Elephant Plains Game Lodge
Rondavels and suites, family-friendly · Northern sector, served by Gowrie Gate. Independently owned, not part of any group; shares a farm history with neighbouring Simbambili and Arathusa. · Elephant Plains Game Lodge
Mid-range
Inside the park
Owner-run
Elephant Plains is the value option in the northern sector, with Rondavels from R7,300 per person sharing in 2026 against R9,300 to R10,300 for its suites, all VAT included, all built around two daily game drives and bush walks. It shares its original farm history, and by extension its traversing land, with neighbouring Simbambili and Arathusa, though no current hectare figure is published for any of the three. The lodge names a conservation contribution as excluded from the rate but does not give a rand amount on its own site.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Cheapest room category in the north sector
- Glass-fronted Manyeleti Honeymoon Suite with its own splash pool
- Two swimming pools, a gym and a games room
- Two daily game drives with sundowner refreshments included
Cons
- Children under 8 are not accepted
- Drinks, transfers and reserve entrance fees excluded from the rate
- Conservation contribution excluded but its amount is not published
- No wifi or spa mentioned on the site
Rates at Elephant Plains Game Lodge
From R7,300 pppn (2026, Rondavel). 2026 (one flat rate, no seasonal bands): Rondavels from R7,300 per person sharing, Luxury Suites from R9,300, the Manyeleti Honeymoon Suite R10,300. 2027: Rondavels from R8,050, Luxury Suites from R10,250, Manyeleti Suite R11,350. VAT included. Converted at 1 USD = 16.35 ZAR on 23 September 2026, the cheapest room is about $447 in 2026 and $492 in 2027. The lodge names a Guest Conservation Contribution as excluded from its rate but does not state an amount; based on its own room rates, that likely places it in the reserve's Tier 3 band (R310.19 per person per night in 2026), but confirm the exact figure with the lodge.
What the rate covers is not confirmed. We do not know yet whether meals, drinks and activities are included, so read this as the bed only.
Every figure on this page is in US dollars.
Rates and fees come from each lodge's own website, read 16 September 2026, cross-checked against the Sabi Sand Wildtuin's own published Guest Conservation Contribution and access fees at sabisand.co.za (the landowners' association, spelled without an 's') and against a reserve overview compiled the same day. Two booking-agent microsites, sabisands.com and sabisands.co.za (both spelled with an 's', unrelated to the association), were checked for cross-reference only and are not used as a source for any rate or levy figure. Ulusaba's own site quotes no nightly rate for its three lodges, so those are recorded as rates on request. Sabi Sabi and MalaMala are not on the Sabi Sand Wildtuin's own lodge list, and neither states whether the reserve's own conservation contribution applies to a stay there; both maintain their own separate levy or none at all, as noted lodge by lodge.
Questions about Elephant Plains Game Lodge
Is Elephant Plains good for families?
Elephant Plains welcomes children aged 8 and older only, so it does not suit families travelling with younger children. For families with older children, Rondavels are the cheapest room category in the north sector at R7,300 per person sharing in 2026, and the lodge has two pools, a gym and a games room to fill time between drives.
Is Elephant Plains good for a honeymoon?
Yes, through its Manyeleti Honeymoon Suite, a glass-fronted room with its own private splash pool, priced at R10,300 per person sharing in 2026. The lodge does not describe further romantic extras such as a private dinner or turn-down set-up, so ask about those directly when you book the suite.
What does the rate at Elephant Plains include?
The rate covers accommodation, all meals and game drives, including sundowner refreshments out in the bush. It excludes conservation and reserve entrance fees, beverages, personal items and transfers. The lodge names a conservation contribution as excluded but does not state its amount, so check the current figure when you book.
How much does it cost to stay at Elephant Plains?
Elephant Plains runs one flat rate with no seasonal bands. In 2026, Rondavels start from R7,300 per person sharing, Luxury Suites from R9,300, and the Manyeleti Honeymoon Suite is R10,300. All three rise slightly in 2027. VAT is included, but conservation fees, drinks and transfers are charged separately.