Email us

904 Reviews

Enquire

Why book with us?

What are you looking for?

Lion Sands River Lodge

Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Home > Accommodation > South Africa > Sabi Sands Game Reserve > Lion Sands River Lodge

Lion Sands River Lodge

PROPERTY FACILITIES

Pool

Gym

Spa

Wi-Fi

Library

COMFORT LEVEL/PRICE RANGE

Luxury

Ready to plan a tailor-made safari with this safari lodge?

Enquire now and a Travel Expert will get back to you within 24 hours.

Lets start planning

Is the Lion Sands River Lodge for Me?

Located within the Lions Sands Game Reserve, this lodge comprises 18 rooms, decorated individually and reflecting the charm of the surrounding nature.

There is a well equipped gym should you wish to train between the game viewing, and a spa to relax.

Do not miss the Creative lab to print your personal photos onto high-quality canvas, and create a special keepsake or pass on as gifts.

Activities included at the lodge are: Game drives; bush walks; stargazing; wildlife lectures; bush breakfasts, picnic lunches and bush dinners; Mack & Madi Kids’ Adventure Explorers experiences.

You will love River Lodge’s bright, modern charm, blending luxury with tradition for a connection rich safari.

Lion Sands River Lodge Photo Gallery

Lion Sands River Lodge Rooms

The Lion Sands River Lodge has 18 rooms. Select a room for more details.

Luxury Rooms

Superior Luxury Suites

River Suites

Family River Suites

Room facilities

Coffee/Tea

Air Conditioning

Safe

Gowns

Hairdryer

Mini Bar

Fan

Activities offered by Lion Sands River Lodge

Activities on site

Game Drives

Walking Safaris

Bird Watching

Lion Sands River Lodge Videos

More about Lion Sands River Lodge

The Wild Life

Africa has been called the greatest show on earth, and Lion Sands presents a safari that plays out like a highlights reel. Our reserve conserves 5 000ha (12 500ac) of a habitat that is home to the highest and most diverse concentration of wildlife in the southern hemisphere. You will see all of Africa’s iconic species – lion leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, and zebra – along with a supporting cast of no less intriguing 137 mammal species and over 450 varieties of bird. Our safaris present an adventure that is wild, and then some!

Being entirely private, Lion Sands offers you an intimate safari experience. With only six guests to a game viewer and exclusive traversing on our reserve, you’ll have minimal encounters with other people. Though compelling sightings do attract more attention, the number of vehicles here is also limited. This ensures the animals aren’t put under stress and you are able to spend more time with them, observing their natural behaviour. While you are out exploring, you will by no means be roughing it. Your game viewer has cushioned bucket seats, waterproof device holders, blankets and ponchos – and stops off in a scenic spot for drinks and snacks.

Bush Walks

These are our after-breakfast walks on the wild side. For those who wish to experience the bush, not just observe it, there is no better guided excursion. You are dropped in the thick of things and all five senses engage… Feel the scrub crunch beneath your feet, touch a velvety acacia seed pod, hear the crack of a branch indicating you are not alone, and spot the game appear just metres off – exhilarating! This is also a wonderful opportunity to encounter the smaller creatures, often missed on safari vehicles, and to discover more about the reserve’s plants – many with fascinating medicinal properties and traditional uses.

Chalkley Treehouse

The African landscape stretches as far as the eye can see at Lion Sands, and we knew we had to find a special place to capture and enjoy its vastness and splendour. Guy Aubrey Chalkley once set up camp in a majestic centuries old Leadwood Tree to escape predators roaming the plains below.

We decided that this would be the ideal place to build the ultimate bush bedroom, the Chalkley Treehouse. The treehouse is a secure and lavish platform under the African stars, with all the comforts that a guest can experience at a five star safari lodge.

We take our guests to the tree house at sunset, where drinks and a scrumptious picnic dinner await them.The hours of African dusk can be enjoyed relaxing and absorbing the vastness of the bushveld as it transforms from day to night, before turning in for slumber beneath the incredible night sky.

Kingston Treehouse

Make your way through rows of magnificent white boulders and across a small drawbridge, and you will find Africa opening up in front if you. Set amid the pure and untouched wild, you will be surrounded by African bush and uninhibited wildlife at its best.

