The entire Big Five is well represented in Sabi Sand and other rare animals, such as the cheetah and hyena are often sighted. Various antelope species, from impala, waterbuck and duiker to kudu, bushbuck and nyala can also be seen, as can giraffe and warthog. However, it is the leopard that is the real star of the show at Sabi Sand, with the area well known for some of the best leopard experiences in Africa. This shy and elusive animal, normally the most solitary of the African cats is often viewed both in daylight hours and during game drives.

A number of lion prides have territories in the Sabi Sand area and are regularly spotted on game drives. Although not as common as the leopard or lion, the cheetah is also a frequent sight at Sabi Sand. Built for speed instead of power, this formidable predator generally hunts during the day when its rivals, the lion and the leopard, are resting. This daytime hunting habit occasionally creates spectacular sightings of the fastest animal in the world in action. The fascinating social structure of the spotted hyena can also be clearly observed in a number of packs in the Sabi Sand.

Sabi Sand also boasts an ample array of bird life, ranging from water birds, which congregate in the riverside reeds to a staggering array of birds of prey. The bateleur, with its distinctive shape and energy-conserving flight technique, is a frequent sight in Sabi Sand’s skies. Africa’s largest eagle, the martial eagle, is also often spotted on the reserve. Their gigantic nests, in the shape of an inverted cone, decorate many a knob thorn or other large trees throughout Sabi Sand.     

Recent Sightings from Wildwatch.com

TURF WARS - 03 September 2010
We were following a female leopard (Rollercoaster). Our vehicle was silent as we watched. The leopard was silently stalking a herd of impala. Her focus on the herd, that was about 20 metres away, was quite intense. We all had our fingers crossed that...
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ROLLERCOASTER ON A ROLL - 03 September 2010
The afternoon looked promising. As it was hot and dry, we were expecting to see large herds of animals near the river. We headed to one of my favorite areas, the eastern bank, and drove along the river’s edge. The banks of the sand river, here,...
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WELL PROTECTED - 31 August 2010
I’ve just come back from leave and one of my highlights in the first days back has definitely been our 8 week old leopard cub. We had a fantastic sighting of the female trying to teach her youngster how to take its first steps in climbing over...
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