Review Lower Sabie Rest Camp Kruger National Park
Paul‘s Camp Review for the
Lower Sabie Rest Camp
a South African National Parks Camp
Kruger National Park
General Impression Camp: 
General Impression Staff:
Details:
Duration of stay 3 nights / self-drive Safari / checked out 1 day earlier than expected.
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, Store & Supplies:
Restaurant:
Take-Away:
F&B Staff:
Grocery Supplies:
Shop:
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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After about exactly one year we are back at the Lower Sabie Rest Camp.
Upon our review and feedback the management has announced big improvements.
Basically nothing has happened. Most of the staff are unfriendly, unmotivated and basically couldn't care less. Reception has gotten better though.
No mobile connection, no WiFi in the camp.
Electricity this time was no problem, as no loadshedding.
The camp only survives on its name from the old days and because of its location. Otherwise, the camp is no longer recommended.
But here our full review.
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.
The camp as well as the accommodations are super old and would urgently need a renovation.
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.
Check-in / Check-out / Reception:
Reception compared to last time has definitely improved.
Reception compared to last time has definitely improved.
It is still a mass production, however the agent was friendly.
When we went to the reception the second day and told them we would like to leave one day earlier than booked, they were super helpful and did the rebooking without any hasitation.
Feedback was never asked for and when given they could not have cared less.
Room / Bungalow:
For this trip we booked a bungalow with two beds for 4 nights.
The bungalow we were given had an amazing view over the Sabie River.
The bungalow is super super old. They must be from the 90's and the furniture must still be from the very early days.
Outside there is a little terrace with two chairs and a table. The kitchenette is also outdoor but most cabinet doors are broken. The microwave is standing on an old chair in a cabinet.
The fridge / freezer combo is in the bungalow itself.
The kitchenette is equipped with a microwave, a water kettel and all necessary appliances as well as all basic tools you need to cook.
The big floor to ceiling windows lead from the little terrace into the bedroom.
This room is super basic. It has 2 small beds, one suitcase board 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.
Bathroom:
The bathroom is from the beginning times of the bungalow but offers all amenities. The walk-in shower is big and has an okay water pressure.
The atmosphere of the bungalow is super badoc but okay.
Health Warning: Serious Bat Infestation
The camp has a severe bat problem. Bats are nesting under the roofs of the bungalows, especially around the terraces. As a result, the entire terrace, kitchenette, and any belongings left outside get covered in bat droppings and urine. The stench is overwhelming and poses potential health risks. This issue needs urgent attention.
F&B:
The restaurant at Lower Sabie is outsourceed to MUGG & BEAN SA Restaurants. What a
disaster and disgrace at this restaurant!
The restaurant is open according to the reception from 7AM to 8PM and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner.
As we had planned to stay 4 nights, we wented to go for dinner 4 times. We'll that came different.
The menu is definitely not made for repeating guests and has worsened from our last stay a year ago.
The menu is way to fancy and shicky micky for a safari rest camp in the Kruger. 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 with fries and onion rings.
We had 3 times dinner and 3 times the food came cold. When telling the staff they smiled it away and could have cared less.
The staff this time was super grumpy and unfriendly.
The Park Shop:
The shop at lower Sabie is compared to the other camps (Letaba, Olifants, Satara, Skukuza, crocodile bridge) the most untidy and least managed one.
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.
Pool:
The camps pool is very nice and also the water is changed regularly.
WiFi / Mobile Connection:
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.
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.
Summary:
Based on our experience we can definitely not recommend to use the Lower Sabie Camp anymore until the restaurant has improved or much better has changed completely.
Based on our experience we can definitely not recommend to use the Lower Sabie Camp anymore until the restaurant has improved or much better has changed completely.
All staff needs to be trained urgently.
We will do anything possible to somehow avoid this camp for future trips whenever 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.