A Classic Safari Homestead on the Sand River
Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, South Africa
Nestled on 26, 000 acres (10, 500 hectares) of exclusive-use land, in the famous Sabi Sand Nature Reserve and overlooking the popular Sand River, is the historic Kirkman’s Kamp. The lodge was named after conservationist Harry Kirkman, who first lived on the property and was one of the original founders of the Sabi Sand.
It’s without saying that we love the feeling of almost stepping back in time to the 1920s, to stay in a safari homestead. Old definitely meets new here, with luxury cottages adorned with antique-style beds that seamlessly blend with modern comforts, and enchanting afternoon teas spent on the rolling lawns. Take some time to peruse through the library’s offering or unwind with a pre-dinner drink in the classical sitting room.
Highlights and Activities at Kirkman’s Kamp
ROOMS: 12 luxury safari cottages
BEST FOR: Honeymooner • Couples and Families
ACTIVITIES:
- Big Five game drives (excellent leopard sightings)
- Night drives
- Nature walks
- Birdwatching
- Shangaan village tour
- Pool Facilities
- Spa and Wellness
- Children’s Safari Program
Why We Love Kirkman’s Kamp
This is a lodge we know intimately. Ubuntu Travel’s Marketing Manager, Sean Messham, guided here for three years, and it is also where Kyle and Leah enjoyed their very first safari together. To say we know Kirkman’s Kamp well is an understatement.
Its rich heritage and conservation story, as the original homestead of Harry Kirkman, sets it apart from other safari lodges in the Sabi Sand. Combined with its classic design, exceptional guiding and genuine home-away-from-home atmosphere, Kirkman’s Kamp remains one of our most personally meaningful safari recommendations.
Insider Tip: Spend an afternoon playing croquet or tennis on the lawns and order Pimms with strawberries as a refreshment. For something more active, ask the guides to organise a friendly soccer match with trackers and butlers between game drives.
 FAQs About Kirkman’s Kamp
Where is Kirkman’s Kamp located?
Kirkman’s Kamp is located within the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve in South Africa, set along the Sand River on exclusive-use land known for exceptional Big Five wildlife viewing.
What wildlife can I expect to see at Kirkman’s Kamp?
Guests can expect outstanding Big Five sightings, with the Sabi Sand particularly renowned for its high density of leopards, alongside regular sightings of lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
Kirkman’s Kamp is also one of the better areas in the reserve for African wild dog sightings. The region is known for hosting a resident pack historically referred to as the Toulon Pack, named after the original farm on which the lodge stands. While wild dog movements are never guaranteed, their presence in this part of the Sabi Sand adds an exciting and dynamic element to the wildlife experience.
Is Kirkman’s Kamp suitable for families?
Yes. With its welcoming atmosphere, flexible accommodation and private reserve setting, Kirkman’s Kamp works very well for families travelling together. The lodge also offers a children’s program, designed to engage younger guests with the safari environment through age-appropriate, hands-on activities.
The program introduces children to tracking, nature walks, wildlife awareness and conservation themes in a relaxed and educational way, allowing families to enjoy a shared safari experience while ensuring younger travellers feel included and inspired.
Ready to start planning Your Safari?
Reach out and let’s start talking. We’ll listen and begin to tailor an experiential, private, luxury vacation based on exactly how you want to experience Africa. From adventure to relaxation—and everything in between—let us handle every detail of your unforgettable journey.
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South Africa offers exceptional Big Five safaris and diverse landscapes year-round. Explore our suggested itineraries below, or let us tailor one for you.
14-DAY CAPE TOWN & BIG FIVE HONEYMOON
Fancy a honeymoon in the most romantic locations around Southern Africa? We’ve got just the itinerary planned for you! Our Southern Africa Honeymoon itinerary will take you from Cape Town to the Greater Kruger, onwards to Zimbabwe and finally finishing in whimsical Mozambique. Expect nothing but the best for this once in a lifetime trip.
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White Lions of Ngala: A Luxury South Africa Safari
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The Best of South Africa
This all-inclusive South Africa itinerary is the perfect choice for your first time in Africa. We’ll take you on a whirlwind 10-days exploring Cape Town and the Cape Winelands, followed by an adventurous safari in the bush of South Africa.
