Ulusaba
Ulusaba sits in the western sector of the Sabi Sand, a private game reserve owned by Sir Richard Branson. The name means “place of little fear” in the local Xitsonga language. Two lodges make up the property: Rock Lodge, perched roughly 800 feet above the surrounding bush atop a granite koppie, and Safari Lodge, built along a dry riverbed and shaded by ancient trees. As a result, the two lodges offer genuinely different vantage points over the same reserve.
Two Lodges, Two Perspectives
Rock Lodge sits at Ulusaba’s summit, with sweeping views over miles of untamed wilderness. Cliff Lodge, within Rock Lodge, can be booked as individual suites or taken in its entirety for full privacy. Rock Cliff Rooms run south-facing, with private balconies and split levels in some configurations. Safari Lodge, by contrast, sits closer to the ground, evoking a genuine sense of being at one with nature. The Hide, three elevated suites overlooking a hippo-filled dam, shares a single living area, ideal for families or friends travelling together. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors, private plunge pools and spacious decks run through both lodges.
Both lodges include indoor and outdoor dining, a boma, wine cellar, bar, spa and swimming pool. Twice-daily game drives explore the Sabi Sand’s full Big Five terrain, alongside a daily walking safari, weather dependent. Rates run fully inclusive, covering all meals and drinks, including alcohol, plus a generously stocked minibar.
Redesign and Reopening
Ulusaba closed at the end of January 2026 for a full redevelopment, overseen by design firm Luxury Frontiers, and is scheduled to reopen on 1 April 2027. The redesign brings the property to 20 all-suite rooms in total. Rock Lodge will hold nine rooms, including new Rock Suites and interconnecting Makwela Suites. Safari Lodge, reserved for guests aged 12 and over, will hold eleven suites, including a reimagined Hide with its own deck and firepit for exclusive group bookings.
New wellness facilities, developed in partnership with South African spa brand Africology, will add treatment rooms, cold plunge pools, Himalayan salt saunas and hydrotherapy pools to both lodges. Tsonga-inspired craftsmanship and a focus on the reserve’s not-for-profit community arm, Pride n’ Purpose, run through the redesign. As a result, Ulusaba’s relaunch positions the reserve as one of the Sabi Sand’s most thoroughly reimagined addresses.
Why Stay Here
- Two distinct lodges within one reserve, from Rock Lodge’s elevated koppie setting to Safari Lodge’s riverbed position
- The Hide, three interconnecting suites overlooking a hippo-filled dam, suited to families or groups
- A full redesign bringing private plunge pools and new wellness facilities to every suite
- All-inclusive rates covering meals, drinks and twice-daily game drives
- Owned by Sir Richard Branson, with the reserve’s name meaning “place of little fear”
Accommodation
Rock Lodge sits atop a granite koppie, with Cliff Lodge available as individual suites or full exclusive-use booking. Safari Lodge includes eight Elephant Suites and The Hide, three interconnecting suites with a shared living area overlooking a hippo-filled dam. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors and private plunge pools run throughout both lodges.
Dining
Both lodges offer indoor and outdoor dining, a traditional boma, wine cellar and bar. Rates run fully inclusive, covering all meals and drinks, including alcohol.
Experiences
Twice-daily game drives explore the Sabi Sand’s full Big Five terrain, alongside a daily walking safari, weather dependent. Spa treatments, a swimming pool and tennis courts round out the facilities at both lodges.
Best For
Couples and families wanting a choice of vantage points within a single Sabi Sand reserve, and travellers drawn to a thoroughly reimagined, design-forward safari experience.