Lion Sands River Lodge

This was our second stay at Lion Sands River Lodge, and it was just as incredible as our first visit. The staff were exceptionally friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. The game drives were phenomenal, offering breathtaking wildlife sightings each time. The food was nothing short of amazing, with every meal being excellent. The beautiful lodge provided a perfect blend of luxury and comfort. We truly felt the staff genuinely wanted us to have an unforgettable time. We can't wait to return for another magical adventure!

Our stay was incredible. The lodge is so beautiful and the wildlife was amazing. We saw a leopard on our very fist drive and an incredibly rare pack of wild dogs that evening (both were top of my "hope to see" list). Throughout our stay we saw many journeys of giraffes, several elephants and lions, zebras, hippos, and lots of antelope and kudu. Our room was HUGE, and I adored the large sliding glass doors and private decks at our room. The bed was large and incredibly comfortable. There were great views of the river and wildlife from our room and from the beautiful decks at the main lodge. The Lion Sands team did an especially wonderful job of celebrating my husband's birthday: leaving messages written in flowers on our bed, baking him a delicious cake, and even gifting him a book about adventures in Africa. All of the staff at Lion Sands were amazing - warm, welcoming, attentive, and knowledgeable. Our guide Pierre was especially exceptional. I was continually amazed at his deep knowledge of the animals, their tracks, and the property. On top of all that deep technical knowledge, he has the gift of exceptional hospitality. He was so easy to talk to and patient. I really appreciated the bush walk outing he took us on (and that he kept us safe from the herd of elephants we found!) - it was such a unique experience. Our butler Elliot was wonderful as well! He always greeted us with such a warm smile and made sure to point out when we could spot game right from the dining deck. And the thoughtful notes from Morgan and the lovely touches from our housekeeper (like leaving messages in flowers on our bed)... truly it was a magical stay. I would have loved to stay forever!

I wasn’t going to add my eulogy to all the others but can’t help myself. This place is as wonderful as it gets - our guide, Kyle, and tracker, Eddie, were wonderful to watch together and were so thoughtful and brilliant at their job. This was our first safari and the bar has now been set so high I know from talking to others who have done many others this place is the benchmark. Sure it’s expensive but honestly it is worth it. Thanks for some amazing memories capped off by the boma on the last night.

I've been around lodges and hotels but never something as memorable and amazing as this. Lucky our butler was on point never missing a beat. Our guides, Gino and Patrick were exceptional. They went through the smallest details and made it as educational as well as making it a fantastic adventure. The back boards in the room is a lovely touch

My wife and I stayed at Lion Sands. I have never enjoyed a vacation so much as I haven’t Lion Sands. It is an understatement to say we were treated great. From the minute we arrived, everything was perfect. From our guide Lucia, to our tracker Norman, and everyone else, we were family! This is the experience of a lifetime. The accommodations, food, amenities, everything was superb. My only wish was to spend a night in the treehouse. Maybe next time. Elliott was so kind in tending to our meals, he even through a special dinner for my wife’s birthday. The whole visit to Lion Sands was a 10 of 10!

This trip was our 30th anniversary and we wanted it to be special and different. Lion Sands River Lodge did not disappoint. This was the best trip we have ever taken! The lodge and people were so welcoming and friendly. The food was exceptional (and plentiful)! Our Guide Kyle and our Tracker Eddie made each safari trip fun and informative. We stayed in the treehouse on our actual anniversary and what a magical place! Lion Sands made this the trip of a lifetime and we were so sad to leave.

PERFECTION!!!!! Lions Sands is hand down one of my favorite places I have stayed. Its worth every penny. The customer service, property, rooms, attention to details, special touches, game drives, spa and activities were top notch. Our morning and afternoon game drives were AMAZING!!! We saw all big 5 animals. Thanks for making our time in Africa one to remember.

Complete heaven in the bush! The contemporary style of the buildings present a fresh look at a bush experience. Our room was luxurious and had every amenity we needed. The meals were exceptional, with a leaning towards healthy & wholesome. The friendly staff at River Lodge made us feel as if nothing was too much trouble. The gym was well equipped and very private. Our game drives were interesting, and while we did see 'the Big 5', wider interests were satisfied too. An exceptional experience all round!

The most incredible, epic and amazing vacation of my life! I can’t say enough good things about this experience. - The rooms were absolutely gorgeous and well appointed! Always clean and well maintained. - The service was top notch! The people really made the experience. Every detail was taken care of. - The food was delicious! Made fresh daily, custom menus, absolutely unbelievable dining experiences. we happen to be there over Easter, and the Easter brunch spread was like nothing I’ve ever seen before! - The guides on safari were so sweet. I can imagine week after week they are met with the same questions from first time, safari travelers like myself and my husband. They had so much patience, excitement, and thrill to show us the bush, and all of the animals! We had Ozy and Heavy, quite the incredible duo!!! - We saw all animals on our list and more. We will be back!!