UMKUMBE SAFARI LODGE
ABOUT
Umkumbe Safari Lodge Riverside is owner managed and run; ensuring guests enjoy a personal, rustic and real South African safari experience. The lodge consists of ten chalets/rooms with most overlooking the seasonal Sand River. Guests regularly see elephants, hippos, buffalo and antelope grazing in the river bed. Additional facilities include a swimming pool, lounge, bar, dining area and the traditional boma, where guests will be served delicious and hearty South African meals.
The reserve is home to the ‘big five’ (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo), as well as cheetah, wild dog and hundreds of other species of animals, birds and plants indigenous to the area. The phrase “Big five” was coined by hunters of yesteryear – before the advent of the photographic safari – and refers to the animals considered the most dangerous to hunt. Umkumbe Safari Lodge Riverside is located in the Sabie Game Reserve, considered by many to be the premier wildlife reserve in South Africa.
LOCATION
Located on the banks of the seasonal Sand River, Umkumbe Safari Lodge Riverside is perfectly situated in one of the best big five game viewing destinations in Africa. The lodge is easily accessible via either a self drive from Johannesburg, or by flying into the closest airports which are Skukuza and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) in Nelspruit. The self drive takes 6 hours from Johannesburg on good, safe roads. The flight takes approximately 1 hour. Road transfers from KMIA to Umkumbe can be arranged and take approximately 2 hours. A road transfer from Skukuza to Umkumbe takes approximately 1-1.5 hours and please bear in mind the Kruger National Park fees due when landing in Skukuza.
The focus at the lodge is of the view of the seasonal Sand River. Almost daily, guests are treated to sightings of various animals grazing in the riverbed. The lodge sleeps a maximum of 20 guests in 10 chalets/rooms. Most of the rooms have a small verandah with camping chairs, and with views of the Sand River, while others look onto a small plains area with a watering hole. Umkumbe Safari Lodge Riverside has a variety of room configurations that allow families to travel with ease, as well as a small party of three adults, or friends looking for their own rooms but connected via an inter-leading door. The accommodation is clean, comfortable and suitable for guests looking for a well priced and affordable option in a predator rich private reserve in the Greater Kruger. All the rooms are en-suite, airconditioned and have full electricity. Please note that the Superior and Standard rooms are priced differently. The Superior rooms are larger and also have outdoor en-suite showers which the Standard rooms do not.