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Elephant Plains Game Lodge

Elephant Plains Game Lodge

Sabi Sand Game Reserve


Elephant Plains Game Lodge Location Map

Elephant Plains Game Lodge is situated in the northern section of the world-famous Sabi Sand reserve and offers guests a wonderful bush experience with superb game viewing opportunities. Situated on a dry river bed overlooking an open area with a waterhole, daily early morning and evening game drives with enthusiastic and qualified rangers and trackers provide unforgettable and close encounters with a remarkable variety of wildlife, from the safety of your open Land Rover.

Between game drives, guest can relax in the comfortable lounge and bar area, read a book in the upstairs library, or recline on the sun loungers on the large wooden deck adjacent to the swimming pool, both overlooking the scenic plain and waterhole.

The African Health Spa offers a range of unique treatments to pamper and relax you.

In the evening, enjoy a delicious meal with your fellow guests around the roaring log fire in the boma under the starlit African sky. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style in the thatched lapa.

The lodge offers the choice of luxury air-conditioned suites or smaller, well appointed rondavels.

The luxury suites all have large wooden decks overlooking the bush, a spacious en-suite bathroom with double basins, and a private outside shower which is perfect for cooling off after a hot game drive. The glass fronted Honeymoon Suite offers romantic elegance, total privacy and a stunning view, as well as a private splash pool. In addition, the Elephant Suite boasts two en-suite bedrooms and a large private viewing deck, ideal for families wishing to share a suite.

The thatched rondavels also have air-conditioning and all open out onto lush gardens and a swimming pool, where guests can relax and enjoy the warmth of the African sun.

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Show Rates in
Our standard rates for a Thatched Rondavel
DatesPriceBasisTypeNights
1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 GBP 237 USD 298 ZAR 5,440 EUR 274 per person sharingContracted FIT Rate1+ nights

Prices are on a per person sharing basis (pps).

Special offers for longer stays or when booked as part of a longer itinerary may apply - details on request.

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Rates Include

All meals; tea/coffee; the Guest Conservation Contribution; morning and evening shared game drives; and bush walks are included. PLEASE NOTE: All drinks are NOT included. IN ADDITION: For self-drive visitors, there is a R140 per person and a R310 per vehicle entrance fee, payable in cash at the entrance gate (subject to change).


Children Policy

Children aged 3 years and older are welcome. Rates available on request. Children under 16 are not allowed on bush walks but can go on game drives at the Ranger's discretion.


Bush Walks / Walking Safaris

Children aged 16 years and under are not permitted on bush walks. Guests over 60 years old wishing to join a bush walk are required to provide a medical certificate stating that they are in good health and fit to go on a bush walk. The final decision on whether a guest can join a bush walk remains with the guide and lodge manager.



Guest Rating: 4.7 / 5.0 based on 35 ratings




Start TestimonialJust to say we have returned from a wonderful holiday in Cape Town and Elephant Plains. All the transfers ran like clockwork and the hotels were excellent. Especially impressed with Elephant Plains. Spotless, amazing food and really friendly staff. This was our first visit to Africa, but it will not be our last.End Testimonial

P CHAUNDY

Start TestimonialElephant Plains lodge exceeded all our expectations in terms of the game drives, the proximity of the animals and the adrenaline filled drives off-road through the bush. The food is also incredible there.End Testimonial

N PARKER

Start TestimonialGreat lodge, probably our favourite of the trip. Lovely accommodations, great location, good safari sightings, good jeep rides with hot water bottles which was good as it was very cold. Great value for money we thought, and a few other people who we met there had been to several others in Sabi Sand, and agreed with the 'value' comment.End Testimonial

K HENNING

Start TestimonialElephant Plains was magic, can’t speak highly enough about the whole experience absolutely great in every respect.End Testimonial

T HERRING

Start TestimonialWe had an excellent time at Elephant Plains Game Lodge. The service was outstanding with nothing too small to please. All the staff were friendly, cheerful and always willing to help.End Testimonial

D COLLINS

Start TestimonialElephant Plains Game Lodge was excellent value for money, had a wonderful time there, with regard to food, breakfast and lunch generally excellent, sometimes dinner not quite as good, but never had a bad meal. We had excellent game viewing, room was wonderful.End Testimonial

J RANSON

Start TestimonialElephant Plains was just fantastic, we loved every minute and would recommend anyone going there. The rooms were gorgeous, the drives were excellent. We saw leopard every day and lion and everything else we wanted! A really wonderful time was had by all! Wish we could have stayed longer!End Testimonial

