The Safari Camp

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. The camp is located in Balule Nature Reserve, which shares open borders with Kruger National Park, so the wildlife viewing is amazing while still feeling private and intimate. We stayed in the Rhino Beetle tent, which was beautiful, comfortable, and very private. The tents are spaced well apart, making it feel like you’re truly immersed in nature. The bathroom was gorgeous and we absolutely loved the outdoor shower overlooking the bush. Every member of the staff was warm, welcoming, and incredibly helpful. One of the owners even joined us for breakfast after our morning game drives, which made the experience feel very personal and special. Our guide and tracker were phenomenal. Their knowledge of the wildlife and the reserve was impressive, and they worked hard to make sure we saw the animals we were hoping for. Every game drive felt exciting and educational because of them. The food was outstanding throughout our stay. The chef prepared delicious meals every day, and everything felt thoughtfully prepared. After the morning drives, relaxing by the pool overlooking the bush was the perfect way to cool off. My husband and I also both had massages at the camp, which turned out to be an amazing and relaxing experience. What really stood out to us was how much the camp clearly values both its guests and its staff. That positive atmosphere made the entire stay feel genuine and welcoming. Our first African safari in the Greater Kruger area could not have been better, and we left with memories we will treasure forever. I would absolutely recommend Sausage Tree Safari Camp to anyone looking for a luxury safari experience near Kruger National Park.

— Tammy Weatherby

Just an incredible Safari Camp with exceptional location, people, food, level of accomodation and of course the wildlife tours!

— Lino Vella-Gregory

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. Very special was the amount of baby animals - so impressive and memorable! I personally saw Wild Dogs for the first time in my life which I am very grateful for. We also enjoyed spending time with owners Sonja and James. It's amazing to see how much effort they putting into not only making guests feel at home but also developing and promoting job opportunities for the locals. If you look for an unforgettable safari experience in the greater Kruger area, this is the place. Thank you, STSC team, we will definitely be back!

— Sabine Klisch

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. They made us feel instantly at home, anticipating every need with such ease and care. On our first day, we were incredibly fortunate to be the only guests, which meant what felt like two entirely private game drives—an experience that felt both rare and deeply special. Polite, our tracker, and Themba, our driver, were exceptional in every sense. Their depth of knowledge, calm confidence and clear passion for the bush elevated each drive into something truly memorable. Remarkably, on our very first game drive, we saw four of the Big Five—an unforgettable introduction. At all times, we felt completely at ease, and their commitment to creating a meaningful, personalised experience was evident in every detail. No question was ever too small, and by the end of our stay, they felt far more like friends than guides. It was also a pleasure to spend time with James, one of the co-owners, who joined us for breakfast each morning and for dinner on our final evening. His warmth, generosity and evident pride in the camp are woven into the experience—it’s clear this is a place created with genuine care and intention. The level of hospitality at Sausage Tree Safari Camp is truly exceptional. There is a quiet attentiveness to everything, delivered with such authenticity and generosity that nothing ever feels like an effort, only a pleasure. A special mention must go to Phitso, the chef, who is a true talent. Each meal was beautifully considered and consistently delicious, and on my birthday, I was surprised with the most incredible chocolate cake, an unforgettable and thoughtful touch. Sausage Tree Safari Camp is something truly special—an experience that stays with you long after you leave. We are already looking forward to returning.

— Vin

We spent 3 nights with our 3 children at sausage tree safari camp. If you are thinking of experiencing african safari, look no further than sausage tree. We saw the big 5 and plenty more that we didn't even know we wanted to see. The wildlife scouts Life and Polite were all knowing about sustainability and ecology of what lay before us. They manage the safari to what you want, within reason. The accommodation was more than we expected. Very luxurious. The main area has a large pool and a viewing deck where we spotted lots of wild life. Karine and nelly who worked front of house cared for us and our children. We had cocktails in the pool and the days menu was discussed and the chef Piotr amended it for one of our fussy eaters! Id highly recommend booking sausage tree safari.

— Helen McHugh

Tout simplement exceptionnel ! L'hôtel est au coeur de la savane avec possibilité de voir des animaux depuis la terrasse. Nous avons reçu un accueil très chaleureux et toute l'équipe était à notre écoute. Un grand merci à Karinne, Thandy et James. Les guides pour les safaris étaient très compétents et très sympas ! Nous avons vu pleins d'animaux et avons appris pleins de choses. Pour ce qui est de la pension complète, allez y les yeux fermés ! Le chef est excellent et propose de nouveaux plats tous plus délicieux les uns que les autres ! À faire absolument si vous venez en Afrique du Sud !!

