Lion Sands Game Reserve

Lion Sands River Lodge was fantastic in all categories. We were in a River Suite that was gorgeous and had every amenity possible. The view was breathtaking. We would leave in the morning drive and by the time we got back around nine, our room was cleaned. The thrill of each day was the morning and late afternoon drives. Anthony and Andres, our guide and tracker were outstanding. Not only did we see the big five practically every day, we also saw and leaned about the birds and fauna of the area. Now I am proud to say that I can identify a dung beetle if asked! The food was tasty and we enjoyed the barbecue the last night we were there. All of the staff members were so friendly and incredibly helpful. I have to say, staying at Lion Sands was an experience of a lifetime.

We absolutely adored Lion Sands River Lodge. The accommodations were both beautiful and comfortable. I was very happy to see that they had washcloths and Kleenexes for their American guests! We could relax on our deck or in the bathtub, watching giraffes, water buffaloes, elephants, and countless kudus. The food and drinks were exceptional, leaving us more than satisfied throughout our stay. Our night in the Chalkley Treehouse was unforgettable; it's an open treehouse with sweeping views of the bush. We were lucky to witness a stunning sunset, hear a lion's roar, and observe elephants at sunrise as they walked below us. The spa experience was equally fantastic, ranking among the best we've experienced. However, what really enhanced the experience was the staff; they were outstanding, particularly our ranger. They were very committed to ensuring the best experience possible. Our safaris in the morning and afternoon were led by our extremely knowledgeable ranger and tracker who diligently ensured we encountered every animal on our list, including the Big Five and many others. We appreciated learning from our guide as they brought us as close as possible to lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, hippos, water buffalos, giraffes and a hyena. We loved the morning coffee and evening cocktails in the bush, set up by our ranger and tracker. We travel a lot and this goes down as one of the best trips we've had.

lion sands river lodge lives up to its name . we had such a wonderful time here at river lodge , the staff we met the rooms the whole bundle was amazing . there are 5 people i would like to mention , Gino was a master of his trade , so knowledgeable in his field of a safari guide, very obliging and very friendly . then there was Patric such a nice man and a fantastic tracker, also funny . we had our own butler named Jabu , he was so kind and never let us have an empty glass or go hungry . now on to the safari , babies every where we looked , lion cubs , leopard cubs, baby dumbos , baby zebra , you name it we saw it . the amount of lions we saw was incredible . roaring lions to climbing leopards . this place is so special , it brings all the wonders of nature to the naked eye . we will be back soon lion sands . from the King family thank you

Our group of three couples had an amazing stay at Lion Sands! The staff and the accommodations were top-notch. Our guide (Ozy) and our tracker (Abraham) were outstanding and provided us with memories that will last a lifetime on our game drives. Our butler (Lucky) quickly learned our preferences and ensured we were well taken care of at every meal. The food was plentiful and delicious. We received excellent massages at the spa, and also enjoyed relaxing in our spacious and comfortable rooms...with beautiful wildlife strolling just past our windows. Definitely recommend!

Let me preface this review by saying that the hotel is lovely and the service by the driver (Anthony), tracker (Andres), server (Cliff), and bar staff was top notch. I brought my mother here for a once and a lifetime trip after 6 other family members have spent time at this property and made the recommendation. The stay was as expected until the morning of checkout when I went into the bottom of my backpack to grab my wallet (didn't need the entire trip since it was all inclusive) and 200 ZAR was missing. Not the worst thing to happen but if the person was willing to dig through my personal belongings to find my wallet, what else did they steal? I had $1,000 hidden in a pouch in a secret compartment of my backpack which was missing along with an expensive pair of sunglasses. I immediately reported the theft to the manager of the hotel where they took my statement, reassured me that they'd do everything in their power (review cameras, check staff belongings, conduct polygraph tests) and notify the authorities of the crime. Right before I left, I confirmed with the hotel manager that they would make this right given what I had spent on the trip as well as the fact that I was the 4th group of my family to stay at the property. He looked me in the eye and assured me they would take care of it. Fast forward a week and I still hadn't received a follow up about the results of the investigation. When I finally got a copy I was informed that the cameras couldn't see anything abnormal movements of staff around my room and the cleaner and service tech I know entered the room both said they didn't steal anything (I say "know" because they ask you to leave your keys in a bowl before going on safari drives so anyone at the hotel could potentially enter your room). That was it, that was the extent of the investigation. The promises from the hotel manager were not fulfilled and I was blamed in their report for not using the safe (although I did use the safe for computers, ipads, cameras, lenses, etc). They also mentioned that there were legal ramifications for them making an insurance claim (likely not legal but if insurance knew they had staff who stole their rates would rise) when they had everything in their power to offer me a discount for a night, comp my treehouse stay, or discount the purchases I made at their sister hotel I stayed at after. I asked them to make one of those concessions, or at least update the report for inaccuracies it contained so I could submit it to my insurance, and I never heard from them again. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be robbed at one of the most expensive hotels I've ever stayed at let alone have such a horrible customer experience after it. Me and my family will never again stay at a MORE Family property.