Lion Sands Game Reserve

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!

Lion Sands did everything exceptionally well and provided very comfortable accommodations one would expect of a top tier resort. On top of that, their game guides and trackers were excellent and incredible knowledgeable. We had action packed game drives throughout our stay and saw everything we could have hoped for including big cats in action.

Lion Sands River Lodge exceeded all expectations. The accommodations are luxurious, the food fantastic and without exception, the staff amazing. Like others, we cannot say enough about our time there, perhaps maybe it was too short! Gino was our guide and he was friendly and knowledgeable and kept us on the move to see the most wonderous animals. Patric was our intrepid tracker and he was so impressive. The hotel staff was kind and caring, special thanks to Erica and Bianca! Finally, Gifford, our butler was fantastic. When my son missed a special dinner because he was sick (anti malarial meds are tough!), Gifford set up a private fireside dinner for our family so Charlie would not feel left out. If we had more time, I would have loved to stay in the treehouse. We saw an elusive Cheetah hunt for pray one day and “enjoy” it the next. Fascinating. Do not hesitate - go to Lion Sands River Lodge!