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Set in the Olifants West Nature Reserve in the Greater Kruger Balule area, Sausage Tree Safari Camp promises rich game viewing and spectacular views, as our boundary with Kruger National Park is open and the Northern Drakensberg Mountains form a majestic back drop. This family operated safari camp pride itself on the warm atmosphere and African safari tented accommodation it offers. Enjoy lantern lit dinners in our boma or open deck under the star studded African sky. Sunrise and sunset safaris in open 4x4 vehicles are the highlights of the day. The Safari Camp:Our African safari-styled tents are nestled in between Marula, Knobthorn Acacia and Sausage Trees and overlook a dry river bed, the bush and the Northern Drakensberg Mountains. Each tent is spacious and built in an elevated position with it's own special view. The tents are fully furnished and have their own private deck and ensuite bathroom with a bath and outdoor shower. Inverter or Eco based Air-conditioners are fitted in each tent ensuring that you stay cool during those warm summer nights... and can even be set to warm during those colder nights in winter. Insect gauze on all the windows and doors keep the insects outside where they belong. Our camp is now solarised
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Nestled in the wilderness, Sausage Tree Safari Camp is celebrated for its luxurious, climate-controlled tents and personalized service, with many guests applauding the friendly staff and expert guides. The camp's cleanliness is consistently praised, particularly for its well-maintained tents featuring outdoor showers. Reviewers are enamored with the camp's intimate atmosphere and attention to detail.
The value is noted by travelers who appreciate the reasonable prices for the high-quality meals and drinks. Spacious rooms with comfortable amenities further enhance the guest experience.
Atmosphere
Intimate
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Warm
Amenities
Top-notch
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This was an amazing , once in a lifetime adventure!!everything from the lodge, to our tents,to the staff who were ++ awesome. The safari drives with Polite and Life were something else- so knowledgeable!! Loved everything!!! Thank -you!!
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Sausage Tree Safari Camp, Marketing at Sausage Tree Safari Camp
Responded 2 weeks ago
Thank you so much for your very kind review and we very much enjoyed hosting you and are delighted that you enjoyed yourselves so much,
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Thank you so much for the most wonderful holiday we have ever had . Our first experience in the “bush” surpassed all our expectations. Our guides and tracker , Themba, Polite and Jimmy , were brilliant . Really funny and so knowledgable . We saw the big 5 and they even found Lion Cubs waiting for their pride to return . They obviously know the reserve really well , although to me all the tracks looked identical ! Every day there was new scenery and something else to learn . We got so close to the animals but never felt at risk . They understand animal body language well, so we got fantastic photo opportunities without causing distress to the wildlife.. I have to say the addition of Amarula in morning coffee or hot chocolate was quite delicious on the early morning game drives and sundowner G &T overlooking the bush at dusk was wonderful. Now on to the camp itself ….the 5 tents are luxurious and the camp is surrounded by a fence so you are free to walk around by yourself . The outside showers are fun and you absolutely do not need to be concerned about being seen by anyone other than the birds ! You can hear the animals close by as you sleep and the deck overlooks the waterhole . As we sipped wine we watched elephants and impala walk by . The food is first class, varied and really, really tasty….the chef , Pitsu, is excellent . Thandy and Corinne looked after us well and were such great company. Eating supper in the evening with the staff was lovely and gave us the chance to get to know them a little better . The camp has a lovely family feel and you are made to feel like friends not guests. We had some great conversations with the owners James and Sonya about life in the bush , which were fascinating. We also took the Panorama Day tour from the camp to Blyde Canyon , the third largest canyon in the world. The scenery was magnificent and well worth it . I know we will return as soon as we can and we cannot recommend Sausage Tree safari camp highly enough. The bush is a magical place and brings home what is really important in life. Sausage Tree is the epitome of everything a “Safari” holiday should be …..great location and facilities , fabulous camp, wonderful food and wonderful people who work there . Thank you all for showing us to a wonderful part of South Africa xx…
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Date of stay: June 2023
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Sausage Tree Safari Camp, Marketing at Sausage Tree Safari Camp
Responded Jul 8, 2023
This is such a wonderful review and we have printed it out and put it on the staff noticeboard. Thanks so much for your kind words and we are so happy that you enjoyed yourselves so much. We look forward to seeing you here again soon.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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This small, intimate (max 10 guests) lodge was the perfect place for my introduction to the African bush. The warm demeanor of the staff and attention to detail made me feel comfortable and welcome from the start. The food was abundant and delicious. The tents were very comfortable. The guides were excellent. They went way out of their way to ensure we saw many animals. Because the lodge is located on a private reserve, we were able to ride around in an open vehicle, seeing the animals up close. The majesty and sheer aliveness of these large animals awakened senses within me that had been dulled by living in civilization all my life. It was a life changing experience. I cannot recommend this safari camp highly enough.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:Be sure to bring a hat
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Sausage Tree Safari Camp, Marketing at Sausage Tree Safari Camp