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What Ubuntu Travelers Are Saying
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We worked with Ubuntu to plan our honeymoon, and throughout the entire process, we experienced such wonderful customer service. With so many things pulling us in different directions between wedding planning, our personal lives, and work, there were definitely times when our responses and decisions took longer than expected. No matter how long an email sat in our inbox, though, the Ubuntu team was always quick to respond. They patiently answered all of our questions, no matter how silly, and consistently provided helpful specifics, whether that was a direct link or step-by-step instructions. We really appreciated that the team focused on giving us the information we needed to make informed decisions without ever making the process feel like a sales pitch. They were respectful and realistic when it came to conversations about our budget while still making sure they were creating the best experience possible for us. Once we arrived in Africa, the experience continued to be top-notch. The accommodations were beautiful, and every staff member we interacted with was professional, welcoming, and went above and beyond to make our trip memorable. Having all of our airport transfers and domestic travel taken care of was such a relief and exactly what we needed after the chaos of wedding planning. We would recommend working with Ubuntu to anyone we know who is planning a trip to Africa. They made the entire experience seamless, stress-free, and incredibly memorable. We are so grateful for the role they played in making our honeymoon so special.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We just arrived home from a 31 day epic adventure in Africa. We covered SA (Cape Town and surrounds), Singita at Sabi Sands, Vumbura Plains in the Okavango Delta, Joburg, Vic Falls Zimbabwe, Tanzania (Nomad at Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti and Tarangire National Parks), Rwanda (Kigali and Singita at Volcanoes National Park). Ubuntu did an absolutely amazing job in arranging the trip. They were with us every step of the way. Excellent team and service! CDTTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Could not ask for a better safari firm. No stone is left unturned and you always feel like you can get answers, day or night! This is my second time using Ubuntu and I highly recommend them.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Absolute 1st class travel planning. We had the most amazing and memorable trip, and as a person who likes to travel plan myself, this trip had so many moving parts there's no way I could have tackled it. I'd give Ubuntu an 11/10 rating if I could. They made our travel seamless, relaxed, and delivered the most incredible experience. 100% we will use them again.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We had the BEST experience with Ubuntu planning our South Africa trip! From the beginning, they were so easy to work with and were amazing at communicating with us both before and during the trip. They put together the perfect itinerary for us with safari at two different lodges, time on Benguerra Island, and we even decided to add Franschhoek a couple of months before we left. They made everything so easy and somehow managed to make the entire trip feel completely seamless. One of the biggest things that stood out was how responsive they were when we had our international flight canceled. I literally just had to send them a WhatsApp message with our new flight information, and they immediately took care of rearranging everything for us. We never had to stress about figuring out transfers or logistics ourselves. They even had porters meet us at every airport, so we barely had to think about our luggage or where we were supposed to go. We truly felt taken care of every step of the way. It was honestly the trip of a lifetime, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. We are already talking about when we can go back and will 100% be using Ubuntu again to plan our next trip. Highly, highly recommend them!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Fantastic serviceTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
What an incredible South Africa trip Ubuntu planned for my wife and I! Ubuntu set us up with full-day guided Peninsula and Winelands tours during our few days in Cape Town, followed by four days of Safari game drives at the Savanna Lodge within the Sabi Sands Nature Reserve. A huge thank you to Ubuntu for finding a perfect balance/mix of fun activities and relaxed downtime throughout out trip! Ubuntu took care of all the travel logistics once we got down to South Africa. Ubuntu set us up with our Guest Experience Liaison that would check-in with us ever couple of days and was available on call if we needed any sort of logistical support. We didn't end up needing to lean on our liaison since everything went so smoothly, but surely felt we had all the support we needed had something come up. We know we will be utilizing Ubuntu the next time we travel to Africa and highly recommend Ubuntu to anyone else planning a trip to Africa!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
From the plains of the Serengeti to the shores of Zanzibar, Ubuntu Travel designed an unforgettable Tanzanian package to celebrate a milestone birthday. I was especially grateful that they embraced this solo traveler and ensured that every detail was planned out in advance, making this a trip of a lifetime.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Ubuntu Travel planned the most epic safari vacay for my husband and in Tanzania. We loved every place we stayed and every detail was taken care of! Their communication was exceptional! 100 out of 10!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Best vacation of our lives!! My husband and I booked with Ubuntu for an unforgettable vacation to Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar this past June. The experience and support of Ubuntu was beyond our wildest dreams. We had first class, 5 star luxury service from start to finish. Jenna was absolutely amazing and was always a text, email or phone call away to answer our 100s of questions we had during the planning process. Owner's, Kyle and Leah were so kind as to even share links with my husband and I from some of their favorite stores so we could look safari chic. The care and support we were given during this entire vacation were top tier. The vacation itself was so personal, intimate and beautiful. The accommodations were breathtaking. Every lodge and camp left us speechless other than uttering the word, WOW, over and over. The service and staff at the lodges and camps were first class and luxurious. I didn't know a tented camp could be so fancy. I could have never dreamed of having a hot shower in the middle of the Serengeti with fresh French pressed African coffee brought to our tent every morning, or a 3 course breakfast with fresh fruit smoothies in the Masai Mara. We felt connected and so safe throughout our 3 week journey. The safaris were breathtaking and educational. You cannot describe how incredible this vacation is, you have to experience it and Ubuntu gave us a vacation of a lifetime. I cannot recommend Ubuntu enough to anyone looking to book a luxury African vacation. They did the hard work for us all the way down to sending us our beautifully embroidered Ubuntu duffle bag. Great customer service, great company, great people!