About
Sabie is a forestry town situated on the banks of the Sabie River in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The name Sabie is derived from the Xitsonga language word "Sava" which means "Sand" because of the rich Sand in the area . The word Sava was adapted by the Afrikaner settlers who changed it from Sava (Xitsonga) into the Afrikaans "Sabie" . The town was started after H.T. Glynn and J.C. Ingle found gold there and formed the Glynns-Lydenburg Gold Mining Company. Sabie is located 360 km (220 mi) east of Johannesburg and 64 km (40 mi) west of the popular Kruger National Park. It is known for its scenery and beautiful waterfalls, and is a popular tourist destination. Its main industry is forestry. The plantations surrounding Sabie form one of the world's largest man-made forests. It is situated approximately 1,066 metres (3,497 feet) above sea level and is in the summer rainfall area. During the winter period, there is little rainfall, and the area can become intensely dry. Forest fires are prevalent during this time, therefore precautions are taken beforehand to create fire breaks, as well as to incorporate block burning.