Sable Valley Lodge
Thatched rondavels · Dete Vlei, Sikumi Forest, 17 km from Main Camp · Amalinda Safari Collection
High-end
Outside the gate
Owner/family-run
Eleven thatched rondavels on seven private kilometres of the Dete Vlei, rebuilt and reopened in late 2022 under the new name Sable Valley; ignore older listings that still call it Sable Sands. The underground hide is the best-equipped in the area, with wifi, charging points, a fireplace and a mini bar, so you can sit there all afternoon. Sable antelope on the vlei gave the lodge its name.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Underground hide with wifi, charging points, a fireplace and a mini bar
- Seven private kilometres of the Dete Vlei
- Completely refurbished and reopened in late 2022
- Night drives, plus a pool at the lodge
- Families welcome, with room advice from the team
Cons
- From $550, rising to $682 from May to October
- Older listings still use the old name, Sable Sands
- Outside the park, 17 km from Main Camp
- No minimum age found on the lodge's site
What's here
- Swimming pool
- Wi-Fi
- Bar
Arranged from the lodge:
- Game drives
- Guided walks
- Night drives
Read from Sable Valley Lodge's own website in July 2026. Anything not listed we could not confirm, which is not the same as it being absent.
What the park charges on top
The rate above buys you a bed. Hwange National Park charges its own entry fee for every day you are inside. Here is what that adds up to.
- Park entryThe rate if you drive in from outside.
- $24per person, per day
- Vehicle$10 a day on a day visit, $3 if you are staying inside.
- $10per vehicle, per day
Three nights means three days inside, so two adults sharing one vehicle pay $174 in park fees before anyone pays for a bed.
The full fee schedule for Hwange National ParkRates at Sable Valley Lodge
From $550 pppn. $682 May to October, fully inclusive. Rebranded from Sable Sands and completely refurbished in late 2022, so ignore older listings.
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.
Indicative 2026 rates from operators' own rate cards, gathered July 2026. Always confirm with the lodge. One thing to watch when comparing: some camps include ZimParks fees in their rate and some do not, which shifts the real gap by $12 to $36 per person per night.
Questions about Sable Valley Lodge
Is Sable Valley Lodge good for families?
Sable Valley says families are welcome and asks you to check with its team about room arrangements and hide access for your group. We found no published minimum age, so give your children's ages when you enquire. If you want a fenced camp, Amalinda's Ivory Lodge nearby takes children from age two.
What does the rate at Sable Valley Lodge include?
Rates are fully inclusive, from $550 a person a night and $682 from May to October. Activities include game drives, walks and a night drive. The lodge's page does not say whether park fees are included, so check that when you book.
Is Sable Valley the same as Sable Sands?
Yes. Sable Sands was rebranded as Sable Valley and completely refurbished, reopening in late 2022, so ignore older reviews and listings under the old name. It now has eleven thatched rondavels on seven private kilometres of the Dete Vlei.
Is Sable Valley good for a honeymoon?
The lodge pitches itself at couples as much as families. Its eleven thatched rondavels share a pool, and the underground hide, with wifi, charging points, a fireplace and a mini bar, is comfortable enough for a whole afternoon. No plunge pools or private sleep-outs are listed.