Access & Location
The camp can be accessed via 3 hours’ private road transfer or 3 hours’ self-drive from Durban’s King Shaka International Airport. It’s situated within KwaZulu-Natal’s Manyoni Private Game Reserve.
Rhino Sands Safari Camp
An intimate and authentic camp in KwaZulu-Natal’s Manyoni Private Game Reserve
Formal lounge, casual bar/lounge, various dining spaces, and a boma with a bush oven
Just four tented suites, each with a private living area, outside shower, and swimming pool
Game drives and photographic safaris
Our Yellow Zebra Opinion
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Consistently great
An absolute hidden gem. Affordable luxury tented camps are few and far between in South Africa these days, and Rhino Sands successfully balances authenticity and luxury in a lesser-known and under-rated region of South Africa.
Activities
The camp offers a small yet very special selection of activities, as follows:
Expertly guided game drives
Photographic safaris
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This is the main activity at Rhino Sands. Manyoni Private Game Reserve is considered one of the finest reserves in KwaZulu-Natal, due in no small measure to the presence of the Big Five here – that’s lion, rhino, leopard, elephant, and buffalo! There are plenty of smaller predators and herbivores to view too, such as cheetah, hyena, jackal, wild dog, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, and an exciting assortment of antelopes. There are over 450 species of birds! The game drives from camp are available during early morning and late afternoon into evening with refreshment stops along the way for teas/coffees and sundowners respectively.
Whether you’re a beginner or something of a professional, you can head into the bush to enjoy some wildlife photography. Manyoni covers 23,000 hectares of savanna, woodlands, and water sources, providing an enchanting backdrop for your wildlife photos. And it’s perfect for sunset snaps too!
Facilities
The communal structure at Rhino Sands Safari Camp is also elevated on wooden decking, and it has a canvas roof.
The interiors include a formal lounge, featuring sumptuous seating around coffee tables and beneath a ceiling fan. There’s a more casual bar/lounge too. Next to the formal lounge, you’ll find the indoor dining area, which has a long table flanked by safari chairs. Underfoot there’s a colourful rug, while overhead there’s a sparkling chandelier! Guests are welcome to tuck into the camp’s delicious food and drink al fresco. For example, you might like to dine in the boma, which has its own bush oven. During the day, you can enjoy the sight of the river and the waterholes, while evening meals provide opportunities for a little stargazing in this magical part of the world.
Amenities
Guest accommodation consists of just four luxury tented suites.
All are positioned on raised wooden decking within a secluded area of riverine forest. The tents open up completely on three sides to provide beautiful views, all containing a comfortable king or twin beds, bedside stands and lighting, and a useful luggage rack. Adjacent to this space is the private living area, featuring a well-cushioned sofa, a coffee table, and a mini-bar. Other amenities include ceiling and standing fans, and the en-suite washroom contains a flush toilet, washbasin, bathtub, and outside shower within reed walls. On the private deck, you’ll find a couple of sunloungers and a swimming pool! From here, you can enjoy lovely views down to the river where there are number of permanent waterholes, which are very popular with the local wildlife.
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Talk to someone who’s been there
Real expertise doesn’t come from a few trips to Africa. All our specialists have either been guides, run the camps, or grown up and lived in Africa. That’s over 600 years of genuine safari experience.
