Travel Diary: Lion Sands Game Reserve

Nestled alongside the Sabie River in the exclusive Sabi Sands Game Reserve – which shares a fenceless border with the world-renowned Kruger National Park – is the Lion Sands Game Reserve. Lion Sands Game Reserve is the only private reserve to have a foot in both the Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Kruger National Park, and is home to the stunning Lion Sands River Lodge and Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, including the ultra-exclusive Fish Eagle Villa, and two magnificent treehouses.

There are many ways to get to the Lion Sands Game Reserve and respective lodges. The most popular arrival option would be to fly to Skukuza Airport and take a short game drive to your amazing accommodation. We opted for the self-drive option from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport which took us around 6 hours, entering through the Sabi Sands Shaw’s Gate. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended should you decide to go this route. During the short game drive from the gate to the lodge we were immediately immersed in the safari experience and saw an incredible amount of wildlife. We saw zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, kudu, and many more! Upon arrival at our first lodge – the original Lion Sands River Lodge – we were greeted by smiling faces, cool towelettes, helpful porters, and a refreshing welcome drink.

Lion Sands River Lodge

The River Lodge is where it all began for Lion Sands. The original lodge had recently undergone an extensive renovation and has an extraordinary freshness and lightness to it: a breath of new life beneath ancient trees. The reception area is spacious and inviting, with a few swinging chairs to entertain my childlike spirit. Next to the reception is a small curio shop with local handmade items to take home with you including clothes, books, jewelry, maps, and art. Above the shop is a Creative Lab where you can edit and print images from your safari experience. The main lodge is completed by the bar, lounge, and dining area, which are located around a large wooden deck overlooking the Sabie River.

The lodge has a natural, contemporary style, which made me feel light, relaxed, and carefree. Personally, I loved the pops of macramé, leather, and light wood throughout the space. The deck is sprinkled with tables and chairs for soaking up the sights and sounds of the bush, and the large fire pit and lounge is ideal for relaxing with a post-drive drink after your thrilling safari. Wooden walkways meander past calm bushbuck and nyala from the main lodge and reception to the rooms, spa, heated pool, gym, and boma.

Our room was simple, yet luxurious, and included all the amenities one could need for a lavish stay. Large sliding doors lead onto a small deck that overlooks the river. River lodge has eight regular rooms, six superior rooms (some of which are interleading, each with indoor and outdoor shower), and four suites (with options for one- or two-bedrooms, each suite with a private plunge pool, and indoor and outdoor shower). With the focus on the main lodge and not the rooms themselves, the communal areas invite guests to mingle and interact should they want to. This lodge welcomes children at least 10 years of age, and includes disabled facilities.

Game viewing at Lion Sands River Lodge

Of course, as with any lodge in the Sabi Sands, the highlight of our days was the game viewing. With the Sabi Sands reserve being arguably the best place in the world to see leopards, we were not disappointed! Only ten minutes into our first game drive we came across a small female leopard relaxing in a tree watching some antelope nearby.

We were able to spend some time with her, watching her navigate the bush, climb trees, and stalk prey. The rest of our game drives were equally as exciting, with more leopard, lion, and wild dogs, just to name a few! Game drives were twice a day, with the option of walking safaris as well.

Food at Lion Sands River Lodge

The food was all amazing- the constantly changing menu is more of a guideline, with the chef being extremely accommodating and happy to prepare specific requests. Breakfast and lunch had 5 or 6 options on the menu, while dinner had 2 to 3 options for starters, 5 to 6 options for mains, then 2 to 3 options for dessert. My only complaint is that I didn’t have enough room in my stomach to finish it all!

Lion Sands Ivory Lodge

A quick peek at the Lion Sands Ivory Lodge proved to be a treat, as the lodge is absolutely spectacular. Ivory Lodge has the same light and natural feel as River Lodge, but it is elevated. After moving through reception you pass an art gallery where there is a constant flux of resident artists that exhibit on rotation. As with River Lodge, the main lodge overlooks the river from a large wooden deck with an adjacent restaurant, bar, and lounge. Here, however, you can feel that the focus is more on a private luxury experience. The rooms, adequately called villas (8 one-bedroom units), are very large with their own fireplaces, indoor and outdoor showers, large decks, and heated pools. The villas are named after local prominent birds – each complete with a stunning focal photograph by a local artist featuring the feathers of that bird, which I feel is a thoughtful touch. There is also a boma and spa with a gym. The many stairs at this lodge may make it difficult for elderly guests. Children must be 10 years of age.

Fish Eagle Villa

Next to Ivory Lodge is the ultra-exclusive Fish Eagle Villa, which quite literally took my breath away. This en-suite two-bedroom home away from home is completely private. It has its own entrance, spa, gym, large heated pool, lounge complete with library and study nook, and private chef. The large wooden deck overlooks the river (as does the private spa and gym below) and incorporates a lounge area by the pool, a fire pit, and a jetty out toward the river for a more immersive bush feel. This villa is light and bright with beautiful, natural finishes. Children of all ages are welcome here, and there are activity options for entertaining the little ones including bush adventures, interactive cooking, and pool games. Being a bit of a science nerd, I enjoyed pursuing the impressive collection of National Geographic magazines, spanning decades, that are incorporated into the library in the lounge. While this villa is completely separate to the rest of Ivory Lodge, a short walk down the wooden boardwalks leads to the main lodge.

Kingston Treehouse

As an extra-special treat, we booked to stay at the Chalkley Treehouse for one night. We were drawn to the Chalkley Treehouse because it overlooks the open savanna and is completely open to the bush – no glass windows or doors, no screens or safari tents, not even a roof to separate us from the bush. Unfortunately, it was raining that evening, which spoiled our plans for the Chalkley Treehouse. But thankfully the larger, more sheltered Kingston Treehouse was available! This treehouse overlooks the treetops and has all the same allure as the other, but with a convenient roof and roll-down canvas walls (with clear windows) to protect us from the elements. We were told that we could return to our room at the lodge whenever we wanted since the treehouses are booked in conjunction with the rooms, but there was no way we were leaving that treehouse early. Our evening there was magical! Even with the bad weather, we were completely comfortable, cosy, and dry. We enjoyed sundowners on the couch while overlooking the treetops, and indulged in the delicious tapas-style dinner at a lantern-lit dining table listening to lions and hyenas call in the distance.

There is a large bathroom (where we met a very cute little frog) with a double vanity and a hot rain shower. The bed was garnished with plenty of extra blankets and even hot water bottles should we need them during the rainy night. We fell asleep listening to the gentle sounds of the rain on the roof while we were warm and dry, cocooned in our fluffy bed. Waking up immersed in the bush with the birds calling around us was an unforgettable experience. Even though we were only 1.5km away from the lodges (with the lodge staff available over the radio at a moment’s notice) it felt as though we were the only people in the entire reserve. What an extraordinary experience!

Overall

Overall, the Lion Sands lodges offer options for varying levels of exclusivity, particularly those wanting a simply furnished, light, contemporary experience. Increasing in luxury and privacy, the River Lodge, Ivory Lodge, and Fish Eagle villa are all spectacular. And for those wanting to completely unplug and instead connect to the wilderness, the treehouses are not to be missed.

We would like to thank Miguel and the MORE Team for the invitation, Olivia for the tours around the lodges, the entire staff at the lodge for making us feel so welcome and pampered, and of course our guide, IP, and tracker, Surprise, for the amazing wildlife sightings.

Obrigado!

If you are interested in experiencing a luxury safari experience like no other at the exclusive Lion Sands Game Reserve with Ker & Downey® Africa, get in touch with one of our LuxVenture® Designers today!