The Sabie River: A Lifeline Revived by the Summer Rains

Rising in the Drakensberg escarpment of Mpumalanga, the Sabie River flows through the heart of Lion Sands Game Reserve on its way to Mozambique. The river forms a lifeline that is essential for every creature that calls the reserve home. While its flow may ebb during the dry months, it remains a feature of the landscape year-round as it winds its way through thelowveld. But when the wet season returns, the first summer rains are an unmistakable event.

Rolling in on drums of thunder, the billowing black clouds blot out the sun before a whip-crack of lightning splits the sky, releasing the rains. The parched earth, finally quenched, awakens the landscape. The Sabie River surges with newfound vigour, its waters rising from a hushed whisper to a triumphant roar. Once dry tributaries soon swell with life, the life-giving waters spreading like the fingers of an opening hand to cradle and nurture new life across the reserve.

Its banks are lined by woodland savannah made up of thorny and broadleaf trees and long grasses. Having weathered the long dry season with bare branches, the vegetation shoots into life with the arrival of the summer rains. For the wildlife of Lion Sands, the Sabie River is a constant that, during the dry months, offers one of the few reliable sources of water. This draws an array of species to its banks, often making for unforgettable moments and sightings for guests. However, with the arrival of the rains, the river’s role becomes even more pivotal. Lush new life emerges almost overnight, replacing beiges and browns with vibrant greens.

Herds of elephants can be seen wading through the water, trunks playfully spraying one another, while buffalo gather in the shallows, in the cool relief. The distinctive call of the African Fish Eagle can now be heard throughout the reserve as they spread from the river to cover the wealth of new hunting grounds. Other birds of every colour and song also congregate along the riverbanks. The males vying for attention over the chirping, buzzing chatter of new insect life on which they now feast. The rains also signal the start of the calving season for many animals. By January impala, Wildebeest and other herbivores will all be moving through the bush with calves and lambs in tow; and, as is the circle of life, predation peaks in the bush over this time.

For guests at Lion Sands, the summer rains offer a unique safari experience. This is when the landscape is at its most photogenic. Abundant rainbows, shimmering reflections in the river, beautiful deep greens wherever you look and pink skies after the storm all add yet more hues to the iconic African sunsets.

At Lion Sands, the river and the rains converge to create a summer safari experience that is nothing short of extraordinary. Its flow sustains not only the rich tapestry of wildlife but also the soul-stirring experiences that guests take home with them. The summer rains, with their life-giving touch, remind us of the delicate balance of nature and the beauty of renewal.