Responded 3 weeks ago
What an absolutely wonderful review ! Thank you so much for your very kind words and you make us feel proud to have helped you towards a life changing experience.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We have just returned back to Europe from our holiday around SA. The first two nights were spent at Sausage Tree Safari Camp, which was recommended to us by Wildtracker Safaris. Our luxury tent was located right next to a watering hole and what an experience it was to have an outdoor shower, with an elephant drinking only a few metres away! The sounds of the wild at night were incredible. The game drives with Jimmy and Polite were interesting and informative, but also fun. We saw many elephants, buffalo, rhino, some amazing lions with cubs, plus many other species. The sunset on the late afternoon drive was stunning. The camp was lovely, with a much used (by us) swimming pool and a relaxing bar and breakfast deck area. Dinner was served in the boma, aound the open fire. We also met the friendly owners, James and Sonia, over breakfast one morning! The only disappointment was that we had to leave!…
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Sausage Tree Safari Camp, Marketing at Sausage Tree Safari Camp
Responded Jan 29, 2024
What a lovely review! Thanks very much and we are so glad you enjoyed your stay with us and hope we can welcome you back one day.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had the most amazing time at Sausage Tree where we spent four days as a family of 6 (kids 9, 12, 14, 17 years) to round off a 2,5 week holiday in SA. Everyone absolutely loved it and we could easily have spent many more nights there in retrospect. We loved the tranquility, the closeness to nature, the luxurious and exclusive safari tent experience and the overall camp facilities. The food was amazing, the staff very friendly and genuine and we really appreciated that it was a smaller place where you felt part of a family from start. The game drives and the guides/drivers where extremely professional and attentive, knowledgable and funny - we did six game drives (3 h each) and they were all just as thrilling and fantastic. So many up close experiences with the animals in their natural habitat - unbelievable. We can't wait to come back again!…
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Book one more night than you planned - you won't regret it (minimum 3 nights I would say..)
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Sausage Tree Safari Camp, Marketing at Sausage Tree Safari Camp
Responded Jan 17, 2024
Thank you very much for this wonderful review and we are delighted that all your family enjoyed their stay with us so much . We look forward to welcoming you back soon.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We’ve spent four days with our two daughters in this fabulous and intimate safari camp and it was an amazing experience. The experimented and friendly guides are entirely dedicated to your enjoyment and go very close to the animals. All the staff is so friendly and delicious food. In addition to that a good selection of gins… We arrived as guest and leave as friends.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Sausage Tree Safari Camp, Marketing at Sausage Tree Safari Camp
Responded Jan 3, 2024
Thank you so much for your kind review. We are very glad that you had such a nice experience staying with us and we hope to see you here again one day.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sausage Tree Safari Camp was the first stop on our SA & Mauritius honeymoon in October which set the bar exceptionally high for the rest of our trip!! It was truly a magical experience. This was our first experience of safari and it did not disappoint. The game drives were the highlight of our whole trip, as we thoroughly enjoyed being in the jeep observing the breathtaking flora and fauna. We had sightings of the Big 5 along with giraffes, zebras, white & black rhinos, warthogs, hyenas, black mamba snake and rare wild dogs plus many more! We were lucky enough to see lion cubs seeking shade & a drink at the river and a giraffe not even 24 hours old. We particularly enjoyed the sundowners with a refreshment of your choice whilst taking in the beautiful scenery and sunsets. Our first evening drive was truly memorable witnessing the hippos playing in the river as the sun went down. Our drives would not have been the same without our guide Jimmy, and our trackers Polite & Themba, who are all extremely knowledgeable, passionate & very funny. They all went above and beyond to ensure that we had an amazing experience and to try to give us a sighting of a leopard which was the only one of the big 5 we had not yet seen. To our delight they spotted one within the last half an hour of our last drive which we will always appreciate & remember. We were offered the opportunity to go on a tracking excursion with Polite on foot around the bush surrounding the camp for a small cost which we thoroughly enjoyed. We felt very safe at all times and would recommend if you are staying at Sausage Tree. Polite was very informative and it was a great little insight for learning to read animal tracks. The camp itself was beautiful and had a family feel to it. We loved sitting on the deck overlooking the watering hole & enjoying a dip in the pool to cool off in the midday heat. Breakfast and lunch on the deck family style was a different experience for us which we enjoyed as it meant we had the opportunity to speak to the other guests stopping at Sausage Tree and the owner James to share stories and get to know each other better. The evening dinner was in the boma around a fire which was really cosy, and the BBQ cooked in front of us was a special touch. Pitso is an amazing chef and the food was always exceptional. The tents were luxurious and had everything that you needed, and the outdoors shower was fun overlooking the bush whilst being very private. You can hear the wildlife nearby as you rest or sleep, and on one occasion we opened our tent to see an elephant grazing a matter of metres away just the other side of the fence surrounding the camp. A memory we will never forget! As it was our honeymoon, we were treated to a romantic private candle lit dinner for two on the deck with a bottle of bubbly and upon returning to our tent, our bed had been covered in rose petals & a gift left for us, which was so thoughtful. Karinne made such an effort to make sure that we had a romantic evening which was greatly appreciated and we especially enjoyed our little chat together. We would also like to give special thanks to Thandy and the rest of the staff at Safari for making our stay run so smoothly. We would highly recommend Sausage Tree Safari Camp to anybody wanting to do a safari & we hope to be back someday! Thank you for giving us a truly incredible first safari experience.…