The Kingston Treehouse is constructed entirely from wood and glass, with contemporary décor in understated hues of greys, white, black and purple. No matter what the weather has in store, you will have a safe and luxurious setting with a unique window to enjoy the ever-changing views. In fact, we defy you to find two identical African sunsets.

The 60m2 Treehouse is situated about 5 minutes from the main lodge, and you will have radio contact with the rangers, should you choose to. You will also find some cellphone reception; but don’t expect any wi-fi in the bush. Kingston is equipped with full bathroom and shower facilities, and Africology products to complete your sensory experience.

Enjoy a dinner of tapas or a full meal with Champagne, under the splendor of an African starlit sky.

Food & Wine

From boma feasts to safari refreshment stops, dining promises to be a highlight – for all our guests, with any dietary requirement, including kosher, catered for. Our chefs transform local recipes into contemporary dishes, giving you a taste for Southern Africa. Paired with premium wines from the Cape, dining becomes an experience. Our wine tastings are also a favourite of connoisseurs and dabblers, alike.

Spa & Wellness

In our experience, being well taken care of inspires a fundamental sense of well-being. And how better to indulge than with luxurious accommodation, wholesome food, and spa therapies? We favour Africology products, instilled with the belief that self-care brings balance. So with our massages, wraps and facials, we promise a wellness experience to rejuvenate your body, quiet your mind, and revitalise your spirit.

Giving Back

Lion Sands together with More Community Trust assists our local Huntington and Justicia B villages, and you can get involved, too. Take a community tour, the proceeds of which go to our development projects here, or roll up your sleeves to help out through our Get Your Hands Dirty initiatives.

These centre on education, infrastructure, health and environment, and you can choose the area best suited to your skills and interest. These are extraordinary social experiences that bring you to the heart of Southern Africa to make your own and others’ dreams come true.

English

Why Book with us?

Our safari experts are with you at every step of your journey.

Personalised Advice

Plan your trip with experts who live in Africa and have first-hand experience of the places you dream about. With this knowledge, they’re able to tailor every detail of your safari to your interests.

Exceptional Value

Safaris planned around your comfort and budget, with industry-leading financial protection. From rustic camps that move with the herds to private-use villas for families, we'll find your ideal set-up.

Responsible Safaris

We plan journeys with care and only work with partners we trust so that your safari has a positive impact on local communities, economies, and conservation initiatives.

24/7 Support

Our team of safari experts (with over 60 years of collective experience) are with you every step of the way, from planning your trip to landing back home after the experience of a lifetime.

What Our Guests Have to Say?

Read recent reviews from travellers who have planned and booked their trips with us

"Excellent trip -- tour operators were professional and on time. Safari lodge choices excellent. Adelle communicated issues that cropped up in a timely manner and the whole process was a pleasure."

Jake Sanderson, United States•29 May 2026•

"We started to plan our Safari only 2 months prior to arriving in South Africa. The planning and logistics provided by Discover Africa were superb. We only visited Botswana (4 different camps for 2 nights each) and each camp was a wonderful, and yet very dif..."

Peter Mckown, United Kingdom•15 Oct 2025•

"We booked our safari adventures in Kenya and Tanzania with Susan at Discover Africa. The trip was nothing short of amazing, one of the best safari experiences we have ever enjoyed. Susan was thoughtful and patient throughout the planning process and really ..."

Cathy Hurdle, Thailand•28 Sep 2025•

"Africa was on my travel "wishlist" but I never thought I would actually get there That all changed when our son was home for a visit over Christmas. He announced that he and a friend were going to Africa. They had selected DISCOVER AFRICA to plan their t..."

Deborah Harlow, United States•16 Sep 2025•

"We had a wonderful experience with Discover Africa and, specifically, Dev Panaino. Dev helped us plan a dream vacation to South Africa and Zimbabwe and made the planning from our end effortless. We met with Dev via Zoom calls for the initial trip planning, ..."

Sally, United States•28 Aug 2025•

"We had an absolutely amazing experience with this travel agency! Cayleigh was incredibly professional, friendly, and organized every detail of our trip flawlessly. All the transfers were perfectly arranged — we didn’t have to worry or struggle with anything..."

Alex Kohli, United Arab Emirates•21 Jul 2025•

View All Testimonials