Lion Sands Game Reserve

First African safari, and the experience was absolutely perfect. Saw the Big5 by the end of the first full day, the food was incredible, and the attention to detail at the lodge was top notch. Can’t wait to book another trip with More Family Collections

Our stay at Lion Sands River Lodge exceeded expectations in every category. I cannot rave enough about it. The game drives were mind blowing. We could not believe how close we were able to get to these magnificent creatures, even the elusive leopards (we saw 4 of them!) This was the best travel experience of my life. I hope to be fortunate enough to return one day.

Lion Sands River Lodge is a very special place for us. We have been to Africa six times and the last four trips we ended our trip at Lion Sands. We always end the trip here because if we did Lion Sands earlier we would not appreciate the other camps as much. Just getting off the plane at Szukuza and walking to the building i told my wife it just felt special already! Rector was our guide, Amu our tracker and Phili our butler. Years back Rector was our tracker so he brings huge experience to the guide role. Amu did an excellent job as our tracker. Phili was amazing as our butler-friendly, handled all our special meals requests with a smile and joined us in kidding around. We try to always stay in River Suite #1. We have a crazy expereince this time as after breakfast a herd of 19 elephants walked by close to our deck and one actually got on the deck and walked all the way back to the outdoor shower area. We had to retreat to the room a couple of times! Our viewing highlights were a group of 7 white rhinos right next to the jeep, 14 lions with cubs playing and adults hunting, 23 hippos in the water, 3 hyenas hunting, 6 lions cubs by the side of the road left while adults were hunting, an older male leopard sleeping on a rock, group of 5 lions by the river We stayed at the Chalkley treehouse one night while my brothers each stayed at Kingston one night. If staying at Lion Sands I definitely suggest making an advance reservation to stay one night at one of the treehouses. The one thing you can expect at Lion Sands-you will see things you have not seen before! We are already planning to return in 2027.

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.