I love the Kruger and was also very impressed with the Lower Sabie Restcamp when I first visited in 2005. Back then we stayed in a safari tent which was really nice. This time we were a little bit late with the booking and only got a bungalow. For the price you pay it is definitely okay and we were also right by the river. The kitchen has utensils and everything was clean. The camp has a really nice setting.

The thing that really disappointed me this time was the restaurant/shop which I have in much better memory from my previous stay. The staff were very unfriendly and the choice of food very poor.

All in all I still recommend to stay in the restcamps inside the parks rather than somewhere outside the gates

if people can look past the very poor service from the staff, Kruger and its animals are the best in the world. I agree with all the other travelers, service is very bad, and even worse though, the attitude of the workers. but setting that aside, Lower sabie is one of the pretiest camps in kruger and the viewing deck makes for beautifull photos of the river. On our last trip, bushbuck was playing just meters away. The shop is well stocked with items you will need on your trip.

the small dam to your left as you travel towards skukuza also offers gaurantees sightings of hippo's, croc's and plenty of bird life. the bridge over the river, traveling towards Krokodile bridge, left, also gaurantees alot of wild life.

My wife and I stayed in a one bedroom cabin in Kruger. I had heard stories about lions wandering among the camp tents in Kenya, so I was very relieved to see an electric fence around the entire camp at Lower Sabie. Especially since it was dark when we walked back to our rooms after supper.
The room was basic but clean and had an outdoor patio that faced the river. A large elephant kept watch just outside the electric fence for the two days that we were there. Air conditioner worked well. Bed was comfortable and clean. Good shower.
One problem area was the entry door. It was an aluminum framed patio sliding door, which had exceeded its "best before date". My wife could not open or close it - I had trouble with it, and am fairly strong. We were diligent about ensuring that it was closed because baboons were about and are very destructive if they get to your property, although with the trouble that we had opening and closing the door, a baboon would have had to enlist a gorilla to get the door open.
We did not use the kitchen located at the patio. It was well equipped, including a fridge and food lock-up. Instead, we ate at the restaurant. It was located about 200 metres from our room. Easier to get to before dinner (before sunset); more difficult to get home (after sunset). Area lighting is spotty.
Food is good and prolific at the restaurant. Service is marginal. Not because the workers are slack. It appears that they have not been trained to know what customers expect. The entire area is open to nature. Fans provided sufficient cooling while I was there (March). Weaver birds will share your breakfast with almost no encouragement, to the extent of sitting on your fork. Hippos are always in sight - water buffaloe are often visible, in the river just off the dining area, which is an elevated deck. Altogether a fun place to eat. And the beer is cheap.
We took a night safari that left about an hour before sunset. For readers that live in areas north or south of 50 degrees, there is no twilight in South Africa. One minute the sun is there - 15 minutes later it is dark. To see an animal requires very powerful search lights. Pictures taken this way almost always result in the north side of an animal heading south. It must be disturbing for the animals to have these lights shining on them while they are trying to live their lives.
On the other hand, the rules about vehicles staying on the roads in Kruger seems supportive of the animals. They learn the location and extent of the roads and can plan their day around them, maintaining their privacy when that is important to them. Vehicles are not allowed to chase them throughout the park.
I enjoyed my visit to Kruger and highly recommend it.

The Kruger is always a fantastic place to unwind and relax. And I can understand that the staff don't have the city vibe, but at Lower Sabie they need to jack themselves up a bit if they want to lure repeat foreign visitors. We rented a family cottage but were a bit disappointed: Microwave not working, towels not changed on one day, no frying pan, bats in the roof and cement debris falling from the roof in the middle of the night. Staff lacking a bit of professionalism when dealing with clients. Foreign tourists are not as easy going and accepting as us locals ...so let's raise the bar a little!