Lion Sands Private Game Reserve | Sabi Sands, South Africa

With a foot in both the Sabi Sands Reserve and the Kruger National Park, the Lion Sands private game reserve is located in one of Africa’s most incredible and unspoiled wilderness areas. It is as close to perfection as any of the Seven Wonders and truly, a visit to Lion Sands is one you will never forget in your whole lifetime.

From the moment you arrive you feel as though you have stepped into a different world. The love and passion that the staff at Lion Sands, and particularly the field guides, have for the bush and for the heritage of this beautiful corner of the world is apparent in everything they do.

Robert More and his family are the owners and custodians of this amazing place, if you click here you can read more about the history of Lion Sands although I will warn you – the story is as heart-breaking as it is incredible. Reading Robert’s tribute to his late brother Nick is a timely reminder that no one is immune to the unexpected twists and turns of life.

It’s impossible to describe the magic of Lion Sands and the unrivalled beauty of this area but the photographs in this blog post give just a glimpse – a flicker – of the sheer scale of the area. All the lodges at Lion Sands are situated on the perennial Sabie River, and offer guests the pinnacle of African contemporary luxury.

Experiencing the ultimate in luxury is one thing, experiencing it miles away from anywhere in the middle of the African bush is quite another. Taking their cue from Mother Nature, the Ivory Lodge is built ‘of the earth’, with natural materials which only enhance the surrounding bush environment.

The timeless design incorporates steel, wood, thatch, glass, water and sand. A sophisticated mid-century architectural contemporary theme defines the interiors, with bold furniture and edgy décor, ambient lighting, inferences of tribal design and highly textured finishes – all of which combine to make Lion Sands Ivory Lodge an utterly amazing experience.

With three other lodges to choose from (Tinga Lodge, Narina Lodge and River Lodge), it doesn’t matter if you are travelling as a couple, with a family or alone, there is a lodge to suit your needs.

Lion Sands is for the adventurous at heart. Close encounters with Africa’s prized Big Five (including the lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant) will have your heart pumping and adrenalin coursing. Taking a game drive with the experienced field guides and rangers through the reserve has to be one of the most special experiences on earth – vehicles move off road through rough and unchartered terrain, tracking the many animals of the bush.

THE LION SANDS BUCKET LIST

• Go on a bush walk
• Take a trip to Hippo Pools
• Go on a helicopter ride over the Blyde River Canyon
• Drink a glass of champagne on safari, while watching the sun set
• Take a walk around the lodge and see how many animals and insects you can identify
• Spend a night under the stars in one of the Lion Sands Luxury Treehouses
• Enjoy the smell of wood-smoke from around a boma fire
• Learn 5 Shangaan words and their meanings

For more information and how to visit Lion Sands, visit their website here.

All images: Lion Sands