Lion Sands Game Reserve

Our returning trip to Lion Sands River Lodge lived up to very high expectations. This time we decided to stay much longer and certainly did not regret it. Lion Sands is an extraordinary place to stay, with remarkable wildlife sightings and wonderful accommodation, all made possible by the fantastic staff who keep the place running like a well-oiled machine. The food for breakfast, lunch and dinner was always extraordinary, with plenty of options to keep everyone happy. With perfect weather we enjoyed sitting on the large deck area watching hippos, elephants and more during breakfast and lunch. From the rooms which are all tastefully appointed with plenty of amenities, you can often watch friendly Nyala and around the lodge. Lion Sands is always a place that has excelled at the small points of detail and the rooms are certainly prime examples of that. The photography lab is a great spot to get any pictures printed. Special mentions: Pierre (Guide) - Our passionate and knowledgeable guide, who put in a significant amount and did a great job looking after 3 people in our vehicle who had back issues. Joe (Tracker) - A fantastic tracker with a great sense of humour and knowledge of the animals and local area. We had Joe as our tracker in 2019 and like many staff at the Lodge, he has been there for a long time, something which always speaks volumes. Jeffrey (Butler) - Who always greeted us with a big smile and his warm personality. Prince (Front Desk) - Who was always super friendly and enthusiastic to see us. Joe, like many staff, have been working at the lodge for a long time and that speaks volumes. What stood out to us this time was the significant work that the Lion Sands team do on managing and looking after the property itself. The tracks they use during the game drives are the best we have seen in Africa, designed to reduce erosion and excessive African back massage. They are doing substantial work around the property with their ecologist to protect significant trees and minimise impacts when going off-road. This speaks to the long-term conservation vision of the properties on Lion Sands which is incredibly important. We hope to return at some point in time! Two small points of feedback: - Room 10 unfortunately had very limited internet and none at the desk itself, was very good in other areas of the lodge - The re-useable water bottles are a lovely touch but do get covered in dust during the game drive which is a bit unfortunate given the straw on top also gets covered

A truly unforgettable experience. No pictures or videos can do justice to the true beauty and adventure that awaits you here. Incredible game viewing, excellent accommodations, and perfect staff.

My wife and I visited in early July 2025 and the experience was nothing short of breath taking. We had Mike and Lloyd as our field guide and tracker and we were blown away with their knowledge and expertise. It was quite chilly there in July (40-55 Farenheit every day) but we had blankets and these hot water bladders to go in your lap during the drive that kept us comfortable. We were able to track down the big 5 and saw leopards every day, lions every day but 1 and scores of hippos, giraffes, zebra, elephants, rhinos, etc. I couldn't imagine having a better experience than we did on game drives with Mike and Lloyd. Accommodations, meals and service was stellar. The food at the lodge is very good and they work with dietary restrictions very well (my wife was gluten free and they customized every meal for her). The boma dining around the camp fire was amazing and really every meal we had we thoroughly enjoyed. We also spent a night in the Kingston tree house and that was such an amazing experience sleeping outside (there's a covered roof and mosquito net and it's safe) and having meals under the stars and listening to all the animals below us. The treehouse is not our style but we took a chance and are very grateful we chose to spend a night there. All in all, this was a dream trip for us and we can't recommend Lion Sands enough. Don't hesitate to pull the trigger as it will likely be one of if not the top trip you've been on. I wish I had time to write something individually about each of these folks but they deserve recognition and you should look out for them if you ever visit. Adelaide (she took care of us during every meal and was an absolute gem), Danique (reception area and so sweet), Mello (Manager, he and I drove 35 min to play golf in Skukuza and had the best afternoon together), Lesogo and Theodora (from the spa, their massages are heavenly), Josephine (chef who customized my wife's gluten free meals), Young T, Trust, Lyborn and Torrence. Thank you all so much and hope to see you again soon!

Exceptional service and experience. 5star room with plunge pool. Not cheap but worth every cent. Service by the staff was sensational.

Lion Sands River Lodge completely exceeded all of our expectations! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by an exceptional team, with Mandrew standing out as an absolute superstar. His service and warmth truly made our stay unforgettable. The wildlife experiences were beyond anything we could have imagined — the diversity and proximity of the animals were nothing short of magical. Every detail was thoughtfully attended to, making this a stay we’ll cherish forever. A huge thank you to the entire team for making this trip so special!