Idube Safari lodge is one of the oldest and most successful game lodges within the Sabi Sand reserve having originally been designed and built by owner Louis Marais and opened to the public in 1989. "Time waits for no game lodge" is a saying I've just made up, but certainly this was the case with Idube, which found itself becoming increasingly overshadowed by the emergence over the decades of new and much more stylish and luxurious (and expensive) new neighbours. So in 2025 this old favourite of a lodge received a massive revamp and re-build, with the new Suites in particular representing a huge upgrade with their much more spacious and stylish interiors and the introduction of private plunge pools at all rooms!

The revamp had to be done quite sensitively though, as obviously there was a massive and loyal customer base who loved the original Idube, so care was taken so as not to alienate them with too radical a transformation. So although the rooms have been hugely upgraded, the interior decor and furnishings for example still lean towards the classical and more traditional. But the new bathrooms are now bang up-to-date with indoor and outdoor showers and contemporary fittings, whilst the introduction of plunge pools at all Suites (previously they were limited to the 2 Makubela Suites) immediately elevates things to a different level entirely! There are now 14 Suites in all with the pricing being identical irrespective of the type of Suite you choose. The 2 Makubela Suites remain effectively untouched after the rebuild (interestingly, whilst they were previously the lodge's flagship rooms, in many ways they are now the most traditional) whilst there are also 8 Safari Suites and 4 Linked Suites - these latter rooms are the perfect choice for a family with kids (children 8 and over are welcome) as they consist of 2 bedrooms sharing a common outside deck with a slightly larger pool than the stand-alone Safari Suites.

Idube is set in an indigenous garden with tall trees and cool, green lawns where you’ll spot nyala delicately grazing and warthogs snuffling around busily. The lodge was always unusual in being one of the few largely constructed out of rough, natural coloured face bricks and a small amount of this remains, in particular in the old outside bar area. The other obvious older element that remains is the old lodge swimming pool which now looks quite charmingly old fashioned, but given that each Suite has its own plunge pool, this main pool is obviously no longer the lodge focal point that it was previously.

The colourful open lounge deck is a great place to relax in comfort as you enjoy the view of the Shadulu Dam where there is a consistent procession of animals coming down to drink. But perhaps our favourite of all is the underground hide reached by a swing bridge where you can get a close-up view of the wildlife coming to drink at the Shadulu Dam – the perfect place for great photographs. Idube now also boasts its own stylish new spa - the Baobab Spa - where the trained therapists will welcome you in for a relaxing massage or other pampering treatment! And for those of you who feel they need to do something about all the delicious food you’re consuming, the lodge’s gym is the place to be!

If that seems too much like hard work, the well-stocked bar is a great place to sit and savour the moment with an ice cold beer or to gather there before dinner to swap game viewing stories. Each meal at Idube is a special occasion, with breakfast and lunch enjoyed at the open air dining deck and dinner celebrated in the lantern lit boma - or out at the bush venue! Here you can enjoy the evening under the stars with the sound of drums and singing fill the air - followed by a delicious and traditional braai (often featuring delicious game meats – always a favourite with us!)

Nowhere in South Africa can one find a wildlife experience quite like the one experienced within the 65 000 hectare wildlife sanctuary that is the Sabi Sands, and Idube now offers a much upgraded accommodation option in this famous reserve! This area enjoys one of the highest and most bio-diverse wildlife populations of any area in Africa and Idube offers twice-daily game drives through the reserve's western sector. The Sabi Sands is particularly well known for the frequent and excellent sightings of leopard, but of course, you’ll also get to view loads of other animals such as elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, zebra and a vast variety of antelope and other species. Knowledgeable rangers and trackers who have been at Idube for many years go out of their way to make the drives and walks interesting and special – so you’re in for perhaps the best wildlife experience of your life!