About Us
Four owners, one camp, one rhythm of the bush
Kigelia africana
The Sausage Tree
The Kigelia africana — known across southern Africa as the sausage tree — is the namesake of our camp. The heavy, sausage-shaped fruits hang in clusters from the branches and can weigh up to ten kilograms each, giving the tree its common name. The dark red flowers open at night and are pollinated by bats; the fallen blooms feed impala, kudu, and bushbuck come morning, and the fruits are favoured by elephants, baboons, and bushpigs. For the people of this region the tree has medicinal and ceremonial significance going back generations. The sausage tree is a quiet, generous presence along the Olifants River and through the woodland of the reserve — and the reason we carry its name.
2012 onwards
A Long Journey Together
Placeholder copy. A short paragraph about the camp's beginning — four owners, fourteen seasons, and the slow accumulation of guest stories that make Sausage Tree what it is today. Real wording will be supplied at content swap.
Four co-owners, equal partnership
The Carne and van der Ploeg Families
Placeholder copy. A short paragraph about the four owners — James & Sonja Carne and Deon & Tamara van der Ploeg, in equal partnership since 2012. James's twenty-plus years of safari experience in this specific reserve; Sonja's eye for hospitality and the rhythms of camp life; Deon and Tamara as equal partners in shaping the camp. Real wording will be supplied at content swap.
Where we are
Olifants West Nature Reserve
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Continuity, not turnover
The Team Around Us
Placeholder copy. A short paragraph about the people — Themba leading the guiding team, Pitso running the kitchen since opening day in 2012, Kabelo as sous chef, the front-of-house team of Thandy, Nelisiwe, and Karrine. Real wording will be supplied at content swap.
R50 per booking
Conservation Through The Camp
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The Bush Is Calling. Don't Wait.
Placeholder copy. A short closing paragraph that nudges towards a conversation — owner-hosted, replies within a day, dates and rates discussed without pressure. Real wording will be supplied at content swap.
Contact Us