape Town (CPT)
~2hr 50min direct CPT → HDS
Seasonal direct service · check airline schedule
Self-Drive
OWNR gate: -24.226684,
30.866711
Use Waze — Google Maps may route via inaccessible roads
Experiences
Two Drives a Day. And the Hours Between.
Game drives are the centre of the day. Around them: a guided bush walk, a quiet listening hour on the deck, yoga between drives, and a dinner under canvas or out at the boma.
Dining · Signature
Boma Dinner Under the Stars
Chef Pitso and cook Kabelo run the kitchen — Pitso has been here since 2012. Dinner is by oil lamp under canvas, or around the copper fire bowl at the boma under the African stars.
Learn More →
Wellness · Between Drives
Sound Safari & Bush Walks
The bush turned up: a guided listening hour for the birds, the hippos and the night chorus from the boma. Or slow it down on foot with a qualified walking guide. See our full range of safari activities.
Learn More →Across Three Platforms
What Our Guests Say
4.99
Weighted aggregate
1,280
Total reviews
5.0★
TripAdvisor
Travellers' Choice 2026
TripAdvisor
9.9 / 10
Booking.com
★★★★★
"If you’re looking for a luxury safari in the Balule Nature Reserves, Sausage Tree Camp delivers an unforgettable experience from the moment you arrive. My husband and I spent three nights at Sausage Tree Safari Camp for our very first safari, and it was truly unforgettable. If you’re looking for an authentic luxury safari in the Greater Kruger area, this camp delivers an incredible experience."
Google · Verified April 2026
★★★★★
"We spent four unforgettable nights at Sausage Tree Safari Camp celebrating my birthday, and from the moment we arrived to the moment we left, it felt nothing short of magical. Arriving with no real expectations, we were completely blown away; it surpassed anything we could have imagined, making it genuinely difficult to leave. We were welcomed so warmly by Thandi, Karinne and Nelly, whose effortless hospitality set the tone for the entire stay."
Google · Verified April 2026
★★★★★
"We spent 4 nights at Sausage Tree Safari Camp in December. And we had the best time! We loved absolutely everything: the accommodation in fabulous safari tents, the game drives, the friendly and attentive staff, the amazing food, the surroundings, the chats with the other guests. We also got to see a wide range of animals."
Google · Verified January 2026
Travellers' Choice 2026 ·
5.0 / 1 077 reviews on TripAdvisor ·
Google 4.9 / 141 ·
Booking.com 9.9 / 62
Read All Reviews 
Responsible by Design
Solar-Powered, Locally Rooted, Conservation-Linked
Every booking with Sausage Tree contributes R50 to Daktari Bush School. We also support the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit and promote guest visits to Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
R50
Per booking to Daktari
28
Solar panels + battery
2
Conservation partners
Field Notes & Journal
Stories From The Bush
Seasonal Guide · May 2026
Best Time to Visit Sausage Tree Camp – Seasonal Guide
Choosing the best time to visit Sausage Tree Safari Camp Choosing the best time to visit Sausage Tree Safari Camp depends entirely on the safari experience…
Read the Story →.jpg)
Camp Stories · September 2025
A New Chapter Under Canvas: Introducing Our Reimagined Luxury Tented Suites
You know that moment when you slide open your tent door at dawn and the whole African bush spreads before you? "You know that moment when you slide open…
Read the Story →
Camp Stories · September 2025
From Our Kitchen to Your Heart: Chef Pitso's 13-Year Safari Legacy
Pitso's journey to becoming the heart of our kitchen began in 2012, when he arrived as a young assistant chef, eager but uncertain. "I knew how to cook," he…
Read the Story →Ready to Plan Your Safari
Check live camp availability on NightsBridge, or speak directly with the team at Sausage Tree.
NightsBridge live availability Full rate & inclusions shown before payment Owner-hosted reply by phone, email or WhatsApp
Common Questions
Everything You Need to Know
The answers we get asked most often. For anything not covered, owner-hosted enquiries are answered within a day at info@sausagetree.co.za.
Inside Olifants West Nature Reserve, part of Greater Kruger, in Limpopo, South Africa. Full address: 25 Cambridge, Olifants West Nature Reserve, Hoedspruit, 1380. Olifants West is its own traversing reserve and is distinct from the neighbouring Klaserie reserve.
Most guests fly into Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS), about a 45-minute road transfer to camp, which we can arrange. Self-driving from Johannesburg takes around 5 hours via the N4 and R40; the last few kilometres are gravel and any saloon car handles it. Full directions and the road-shuttle timetable are on the location page; we also send the route notes after booking.
Wi-Fi is included and reaches the tents and communal areas — enough for messaging, email and light browsing. Cell reception in camp is variable but usually workable on your deck. Most guests use the visit as time offline, which is really the point.
Subtropical bushveld. Summer (October to April) is warm to hot with green vegetation and afternoon thundershowers; nights are mild. Winter (May to September) is dry with cold mornings, warm midday and cool nights — bring layers for the early game drive.
Neutral colours (khaki, olive, brown) for game drives, closed shoes, a warm fleece or jacket for winter mornings on the vehicle, sun hat and sunscreen year-round, a swimming costume, insect repellent, camera and binoculars. Dress in camp is relaxed — nothing formal is needed anywhere.
Greater Kruger is a low-risk malaria area. Speak to your travel doctor before you leave home — most guests take prophylactics as a precaution, especially in the summer months. We provide mosquito nets over every bed and repellent in the tents.
Yes — a same-day laundry service is included in your stay. Leave your laundry with reception before breakfast and it will be back in your tent by turndown.
South Africa uses the Type M three-pin round plug (SANS 164-1) as the mains standard, with Type C/N two-pin sockets alongside. Bring the right adaptor for your devices — the camp has a small supply of loaners at reception if you forget one.
We are members of Pack for a Purpose — an initiative that lets travellers use spare kilos in their luggage to bring small supplies (school stationery, first-aid basics, sports kit) for community projects around the camp. If you have room, our sustainability page lists the current needs.
The sundowner drink on the afternoon game drive is included, along with tea, coffee and filtered water throughout the day. Bar drinks — spirits, wine, beer and soft drinks — are charged extra to your room account.
Two nights is the minimum most guests are comfortable with; three or four nights is where the camp really starts to unfold. Guests staying longer regularly rebook — the small-camp rhythm and the twice-daily drives reward the time you give them.
Each season has its character. Dry winter (May to September) means sparse vegetation and excellent wildlife visibility around water. Summer green (October to April) brings new growth, returning migrant birds, baby animals, and dramatic skies. There is no bad time — only different ones. Our seasonal guide goes into detail.
Field Notes email
Field Notes from Camp
A short note from us a few times a year — newsletters, updates and offers. Sightings, the changing seasons, what Pitso is cooking, what's happening on the conservation side. Owner-hosted, no list-rental.