K CARLIN

Start TestimonialHad an amazing time. Hazyview was brilliant - nice vibe and loads to do. Great huts and food, brilliant. In fact, another night there would've been nice to soak it up and do all the sabi valley adventure stuff. Helen loved the horse riding too. Elephant Plains - unforgettable. The whole safari adventure is pretty crazy. First time I've felt like prey - on the bush walk - like a goat in Jurassic Park or something. The Hyenas camped outside your room at night. Accomodation, staff and food amazing. They laid on some bubbly for us and the open fires in the chalets - brilliant.End Testimonial

A KUNDU

Start TestimonialMy daughter and I had a fantastic stay at Elephant Plains, it was everything we had hoped for, and more...the staff could not have been more helpful and friendly and the accomodation was outstanding. To be highly recommended!!End Testimonial

B SCHMIDT-RIECHE

Start TestimonialJust back from our holiday in South Africa and wanted to let you know what an excellent time we had on safari at Elephant Plains. The facilities were first class and the Safari experiences were awesome.Saw all the Big Five and loads more, the knowledge of the rangers was very impressive.We've got some wonderful photos to look back on. The children loved it just as much as we did ! We would definitely recommend the place to others and would love to go back ourselves one day. Incidentally the drive from Jo'burg took us about 7 hrs and was relatively easy as the directions were so good. Thank you so much for all your help and advice whilst we were planning the trip. It definitely ensured we got the holiday of a lifetime experience we had been hoping for. Best wishes to you and all at Travel Butlers.End Testimonial

C HERMES

Start TestimonialWe are back now, - had a really great time. What a fantastic country, the scenery is wonderful, and all the people we met were so friendly. The accomodation you booked us in was really good. We thought that Jackalberry Farm was outstanding (and good value) - the accomodation and the setting were marvellous. The hippos did not come out of the river to graze around the site as they had the night before we arrived but we did see one in the river, plus a mongoose, and large lizards (Up to 6 foot) and lots and lots of birds. The safari was far better than we expected at Elephant Plains - even on the first drive we saw all the big 5 and more. We would recommend South Africa to anyone and Travel Butlers as well, as we were so impressed with all you did for us,and you obviously have such a knowledge of what is on offer there, thank you very much.End Testimonial

M WEAVER

Start TestimonialI just wanted to thankyou for everything - The trip was fantastic and it couldnt have been any easier for us! We loved every moment of it and each day just got better and better. Elephant Plains was absolutly beautiful and all the staff there were very friendly. We were very happy with both our guide and tracker - there knowledge was amazing they could answer any question we had. We met some lovely people staying there, and the quality of the game viewing was great. On the first night drive we saw rhino and a leopard, and then on the way back to the lodge we saw a bushbaby. Dinner in the booma was very different we loved it! The food was fantastic, and in fact we didn't have one meal in the whole trip that we didn't like. On the next morning drive we saw a sleeping rino and two leopard sisters playing. That night we saw a civit and got a flat tyre while we were looking for lion - the guide was a little worried as it was dark but we just thought it added more to the adventure! The next morning we we saw a leopard in the tree with an impala that she had dragged up there - amazingly and we also saw another leopard stalking an impala. We really had trouble leaving - South Africa really is a special place and we are hoping it won't be too long before we can get back there. I have already recomended you and your company to anyone who has asked us about our trip - it suited us perfectly!End Testimonial

C TAYLOR

Start TestimonialOur trip was EXCELLENT and I cannot thank you enough for helping us plan it.  Elephant Plains was fantastic – we loved the lodge and our room, but most of all we loved the people – it was a great trip! End Testimonial

N ABARELLI


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Elephant Plains Game Lodge Location.

Directions For Drivers

Important: Please enter the Sabi Sands via the Gowerie Gate only - you will not be permitted to enter using any of the other gates in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.  If you make use of Google Maps, follow directions to Gowrie Gate and NOT Elephant Plains Game Lodge.


From Hazyview: Take the R40 from Hazyview towards Bushbuckridge. Continue on this road for approximately 68 km from Hazyview (passing Bushbuckridge and Acornhoek), then turn right onto the Orpen Road/R531 then follow the directions as below once on the R531.

From Eastgate Airport/Hoedspruit: Take the R40 towards Bushbuckridge, and continue along this road for 2 km until you get to the Orpen Road/R531 then follow the directions as below once on the R531.

From Johannesburg/Pretoria: Take the N12 or N4 highway to Witbank/eMalahleni (from Johannesburg Airport, follow signs to Boksburg to find the N12). Follow the N4 highway past Middleburg (Toll Plaza), Belfast/eMakhazeni and Machadodorp (Toll Plaza). Follow the Schoemanskloof option on the N4 and then take the R36 to Lydenburg/Mashishing. Follow the R36 to Ohrigstad, go through the Strydom Tunnel and take the R527 to Hoedspruit. Turn right onto the R40 towards Klaserie, and continue along this road until you get to the Orpen Road/R531 on your left, then follow the directions as below once on the R531.

