Review Lower Sabie Rest Camp Kruger National Park
Details:
Duration of stay: 5 nights / self-drive Safari
Check-in / Check-out:
Check-in Process: 
Check-out Process: N/A
Concierge Service: N/A
Staff @ Front Desk:
Room / Bathroom:
Bed, quality of sleep:
Bathroom, Shower:
Room Atmosphere:
WiFi / Internet: 
Housekeeping general:
Cleanliness:
Food & Beverage:
Paul‘s Mix:
Pool, Spa:
Camp Location:
Mojito Rating 
:
:
General Customer Care:
Staff attitude, interaction and responsiveness:
Social media interaction:
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= bad, a lot of work needs to be done
=not good, you will be busy with corrections
= good & normal, nothing special
= high level, but the icing on the cake is missing
= topnotch, leave me here!
= Half a Point/sheep
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Spoiler Alert:
The worst staff from SAN Parks and also in general we have encountered so far in a South African National Parks. They are unfriendly, unmotivated and basically couldn't care less. No mobile
connection, no WiFi in the camp, no electricity due to loadshedding but more important as told by reception because their own generator is broken.
Electricity went off at either 5AM when everyone wanted to make coffee for the morning drive or then at 18:30 when everyone came back from their drives. You couldn't actually use the kitchen
as no gas stove available and only an electric stove. Means you can't eat except braai.
You had to shower every night in the dark.
South African National Parks get your sh..t together. In Skukuza you basically blow all the money in the rich asses to get them electricity, a nail studio, spa, golf, bungalow food delivery
and everything else!
Here at Lower Sabie Camp you can't shower with light or make a coffee in the morning or dinner at night.
What the hell is the camp manager doing? What do you think your own reputation is?
Lower Sabie Rest Camp is a pure not working Disneyland pleasing and catering the mass tourism.
Lower Sabie Rest Camp is located in the south eastern region of the Kruger National Park. The closest Gate to enter the Kruger and getting to Lower Sabie Rest Camp is the Crocodile Bridge Gate. The camp is on the banks of the perennial Sabie River, which draws a wide variety of animals all year round. A range of lodging options is available from a luxurious guesthouse to family cottages, huts, bungalows, safari tents and campsites at Lower Sabie Rest Camp in Kruger Park. Lower Sabie accommodation caters to a variety of guest requirements and also boasts wheelchair-friendly accommodation.
General / History:
Lower Sabie Rest Camp is one of the oldest camps in the Kruger National Park. In 1930, the quarters of ranger Tom Duke were converted into a five-bedroom wood-and-steel guest house, made
available to tourists. Between 1928 and 1931, the Sabie River Road (H4-1) was built between Skukuza and the site of what is now Lower Sabie. This guest house was a financial failure and was
demolished in 1932. A set of 3 six-bedroom units was built to provide replace the guest house and provide accommodation in this region of the park. In 1935 a portion of a £50,000 grant was
used to expand Lower Sabie to accommodate 200 visitors, which included retrofitting the old huts to be made mosquito-proof. The first camp supervisor was appointed in 1936.
Types of Accommodation :
Accommodation is available on a self-catering basis, in 30 huts and 62 bungalows, as well as one large guest house. Last, but not least, for visitors wanting to enjoy the outdoor, there are
camping sites for 33 caravans or tents, all equipped with electrical power. The camp also has 25 fully-equipped safari tents, giving it an African bush feeling. The camp is laid out on the
Sabie River banks, visitors can be seated on the restaurant's wooden floor stoep, having a cold beer and viewing the plenty game wandering in the river bed below.
Reception:
When we arrived from Olifants Rest Camp we were used to a small, quiet and personal camp.
Reception here are lower Sabie Rest Camp is mass production. The agent was supper arrogant, snippy and unfriendly. She didn't talk and wasn't able to talk to us in full sentences. As a first
touch point, this is a no go. She also didn't ask for documents but grabbed peraonaly what she wanted from what I was holding in my hand.
We were actually shocked from the reception. This has nothing to do with hospitality.
Safari Tent:
We booked a Safari Tend with no view for our 5 nights.
There was actually really no view as dhe the tent was hidden in the bush.
The tents are newly renovated and look good from the outside and are super minimalistic on the inside.
Outside there is a little terrace with two chairs and an uneven table. From the terrace via a separate door you can get into a tiny little kitchenette.
The kitchenette is equipped with a new fridge and freezer, all necessary appliances as well as all basic tools need to cook.
The other door from the little terrace leads into the bedroom.
This room is beyond being basic. It has 2 small beds, two suitcase boards and that is it. No decoration, no pictures, no desk, no frame no nothing. Minimum like in a cell. From the bedroom
you can reach the bathroom.
The bathroom is brand new as well. Nevertheless it has an old style of cupboard. The toilet, sink as well as all tiles are new and modern.
The walk-in shower is big and has a good water pressure.
The atmosphere of the tent is okay but nothing special you would want to spensd a lot of time in.
Shop / Food & Beverage:
The restaurant at Lower Sabie is outsourceed to MUGG & BEAN SA Restaurants.
The restaurant is modern and it is in good shape. It is open according to the reception from 7AM to 8PM and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner.
As we stayed 5 nights, we went for dinner 4 times. The menu is definitely not made for repeating guests.
The menu is way to fancy and shicky micky. It is done for cities but definitely not for a nationsl park. After the second night we had problems to find dishes we actually wanted to eat. There
is not a single regular salad on the menu, there is no pasta at all or anything alike. All you can choose from is either Instagram shicky micky food or burgers!
But... The staff at the restaurant was super friendly and helpful. It was actually the best staff in the camp.
But also here, due to load shedding and the generator not always working, sometimes there was only food available which could be cooked on a gas stove or grill.
The shop at lower Sabie is compared to the other camps (Letaba, Olifants, Satara, Skukuza, crocodile bridge) the most untidy and least managed one. One day they run out of water!
Staff was super snobby and unfriendly.
Otherwise the shop offers souvenirs and curio articles as well as a selection of groceries when you would like to cook yourself. The choice is much much smaller than in other camps.
The camps pool is very nice and also the water is changed regularly.
Mobile Connection / WiFi / Internet:
The staff will tell you that mobile connectiin in the entire Kruger Park has been capped to a very low and slow network to hinder communication for poachers.
This is not really true. As at Skukuza Camp you have 4G connection to the max
NO mobile connection at Lower Sabie Camp and NO WiFi or internet either.
The restaurant offers WiFi which is not working either as it is constantly overloaded.
Best connection from outside is found at sunset dam a few hundert meters outside of the camp.
Summary:
If you like safaris, the area of Lower Sabie is good for Sightings but the camps in this area are the biggest ones with the most tourists.
It is actually Disneyland more than anything else and South African National Parks has no idea on how to manage thus camp.
We actually didn't want to go back to camp in the evenings as it felt more like a prison than a comfortable camp.
Based on our experience we can definitely not recommend to use the Lower Sabie Camp. We will do anything possible to somehow avoid this camp for future trips when ever possible.
Notes:
- Paul the Sheep does not get any benefits from the Hotels/Airlines etc.
- Paul will always pay for the services in order to be able to rate freely and truly about the experiences.
- If you are interested in more details, please send us a private message and I will be happy to share more information and pictures.