Along the southwestern edge of the vast Kruger National Park lie a number of privately managed wildlife areas. The best known of these, Sabi Sands Game Reserve, is a collection of former cattle ranches that have been combined into a game reserve with a single administration. The various blocks of land remain the property of individual owners and lodges. However, the fences have been removed, and the animals are free to wander as they wish, including within the Kruger ecosystem. On private land, safari vehicles are not confined to roads, unlike the national park.

Sabi Sands is an ideal destination for those with limited time, as it is a quick scheduled flight from Cape Town or Johannesburg. Also, the large animals, notably the “big five” — lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffaloes — are easy to see there. Indeed, it is quite possible to spot the big five during a single game drive. The animal that often eludes safari travelers is the leopard, being nocturnal, solitary and wary. However, in Sabi Sands and Kapama, leopards have learned to relax and stroll through the bush in daylight.

Near the eastern coast, Phinda is especially notable for its rare sand forest and populations of lions and cheetahs.