— Cécile Lrt

James and Sonja's safari camp features luxurious tents, attentive and friendly staff, exceptional gourmet food, and fantastic game drives led by guides and trackers named Polite, Themba and Life in the Balule Nature Reserve. The camp is lovely and offers a close connection to nature and a unique and intimate wildlife experience. We saw giraffes, zebra, Impalas, elephants,kudus, African fish eagles, water buffalo and other endangered species that I will not name in this review because poachers are very sophisticated and use these reviews to find and kill endangered animals. The price was fair and my wife Lisa and I thoroughly enjoyed our safari vacation. Thank you James and Sonja for your terrific hospitality!! David Fleming from Toronto Canada

— Dave Fleming

We stayed 4 days 3 nights in Sausage Tree Safari Camp! We have unforgettable memories here! ✨ The public area and tent area are clean, tidy and well decorated! We really want to spend whole day on the sofa and look at the bush !! ✨The morning game drive and evening game drive are awesome! Thanks so much for our guide Polite and tracker Life! They are not only professional, but also passionate! We do enjoy every give drive with them and those lovely animals! ✨ The food is unbeatable too! We eat like an elephant in the lodge hahaha. Of course we enjoy their wine as well 🥂 ✨ We tried their massage as well. We would say that is the best massage we ever have. Highly recommend to everyone! Definitely will come back soon !! Maggie & Anson (2025/04)

— Mak Wai Lan

Unser Aufenthalt im „Sausage Tree Safari Camp“ war einfach unvergesslich! Das Personal - wirklich alle Mitarbeiter und Mitarbeiterinnen - war unglaublich freundlich und zuvorkommend, wodurch wir uns vom ersten Moment an wie zu Hause fühlten. Die familiäre Atmosphäre mit nur einer begrenzten Anzahl von Gästen in luxuriösen „Safari Tests“ machte das Erlebnis besonders intim und exklusiv. Ein besonderes Highlight war unser Safari-Guide „Polite“. Seine Expertise und Kenntnis über die Tierwelt und Natur war beeindruckend. Er wusste genau, wo wir die faszinierendsten Tiere finden und hat jede Tour zu einem spannenden Abenteuer gemacht. Das abendliche Essen mit einem 3-Gänge-Menü am Lagerfeuer, welches täglich vom Koch präsentiert und serviert wurde, rundete den Aufenthalt ab. Wir können das Sausage Tree Safari Camp jedem wärmstens empfehlen, der nach einer einmaligen Safari-Erfahrung sucht, bei der Luxus, Freundlichkeit und familiäre Atmosphäre im Mittelpunkt stehen.

— Jan-Christoph Koch

Que dire !! Le Lodge est juste sublime, offrant une vue spectaculaire sur le parc Kruger. Les tentes permettent de vivre une expérience incroyablement immersive. Le chef nous cuisine d’excellents plats, du matin au soir nous nous régalons ! Les safaris nous régalent également et les rangers sont dévoués pour nous faire vivre quelque chose d’unique, et ça marche !! Quant au personnel et aux propriétaires du Lodge, juste adorables, à l’écoute et très proche de leurs clients. C’est au dessus de nos attentes alors un grand merci !

— Lea Koukouvitakis

Lastly, the food and dining experiences were exceptional. It is clear that Phitso, the head chef, has a natural talent combined with a love for food. The dishes he and his team prepared were presented and tasted like it came from a 5-star restaurant. My wife and I were also treated to a private dinner one evening as a gift from the lodge, to celebrate our honeymoon. Be sure to mention any special occasions that you are celebrating when making your booking, as they really go out of their way to celebrate with you. Thank you, Sausage Tree Safari Camp, for the incredible experience. We will certainly be back!

— TripAdvisor guest

We had an amazing time at Sausage Tree. The staff went above and beyond in every possible way. Their kindness, attention to detail, and genuine care made our stay unforgettable. The service, food, atmosphere, and accommodation were all exceptional. Our lodge was beautiful and returning from evening to game drives to a hot water bottle was an amazing touch. We got to enjoy our balcony in the afternoons occasionally seeing some beautiful wildlife pass by. The game drives were more than we ever imagined. Every outing was exciting, educational, and beautifully guided. We saw incredible wildlife and learned so much along the way. This experience truly exceeded our expectations and our hopes for our very first safari and first visit to South Africa. We couldn't have asked for a better introduction to the magic of the bush. Thank you to everyone at Sausage Tree Safari for making it so special.

— TripAdvisor guest

All our stay was an enchantment, the fairies of the lobby were at our care, the Guides (Polite & Themba) are impressive Savannah experts (with a good dose of humor).

— TripAdvisor guest

My stay in Sausage Tree Lodge was way above my expectations. The camp is located in the middle of the reserve overlooking a water hole and the bush. Even after the safari rides we continued to view animals from the lodge. The thrill was 24 hours, continued with lion roaring during the night like music in your ears at the safety of your luxury tent. During the four days of my stay we have seen all big 5's plus Cheetah, and many more and many times.

— TripAdvisor guest

Wish I could rate Sausage Tree an 11/10. We had an absolutely magical stay and couldn't have asked for anything more. The lodge is incredible and exactly as pictured. The terrace and pool with the sky deck were so relaxing to sit at during the day - once I even came up for air from a swim and there were 5x giraffes right there - coming to drink at the watering hole right out front. The tents are very nice and well furnished also, we found them spacious and relaxing.

— Booking.com guest

Great staff, great food! Guides were very knowledgeable and went out of their way to make sure we saw as many animals as possible. James, the owner, would join us for breakfast each morning and shared his knowledge about the area which we enjoyed. We stayed in a newly renovated room which was lovely.

— Booking.com guest

An exceptional location with magnificent views, experiences and staff. You really feel like you're visiting a long term friend's house when you're here, but you're meeting some other friends (guests) too! The pool is exceptional, the food was incredible, the game drives were always more than expected!

— Booking.com guest

Very nice safari camp at a beautiful location. The guides, trackers and other staff are really friendly, experienced and helpful. The tents are comfortable and the food is great. Hence our stay at Sausage Tree was a very special, hopefully not once in a lifetime, experience!

— Booking.com guest