Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge

Location & Setting

Its land-integrated design sits low and unobtrusive, with views across open bushveld and a wildlife-rich watercourse. Access is simple via flights to Skukuza Airport, followed by a short road transfer that typically enters the reserve at Shaw’s Gate. The surrounding mosaic of woodland and open clearings is classic Sabi Sand, renowned for frequent big-cat sightings and diverse general game.

Earth Lodge is the most contemporary of Sabi Sabi’s four lodges and uses the same southern Sabi Sand traversing as Bush Lodge, Little Bush Camp and Selati Camp. Its clay-textured walls and low roofs keep the buildings close to the ground, so from a game vehicle the lodge is hard to pick out against the slope. Leopard is the animal most guests come for, and the guide and tracker teams here find them often. Bush Lodge, on the same traversing, is paired with Lion Sands River Lodge on our five-day safari at Sabi Sabi and Lion Sands.

Rooms

There are 13 ultra-luxurious suites, each individually furnished and opening to a private deck with a plunge pool. Glass-fronted bathrooms and indoor/outdoor showers frame the bush, while natural textures and sculpted, custom furniture keep the aesthetic calm and contemporary. The largest unit, now called the Amber Villa, is a Luxury Villa for guests who want more space and privacy.

Facilities

Central areas include a lounge, bar and dining spaces that flow to expansive terraces for alfresco meals and arm-chair game viewing. The signature touches are the subterranean wine cellar (stocked with leading South African wines) and an on-site art aesthetic that extends across sculpted pieces and gallery-style details. Wellness is a strong focus, with Amani Spa & Wellness and a gym that overlooks the bush, used between drives or before dinner in the boma under the stars.