Conservation at Sabi Sabi
Safeguarding the future
By sharing our respect and love for the wilderness with our guests, staff and members of our neighbouring communities, we believe that we can work together to conserve our piece of African paradise so that it can be enjoyed by many generations to come.
A holistic approach to conservation
Our conservation philosophy is based on two principles. The first is to conserve the rapidly dwindling wilderness areas and the second is that the business must link tourism with conservation and the community.
Defending our animals from harm
Anti-poaching is vital to conservation and ecotourism. By preventing poaching, we prevent animals from building animosity towards humans and promote mutual respect and comfort, which results in rewarding sightings for our guests.
At the frontline of anti-poaching
Poaching is a dire threat to wildlife the world over. And while there are numerous techniques to deter poachers, we believe that providing human protection to endangered species from a distance is a non-invasive and effective measure that allows the animals to retain their freedom and natural habits. Over and above the Sabie Game Reserve conservation units, we have our own dedicated anti-poaching units to strengthen this blanket of protection even further.
South Africa’s wildlife is a valuable asset that needs careful management. By investing in it wisely, we can attract ecotourism, stimulate the local economy and ensure that future generations can share in the privilege of enjoying nature as we do today.
- Protecting endangered species from extinction.
- Enjoying intimate interactions with the animals.
- Making sure no animal is physically harmed.
Responsible guiding and safari practices
Quality guiding plays a critical role in conservation. Our guides undergo a strict selection and training process that is unique to our reserve. This includes animal and plant identification, the principles of ecology and guest etiquette. We view our rangers as environmental educators who share their knowledge to deepen our guests’ appreciation for nature and highlight the importance of conservation.
We also follow ethical safari practices and strict rules on safari. We always place the animal’s needs first by limiting the number of vehicles per sighting, by leaving a mother with her young undisturbed and providing space should an animal shows signs of discomfort. By treating animals with respect we gain their trust, which translates into rewarding intimate sightings.
An integrated approach to habitat management
Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is home to a myriad of microhabitats, which in turn support unique fauna and flora species. By protecting and carefully managing these habitats, we are making the reserve an appealing home for wildlife.
Maintaining our diverse habitats
We are actively involved in ongoing habitat management activities with a dedicated Habitat Management Team. The development of a competent programme – with input from qualified ecological consultants – has shaped informed decisions on the successful management of the reserve, which is continually assessed, reviewed and revised. By conserving the numerous habitats on our reserve we are helping to conserve the animals that thrive here.
Our habitat management practices include:
- Controlled burning.
- Alien plant control.
- Waterhole rotation.
- Road maintenance.
- Erosion control.
Our rich natural heritage
Predator or prey, great or small, we strive to protect all
living creatures.
How we manage our waste
Waste is a by-product of human activity. As promoters of sustainable tourism, we go to great lengths to make sure our impact is kept to a minimum and the waste we generate is sensitively managed to conserve our unspoiled piece of Africa.
Wastewater management
Given our location in the pristine wilderness, we manage our wastewater with extreme care. Each of our four luxury lodges has an artificial wetland system comprising a series of interconnected gravitational dams that naturally filter the wastewater so that it can be safely released into the underground river systems.
Wastewater management
Given our location in the pristine wilderness, we manage our wastewater with extreme care. Each of our four luxury lodges has an artificial wetland system comprising a series of interconnected gravitational dams that naturally filter the wastewater so that it can be safely released into the underground river systems.
Suite amenities
Each of our luxury suites is replete with Charlotte Rhys skincare products. One of the reasons we selected this exclusive range is their commitment to recycling. Depleted containers are collected, sorted, processed and delivered to Charlotte Rhys where they are repurposed as new products and returned to our lodges.
Suite amenities
Each of our luxury suites is replete with Charlotte Rhys skincare products. One of the reasons we selected this exclusive range is their commitment to recycling. Depleted containers are collected, sorted, processed and delivered to Charlotte Rhys where they are repurposed as new products and returned to our lodges.
Food waste
When it comes to kitchen management, food waste is kept to a minimum. We repurpose certain foods as in-house meals in compliance with health protocols and we donate all other food waste to neighbouring farms where it’s used as animal fodder or compost, thereby reducing their operating costs. This 'keeping it local' policy both promotes job creation and aids in the growth and development of small business enterprises.
Food waste
When it comes to kitchen management, food waste is kept to a minimum. We repurpose certain foods as in-house meals in compliance with health protocols and we donate all other food waste to neighbouring farms where it’s used as animal fodder or compost, thereby reducing their operating costs. This 'keeping it local' policy both promotes job creation and aids in the growth and development of small business enterprises.
Plastic bottle management
South Africa is a water-scarce country and no drop is wasted. The recyclable plastic water bottles we supply to our guests are collected, all remaining liquid is used for laundry and irrigation, and the empty bottles are donated to an empowerment group to be recycled.
Plastic bottle management
South Africa is a water-scarce country and no drop is wasted. The recyclable plastic water bottles we supply to our guests are collected, all remaining liquid is used for laundry and irrigation, and the empty bottles are donated to an empowerment group to be recycled.
