Game Drives

Game drives are at the heart of a stay at Sausage Tree. Twice a day, you head out into the bush — early in the morning when the air is cool and again in the late afternoon as the light softens — travelling in an open 4x4 with an experienced guide and tracker who know the land, its seasons and its wildlife.

Sausage Tree is situated within the Olifants West Nature Reserve, with access to the wider Greater Kruger, and a stretch of the beautiful Olifants River flowing through the reserve.

This is Big Five landscape, and with a little luck and some good tracking, you may encounter elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard, alongside giraffe, zebra, warthog, kudu, impala and an incredible variety of birdlife. Along the river, hippo and crocodile are often seen, and there is always the possibility of something truly special — perhaps even the elusive Pel’s Fishing Owl.

Of course, the bush makes no promises, and that is part of the magic. Every drive is different, and you never quite know what you may find.

It’s not only about the big animals. Our guides love sharing their knowledge of the smaller details too — birds, insects, trees, tracks and the fascinating signs of life that are so easily missed. Often, these become some of the most memorable moments of a game drive.

As the afternoon draws to a close, we stop to enjoy sundowners and a few snacks while the sun slips below the horizon and the bush settles into the evening.

And with every booking at Sausage Tree, R50 is donated to Daktari Bush School, helping support the important work they do with local children and wildlife education.