Directions once on the R531: Continue straight for 30 km. Once you have passed the South African Wildlife College (on your left), after 100m turn right onto a gravel road. Follow this road for 3 km, then turn left (the turn is 50m past a soccer field on your right). Drive down a narrow road for 400m, turn right on to a wide sand road, and continue for another 7.8 km. Continue on this gravel road until you reach a T-junction. At the T-junction you will see the Hluvukani Viva petrol station in front of you. Turn left onto the tar road to Gottenberg/Manyeleti and follow the tar road for 6.1 km. Turn right onto a dirt road, and follow this for 6.4 km until you see the Uthar Clinic on your left. Turn left onto the gravel road (Utha Store will be on the right) – and travel 7.3 km to the Gowrie Gate.

From Kruger National Park/Orpen Gate: Exit the Park via the Orpen Gate and travel along the R531 towards the R40. About 10 km on the tar road, before the South African Wildlife College, you will see a gravel road to your left. Turn left (helpful hint – if you pass the South African Wildlife College, you have gone too far). Follow this road for 3 km, then turn left (the turn is 50m past a soccer field on your right). Drive down a narrow road for 400m, turn right on to a wide sand road, and continue for another 7.8 km.  Continue on this gravel road until you reach a T-junction. At the T-junction you will see the Hluvukani Viva petrol station in front of you. Turn left onto the tar road to Gottenberg/Manyeleti and follow the tar road for 6.1 km. Turn right onto a dirt road, and follow this for 6.4 km until you see the Uthar Clinic on your left. Turn left onto the gravel road (Utha Store will be on the right) – and travel 7.3 km to the Gowrie Gate.

ONCE AT THE GOWRIE GATE: For self-drive visitors, there is a R140 per person and a R310 per vehicle entrance fee, payable in cash at the entrance gate (subject to change and please note that the gate opens at 06:00 and closes at 19:00). Please retain your receipt as proof of entrance and have it stamped at your destination when you are leaving, which acts as your Exit Permit.

Once inside the gate, follow the signs to the lodge.

Do not get out of your car until you reach the lodge. You may see some wildlife on your way - if you do, slow down and maintain a good distance. Do not drive off-road in any circumstances.

ADDITIONAL NOTE: Please DO NOT follow your GPS 'quickest route' co-ordinates for the lodge. This route inevitably leads guests through the incorrect entry gates (Kruger National Park and into the Sabi Sand Reserve) which do not service the lodge. Furthermore, many of the prescribed roads are not navigable in a normal vehicle. Following GPS co-ordinates can result in getting lost in the middle of the bush, or unnecessary delays of up to 3 hours.



General Information For Guests

All rooms have an in-room safe, air conditioning, tea/coffee making facilities, a mini bar and fans as well as mosquito's nets over the beds.

The luxury suites have a fireplace and a private viewing deck.

The honeymoon suite is glass fronted and has all the regular luxuries and boasts a private splash pool and a daybed.

The main lodge houses the reception, dining areas, bar, lounge and wine cellar, as well as a small library and curio shop. There is complimentary Wi-Fi in the main lodge only.

Other lodge facilities include 2 swimming pools, the African Health Spa, a gym (equipped with treadmill, bike, rowing machine, and multi gym as well as free weights) and a games room.

Breakfast and lunch are served in the dining room, or on the pool deck overlooking the open area. Dinner is sometimes served in the outside boma.

There is a laundry service available (additional cost).

The lodge offers bush walks and a kiddies programme, which can be adjusted according to the number of children in camp. Activities include painting, drawing, beading, constructing an ant farm, mini bushwalks and many more. Special children's menus are available. Babysitting can also be arranged.

Payment for all extras can be made with MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Diners Club credit cards or cash in SA Rand, UK Pounds or US Dollars (subject to commission).

A Guest Conservation Contribution has been included within your rate. The proceeds go towards the Sabi Sand Wildtuin anti-poaching efforts, the community and ecology.

If you are arriving/departing via FedAir, the lodge is a 2 minute drive away from the airstrip.


Bush Walks / Walking Safaris

Children aged 16 years and under are not permitted on bush walks. Guests over 60 years old wishing to join a bush walk are required to provide a medical certificate stating that they are in good health and fit to go on a bush walk. The final decision on whether a guest can join a bush walk remains with the guide and lodge manager.


Popular Alternatives to Elephant Plains Game Lodge

These are the top properties booked by people who considered staying at Elephant Plains Game Lodge, but for one reason or another booked a different property. It may have been that Elephant Plains Game Lodge was not available on the nights they wanted to stay, or they decided that somewhere else was better suited to their budget or itinerary.

If you're not sure which place might be best for your own trip then either give us a call or get in touch via the website, and we'd be delighted to run through the options with you.

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