The Sabi Sabi Collection

Beyond the Bush: How the Sabi Sabi Collection is Expanding the South African Experience

From a boutique Cape Town hotel to a groundbreaking wildlife rehabilitation project, the Sabi Sabi Collection is redefining luxury travel beyond the safari. We spoke to Jacques Smit, Marketing Manager about the expansion.

For more than four decades, the name Sabi Sabi has been synonymous with exceptional safari experiences. Nestled within the Greater Kruger region, its lodges have built an international reputation for extraordinary wildlife encounters, conservation and warm South African hospitality.

Now, the company is embarking on an ambitious new chapter.

A New Luxury Boutique Hotel in Cape Town

The first sign of that evolution is The Claremont, a beautifully restored 15-room boutique hotel in one of Cape Town’s leafiest suburbs. The second is Sandringham, a former hunting reserve that is being transformed into a protected wilderness and luxury safari destination set to open later this year.

“We wanted everything we do to complement Sabi Sabi, not compete with it,” says Jacques Smit, Marketing Manager for the Sabi Sabi Collection.

For many safari guests, Cape Town is already an essential part of their South African itinerary, making the decision to establish a presence in the city a natural one.

The Claremont Boutique Hotel opened in late 2025, occupying a heritage building dating back to 1928. Designed by Magdalena Sauer, South Africa’s first registered female architect, the property has been carefully restored to honour its history while introducing the understated luxury that Sabi Sabi guests have come to expect.

Discovering Cape Town Beyond the Tourist Trail

Rather than positioning itself in the heart of the city, The Claremont offers a different perspective on Cape Town. Situated close to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Newlands Forest and the Constantia wine region, it encourages guests to experience the city as locals do.

“We’re finding that people love seeing Cape Town from another angle,” says Smit. “They can still visit the waterfront and Table Mountain, but they’re also going for walks in Kirstenbosch, discovering hiking trails and exploring the Constantia wine valley.”

Celebrating the Constantia Wine Region

That wine connection runs deep. Constantia, just 15 minutes away, is South Africa’s oldest wine-producing region and a cornerstone of the hotel’s food and beverage offering.

At the hotel’s restaurant, Veld & Vine, local sourcing is a priority. Produce comes from nearby farmers and suppliers, while the wine list champions boutique producers rather than household names.

“We’re always looking for those hidden gems,” says Smit. “The young winemakers and small producers creating exceptional wines that visitors might never discover on their own.”

The emphasis on storytelling extends beyond the wine cellar. Throughout the hotel, guests encounter subtle references to the building’s heritage and its architect, whose preservation work helped safeguard some of the Cape’s most significant historic buildings.

Sandringham: From Hunting Reserve to Luxury Safari Destination

While The Claremont represents a new urban chapter for the brand, the most ambitious project lies nearly 2,000 kilometres away in Limpopo Province.

Sandringham began life as a hunting reserve. When Sabi Sabi Collection acquired the property during the Covid years, the team quickly realised they had inherited more than just a tract of wilderness.

“There was a significant disconnect between wildlife and people,” says Smit. “The animals didn’t trust vehicles or humans, and we made a conscious decision not to rush into commercial operations.”

Instead, the focus shifted to rehabilitation.

Wildlife Conservation at the Heart of the Sandringham Project

Over the past five years, Sandringham has worked to rebuild that trust. Through partnerships with tracker training academies and wildlife broadcaster WildEarth, the reserve has gradually reintroduced non-threatening human presence to the landscape.

The results have exceeded expectations.

“We thought it would be a long process,” says Smit. “What surprised us was how quickly many of the animals adapted, particularly the big cats.”

Today, wildlife that once fled from vehicles is increasingly relaxed around carefully managed encounters.

The project has also involved a significant clean-up effort. Old hunting infrastructure was removed, the reserve was reclassified as a protected area, and wildlife management practices were completely overhauled.

When Sandringham opens, guests will be able to stay in one of two intimate camps. One will feature six luxury tented suites overlooking a lake, while the second will offer suites and family units hidden within riverine forest. Some accommodations will include rooftop sleep-outs, allowing guests to spend the night beneath Africa’s vast star-filled skies.

The reserve’s extensive waterways, including sections of the Timbavati River, provide a rich habitat for wildlife and create a landscape distinct from many traditional safari destinations.

Yet conservation is only part of the story.

Community Development Through Sustainable Tourism

At the heart of the Sabi Sabi Collection’s growth is a commitment to community development. Through hospitality, ranger and chef training programmes, the company’s foundation is creating employment pathways for young people living in neighbouring communities.

The Chef’s Academy, now in its 10th year, trains aspiring chefs, while hospitality programmes develop future waitstaff, baristas and hotel professionals. Ranger training courses help prepare the next generation of safari guides.

“We’ve seen a real shift since Covid,” says Smit. “Young people are now viewing tourism and hospitality as viable careers and opportunities close to home.”

 

Investing in the Future of the Sabi Sabi Collection

As Sandringham prepares to welcome its first guests, Sabi Sabi continues to invest heavily in its flagship safari lodges. Recent refurbishments at Bush Lodge, Selati Camp and Little Bush Camp have focused on enhancing guest experiences while preserving the intimate atmosphere that has long defined the brand. Earth Lodge also had a renovation, ensuring the continuation of its reign as the jewel in the crown.

Planning the Perfect South African Safari and Cape Town Itinerary

For travellers, the result is an increasingly seamless South African journey: wildlife in the Greater Kruger, wine and culture in Cape Town, and soon a pioneering conservation success story at Sandringham.

And when is the best time to experience it all?

Smit doesn’t hesitate.

“When can you travel?” he laughs. “That’s the best time. There really is no bad season in South Africa.”

Whether it’s a winter evening beside a Cape Town fireplace with a glass of Constantia red, or listening to lions roar beneath a canopy of stars at Sandringham, the Sabi Sabi Collection is betting that travellers will agree.