Lion Sands Ivory Lodge
Lion Sands is a place that enriches one’s soul and promises life-changing moments and opportunities that will leave you with memories of unforgettable experiences. It is an extraordinary gift passed down over generations and even for those of us who have known its sweeping landscapes since birth, it remains a place of extraordinary beauty and discovery.
Ivory Lodge is the understated jewel in the Lion Sands' crown. Here, hospitality is designed entirely around YOU (from customized spa therapies and private dining, to safaris with surprise refreshment stops) and luxury – much more than a sophisticated room in an exotic location – has substance.
The lodge’s eight one-bedroom Villas, set secluded at the confluence of the Sabie and Sand rivers, are the ultimate bush retreats. Your private lounge, patio, deck and pool invite easy relaxation, while a dedicated team of staff are always on hand to take care or your every whim and fancy. Everything is included – from a champagne-stocked maxi-bar, to the washing and pressing of your favorite shirt – to create a highly-personalized experience of a safari, your way.
The lodge also includes the two-bedroom Fish Eagle Villa, and offers the ultimate in private luxury and personalized service for a family or group of friends. Everything is included – from your own pool and spa, to personal chef, field guide and game viewer vehicle – for a tailor-made South African safari. You and your tribe would be hard pressed to find a more idyllic spot to base yourselves.
The guest areas at Ivory Lodge include a private bar with fireplace, a library lounge, a well-stocked wine cellar, wooden viewing decks, a magnificent River Island Deck built on the river, spa, gymnasium, MORE Gallery boutique, and both an indoor dining room and open-air, traditional Boma dining area.
Villa (one bedroom)
(8 ROOMS)
Each Villa sleeps two adults and is a peaceful refuge – with its own plunge pool and relaxation areas, including a dining/lounge area, furnished patio and viewing deck. A guest spa and fitness area is set away from the main lodge and Villas.
Fish Eagle Villa (two bedrooms)
(1 ROOM)
Two en-suite bedrooms can sleep four adults and another two children, each on an extra single bed in their parents' rooms. All areas have been carefully designed to bring people together, or to give those wanting privacy their own generous space. An open-plan living room (including kitchen, dining and lounge area) leads out to the patio, firepit, viewing deck, lap pool, and star jetty. Downstairs, away from the shared spaces, you'll find a personal spa/gym. The Villa also comes with its own personal chef, field guide and safari vehicle.
Game Drives
Game drives, in open safari vehicles, head out at sunrise and again in the late afternoon. The reserve’s natural animal populations include all of the Big Five, and it is renowned for the quality of its leopard sightings – the most elusive of predators. With no more than 16 vehicles allowed on the reserve at any one time, Lions Sands assures you a truly personal safari, and the field guides are able to take you within close range of Africa’s most impressive species. Photo opportunities are spectacular! Also included is a hot beverage/sundowner stop to purely appreciate being in the bush and in the moment.
Guided Bush Walk
For those who wish to experience the bush, not just observe it, there is no better guided excursion. Feel the scrub crunch beneath your feet, touch a velvety acacia seed pod, hear the crack of a branch indicating you are not alone, and spot the game appear just metres off – exhilarating! This is also a wonderful opportunity to encounter the smaller creatures, often missed on safari vehicles, and to discover more about the reserve’s plants – many with fascinating medicinal properties and traditional uses.
Giving Back
Lion Sands together with More Community Trust assists our local Huntington and Justicia B villages, and you can get involved, too. Take a community tour (proceeds go to our development projects here), or roll up your sleeves with our Get Your Hands Dirty initiatives. These centre on education, infrastructure, health and environment, and you can choose the area best suited to your interest.
Spa & Wellness
Between safaris you’ll have the luxury of free time and how better to indulge than in the spa? We favor Africology products, instilled with the belief that self-care brings balance. So with our range of therapies, we offer a wellness experience to rejuvenate your body, quiet your mind, and revitalize your spirit. If you must gym, there’s a fully kitted out facility with a view of the bush to take your mind off the burn.
Food & Wine
From boma feasts to safari refreshment stops, dining promises to be a highlight – for all our guests, with any dietary requirement, including kosher, catered for. Our chefs transform local recipes into contemporary dishes, giving you a taste of Southern Africa. Paired with premium Cape wines, dining becomes an experience. Our wine tastings are also a favorite of connoisseurs and dabblers, alike.
Lion Sands Treehouses
Our Chalkley and Kingston Treehouses set you in the middle of big landscapes, globed by even bigger skies, their lights twinkling down to the horizon. Below, the stillness is punctuated by animals’ whistles, huffs, and growls… carried on the wind. Heaven for the hopeless romantic, the adventurer, the person who needs a complete disconnect and digital detox, and the wildlife enthusiast who prefers the bush au naturel.
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