What an amazing experience. We celebrated our anniversary at the River Lodge and it was a truly authentic experience. Each game drive was a new adventure and we were able to see the Big 5 during our three day trip. It was one of the most hospitable places we’ve stayed and would highly recommend to anyone considering Kruger. Highly recommend Gino: our operator, guide, driver, friend and barista!

There are no words for how fantastic this place is. The game drives were amazing, we saw so many animals and they were so close! Our guide Lee and tracker Rector were a real pleasure to go out into the bush with, entertaining and knowledgeable. The River Lodge was absolutely beautiful. This was the trip of a lifetime for sure.

We stayed at Lion Sands in February 2023. 100% top notch! From our villa, our guide and tracker, our butler, the rest of the staff, the Safari vehicles…it was all outstanding! I can’t say enough good about everyone associated with our visit. Our concierge, Chanelle, took care of anything we needed prior and during our visit to South Africa. We would love to return to Lion Sands again. You would not be disappointed.

You guys… best trip ever!! We stayed at the Narina Lodge and it was magical from start to finish. First, the views from the “lobby” of the hotel are unreal. We saw 3 of the Big Five just from the lobby alone. You are truly one with nature here in the middle of Kruger! It is a private area of the park but zero fencing or animal intervention which is what we cared about. We really appreciated the safety briefings they gave us as we felt very comfortable on the property. Our villa was later surrounded by 30+ elephants and my mom saw a leopard from her room… anytime we needed an escort or security, they were available. The guides: We had Aaron & Bricks. Best duo over, there wasn’t a single question about anything that they couldn’t answer. They found the big 5 for us and wouldn’t quit until we checked all the boxes! They felt like family by the time we left and we will be coming back in the future bc of these two Butler service: Elan is quite possibly the most welcoming & friendly person we’ve ever met while on a trip (my husband is an international pilot so we travel a LOT). You know when you meet someone whose happiness and smile is contagious? That’s him. He also remembered I love a 1pm aperol spritz and brought them day after day to our room before I could even ask! Management: Spectacular, anything we needed at anytime was done for us. Cleaners, porters, helpers, all staff: Incredible. Everything was so seamless, romantic, special, etc. When I say everyone felt like one big family here, it’s true. I don’t think we’ll ever be able to duplicate this experience anywhere else.

Absolutely amazing! All of the staff was wonderful- we left as friends. The safari tours did not disappoint-The trackers/guides are the best! They went over & beyond to track the animals. Anna did an amazing job as the chef. Not enough words!

Lion Sands is now my new benchmark as a 5 Star place for travel destinations. I had an amazing time while staying with them. The service was extremely excellent and tour guides were too notch. The butler service was excellent! I would definitely go back here for a vacation.

This private game reserve will exceed your wildest imagination. We stayed both at River Lodge. The staff are all very hard-working to make sure your day flows seamlessly. The food and lodgings were both wonderful. I cannot say enough good things about our driver, Ruvan, and tracker, Abraham. They've worked for years as a team, and the teamwork shows in the quality of the experience. They're so personable and knowledgeable about the animals and the environment. What else can I say, but, WE HAVE TO GO BACK!

I loved our stay at Lion Sands . Our guide was Cruz, and our spotter was Bila. Cruz was an amazing, very talkative, and informative, very knowledgeable person, and Bila had the vision of an eagle . He spotted a chameleon in a tree at night amazing. Also, I recommend checking out the spa. I got a deep tissue massage, one of the best I've ever had . I most definitely recommend this place, and if you get Bila and Cruz for your tour, you're definitely in for a experience of a life time !!!!

of the 34 countries and hundreds of hotels/experiences i've stayed, this is the standout by far. would recommend again and again and again. it's a place of dreams, everything you could ever hope for. staff, food, safari, location, rooms, spa, everything, everything was perfect. felt like family being here. worth every penny. we stayed at giraffe manor on the same trip and did the underwater room in tanzania and this made those places pale in comparison. 100% recommend.

I can't speak highly enough. Lion Sands has thought of everything before you arrived. They are very thoughtful, down to the nightly messages they left for my wife and I on our honeymoon. Kim and Jabu are a dynamic pair. Request them as your tracker and guide. I would love to come back again with more friends. This was the highlight of my honeymoon. Thank you to every staff member who makes Lion Sands who they are!

Great Rooms and Wildlife, but Disappointing Response to Theft Incident I recently stayed at Lion Sands Game Reserve in Sabi Sands and had an overall good experience, but with one big caveat. The rooms were fantastic - clean, modern, and spacious. The highlight, of course, was the game drives where we got to see the "big 5" animals. The reserve itself was breathtaking, with stunning views and wildlife all around. However, my stay was marred by a theft incident that occurred in my room. A significant amount of cash was stolen from my room, and I didn't realize it until I was at the airport for departure. I was shocked by this because the hotel had given us the impression of being in a very safe environment, but it seemed that wasn't the case. What was even more disappointing was the hotel's response to the situation. Firstly, the investigation conducted by the hotel took over four weeks and was ultimately inconclusive. I felt that this was an excessive amount of time, given the circumstances. Furthermore, I had to follow up multiple times to get any information about the investigation's progress. What was most surprising, though, was the lack of compensation or any attempt to make things right. I spent over $2,000 USD per night at the hotel, and I expected better customer service than what I received. In conclusion, while I enjoyed my stay at Lion Sands Game Reserve, the theft incident and the hotel's handling of it left a bad taste in my mouth. I hope the hotel takes steps to improve their security measures and customer service in the future.