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Sausage Tree Safari Camp, Marketing at Sausage Tree Safari Camp
Responded Jan 3, 2024
What a wonderful review to have posted and we are so appreciative of every word you wrote. We so much enjoyed meeting you and we are so glad you enjoyed your stay with us so much . Thanks again and best wishes for 2024
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed at Sausage Tree for 3 nights in late November 2023. All the staff we encountered were lovely, friendly and attentive. A special shout out goes to Jimmy and Themba our guides. They were brilliant. They have excellent english and are just so much fun to be around with lots of energy. They go out of their way to make sure you have a fabulous experience and they are knowledgable about the animals and landscape. The front of house staff, Nellie and Tandy were also lovely and welcoming. This is a small camp and you really do benefit from the intimate size of the camp. We were staying during a heatwave (even the locals were finding the heat hard!) so it was quite hard to cool down - we spent a lot of the middle of the day like hippos in the pool. There is aircon in the tents (along with a bedside fan) but it found it hard to make much difference in such high heat. The outdoor shower was a blessing. The meals were very tasty - breakfast is served family style on the terrace overlooking the watering hole below (we were lucky enough to be visited by elephants and giraffes). Lunch was very tasty and then dinner was served in the boma round a fire with everyone facing into the fire. They catered well for vegetarians too. If you are looking for a 2 or 3 night stay in a safari camp not too far from Hoedspruit airport (40 mins drive) then Sausage Tree is perfect. Balule Nature Reserve is part of the greater Kruger area (open on one side for free animal movement across the whole Kruger area) and we saw lots of animals very close up, particularly good for elephants and lions. The staff at Sausage Tree really do make this place special. They were the nicest staff we encountered during our holiday in SA and I would wholeheartedly recommend the camp - it felt relaxing, welcoming and fun.…
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Sausage Tree Safari Camp, Marketing at Sausage Tree Safari Camp
Responded Dec 11, 2023
What a wonderful review ! Thankyou so much for taking the time out to write such a detailed review. You clearly really enjoyed your stay despite the exceptional heat . We hope we can welcome you back one day.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Wish I could rate Sausage Tree even higher. We had an absolutely magical stay and couldn't have asked for anything more. The lodge is incredible and exactly as pictured. The terrace and pool with the sky deck were so relaxing to sit at during the day - once I even came up for air from a swim and there were 5x giraffes right there - coming to drink at the watering hole right out front. The tents are very nice and well furnished also, we found them spacious and relaxing. The food was also really nice, some really nice meals and we loved eating out under the stars around the fire with our fellow guests. The Balule reserve itself is awesome - it's not as well known or established as some of the other private reserves which is actually great as it's less crowded, but still full of wildlife (we saw lions, leapords, white and black rhinos, hippos, elephants, giraffes, zebra, warthogs, hyena - you get the picture) and beautiful terrain (hills, plains, rivers, watering holes etc.). What really should be mentioned and which is tough to describe though is how incredible the staff is. As it's a smaller lodge (only 5 tents), the staff is really like a family, and each and every one of them we formed a bond with. They were so gracious as hosts and helped us at every point. The owner James is also full of stories and super friendly. Special shout out though of course to Themba (our safari guide) and Jimmy (our tracker) for the amazing game drives every morning and night. We saw and learned so much - but most of all we laughed a TON. Everyone working at the lodge are such great people and we would love to come back one day.…
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Sausage Tree Safari Camp, Marketing at Sausage Tree Safari Camp
Responded Nov 26, 2023
Thank you very much for posting such a glowing review and we are delighted that you enjoyed your stay with us so much. We have posted your review on our staff whatsapp group. We look forward to welcoming you back sometime soon.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had the most fantastic 2 nights at Sausage Tree. The camp is beautiful with every detail thought of and so relaxed. The food was great and so impressed at the attention to different dietary needs. Best of all were the staff, who are friendly, laid back and super knowledgeable. In particular Themba and Polite our guide and tracker were fabulous.. they tailored the drives to our needs and shared so much wisdom with us all. My Mum and I went on a walk with Polite.. so interesting and great to be learning so much. I have been lucky enough to visit several safari camps over the years, but this was the best. The animal and bird sightings were also incredible..and Balule has such a huge and diverse terrain. Highly recommended. Thank you!
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Sausage Tree Safari Camp, Marketing at Sausage Tree Safari Camp
Responded Nov 15, 2023
Thank you so much for such a wonderful review. We are so glad you enjoyed your stay with us so much and hope to welcome you back here one day.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
$633 - $727 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaKruger National ParkBalule Nature Reserve
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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