Lion Sands River Lodge

Time on safari with Simon, Joyce, and Matt was the highlight, though the people, accommodation, food, and drinks were all top of the line too. We had based our expectations for Lion Sands River Lodge on what our tour organizer and others had told us, but the visit went far beyond anything we could have imagined. We can't picture it being better, and we'll be back!

We saw the Big 5 on our very first morning drive. Dumi was our ranger and Andreis our tracker, and they both did so much to make sure we had a great time. Once, Andreis even went into the bush on foot with just a stick to track a pride of lions. The open vehicles fit six people and can leave the roads to follow animals. Rangers keep in touch, but we seldom saw another vehicle on our drives, with only a handful covering the Private Reserve. They also make sure no more than two vehicles are near an animal. The lodge itself is beautiful, and we were treated like royalty during our three honeymoon nights. There was always food, and empty glasses were refilled quickly. Elliot, our personal attendant, was fantastic. We shared evening drinks with him and learned he and some other staff, including the chef, had worked there for over 20 years. That says a lot about the setup at Lion Sands. It was a magical, incredible experience. It wasn't cheap, but it was worth every penny. Thank you all!

Raymond and our tracker Mpilo had more than 20 years of experience between them, and over the six drives they helped us find every animal several times. I'd call Raymond the leopard king: we saw more than six leopards, plus elephants swimming and lions roaring. I came back energized from each drive. On my first trip to Africa, this safari beat every expectation. The food, service, and drives were all flawlessly done, and the staff were genuinely keen to chat and share our excitement. Meals were fresh, farm to table, and the menu changed each day. For a safari, consider one of the MORE Family lodges on the private Sabi Sands Reserve. It's a top notch experience, and you're likely to see plenty without crowds.

The game drives at Lion Sands were just what we'd hoped for, and the staff's genuine warmth and friendliness surpassed our expectations. Our three days there came at the end of a two week visit to South Africa and made for a truly once in a lifetime trip. It's hard to put into words how magical the whole experience was.