Hoedspruit, South AfricaBalule Nature Reserve
Sausage Tree Safari Camp
Owner-guided tented camp
Balule Nature Reserve Hoedspruit, South Africa
Opened
2012
Price
$$$
Rated for
Local Luxe ResortOutside the door
Owner-guided tented camp
The five-tent camp runs on personal hospitality, with the owners guiding daily drives and hosting shared dinners by the fire.
What it’s good at
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
The five tents, recently upgraded, look out over a dry riverbed toward the Drakensberg range.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
The reserve shares an unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park, and the nearby Olifants River draws hippos and crocodiles.
1 of 4
The rooms
Elevated safari tents look across a dry riverbed toward the mountains, each with a deep tub and an outdoor shower.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Sun loungers line the timber deck around the pool, which looks straight out over a bushveld waterhole.
Restaurant
The Boma
Lantern-lit tables surround an open campfire inside the reed enclosure, where dinners are served under the stars.
At the table
Wooden stools line the thatched bar counter, stocked with South African craft gins, local beers, and regional wines.
How it began
The camp takes its name from surrounding Kigelia africana trees, whose two-foot-long fruits yield a traditional red dye when boiled.
Hoedspruit
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.