I highly recommend Lion Sands. We have been to all the lodges and you really just cant go wrong. We enjoyed every minute of our stay. Game viewing was top notch. Food was delicious. Rooms are comfortable, spacious and luxurious. The staff are friendly and I really would not consider booking anywhere else. It's paradise at its best.

Incredible service and rooms. Wonderful knowledgeable guides. Everything first class

Cruz and Lloyd were the best game guides ever! They made our honeymoon the most epic experience ever. We saw all the big 5 and went off-roading to see 3 lions on the hunt. They were so nice and fun to be around. If you book this, I highly recommend requesting them as your game guides. The Lodge itself was awesome too, fantastic food, amazing service, rooms were incredible, and they put on amazing events / dinners / New Year’s party. Definitely recommend coming here, you won’t regret it (but don’t forget to ask for Cruz and Lloyd) they were the best guide/tracker. Philly was our butler and did an AMAZING job. We can’t wait to go back!

Loved it. Expensive but you get what you pay for. Excellent service all round.

Extraordinary people, Plentiful animals, Outstanding comfort. Review of Lion Sands River Lodge Pending review The staff went above and beyond to make our stay amazing. When an uninvited 4 legged visitor ( just a friendly hyena!) came into our our lodging during a safari drive, ( a true testament that this is in a prime wildlife viewing location!) the staff made sure that everything that was damaged was replaced, including expensive medical equipment! We were then offered to stay at their ultra exclusive Ivory Lodge in a private villa, that is larger than an average NYC apartment, complete with huge private plunge pool that is deep, clean and refreshing. Lion Sands River Lodge and Lion Sands Ivory Lodge are located in close proximity, but are quite different. It is impossible to say which is better. Although Ivory Lodge is the super luxury option, with guest privacy a priority, the comradery at River Lodge is warm and welcoming. Also, at River Lodge, a fantastic photography center has resources to download photos and print them onto canvas. It is possible to rent a camera and lens, allowing guests to take professional pictures without lugging around heavy equipment or purchasing expensive zoom lenses. Plus there is the assistance of Fortune, the resident photography expert. He can help to edit the pictures, give you tips, and a run down on how to use the camera features, ensuring you will come home with National Geographic quality shots, printed on canvas. (This service is available at both lodges, but is accessible without needing a game vehicle from River Lodge) At the rustic but sophisticated bar at River Lodge, a sip of South African Gin, Inverroche Amber, concluded our first afternoon game drive. Thanks to OZ, our game drive guide, for also guiding us at the bar! During our 3 days of game drives we saw all the big 5. Plentiful lions, elephant, leopard, giraffe, zebra, crocodiles, and numerous bovidae and birds. On our second day, our incredibly observant tracker, Evans, and our determined driver and guide, Lee, put us at the scene of a fresh kill before the other vehicle arrived. Her driving finesse off road was as exciting as witnessing the lions feast on fresh zebra! Finally, perhaps the most unique feature of staying at either lodge, is the opportunity to stay under the stars, in the middle of the bush, in the safety of a treehouse! A packed gourmet dinner (and breakfast in the morning) was set up overlooking the sunset. It was an evening of lavish style in the wild. Off grid, the two treehouses available to rent, both have toilette facilities and running water. The bed and linens are crisp, clean and comfortable. It is was perfect merger of remoteness and luxury and the experience punctuated our extraordinary stay. I most definitely recommend staying here!

I am an Elopement Photographer in the area and recently photographed a very special marriage ceremony at Lion Sands. I really enjoyed my stay there so much. The staff are just so amazing and all the care and details they have infused i their venue is mind-blowing. The views, the food, the game drives, the room, everything was beautifully curated.

Antoni and Andrus was the best. the hotel, the food, the staff, perfect.

This place is absolutely breathtaking. The environment and setting is perfect for couples. Candlelit pathways and intimate dinner settings. The game drive was superb, we saw the big 5 and more. Drinks are served on the drive, our guide was friendly and made the drive safe and informative. The customer service is of a 5 star treatment. The staff was friendly, attended to our every need timeously and they were part of our experience. I loved everything about it. Even considering getting married here *lol....

A once in a lifetime experience. The staff goes out of their way to make you feel special. The game drives were out of this world and I really enjoyed the knowledge and experience our guide (Lucia) shared with us. The staff is exceptional. You can feel that they are not just doing a job, but are there to give you the greatest time of yout life. Thank you to all.

Modern Lodge full of African soul. Beautiful designs, buildings, and great staff are always around. Not to mention service, it's good. The meal is great and you won't be able to feel any shortcomings while enjoying the safari.

Definitely the best lodge we've visited. They exceeded every expectation we had. The lodge is absolutely beautiful and the staff were amazing. They catered to our every need with fantastic food and the some of the best cocktails we've ever had. We saw Big 5 at every game drive and a whole lot more. The guides and spotters were wonderful and made sure we saw whatever we wanted. They surprised us with an unforgettable boma dinner and tree house breakfast. We will definitely be back !!

When I say this place feels like it’s out of the movies… believe me. Not only is the property beautiful, the itinerary, staff, and community you suddenly get to be a part of, are what make your stay truly one of a kind. Our guide Gino was extremely knowledgeable and paired with Abram, the two would almost immediately spot the animals we mentioned to see on the game drive. The property also feels intimate, where they held some surprise bonfire dinners and treehouse breakfasts, so we met some incredible people during our stay.