Lion Sands River Lodge

The luxury rooms at Lions Sands River Lodge are exactly that – luxury! The rooms are comfortable and warm, filled with natural light during the days and lit by warm glowing lights during the evening. A large and cosy bed sits in the middle of the room, covered in crisp white bed linen and swathed in mosquito netting.

A neutral colour palette flows throughout the room, with beiges and sand colours keeping guests’ attention fixed on the luscious beauty outside the room. A traditional vaulted thatch ceiling is exposed, which adds dimension and authentic character to the room. All luxury rooms come with an ensuite bathroom, which comes complete with double hand basins and a deep freestanding bathtub sat in front of a floor to ceiling window, so guests can relax and soak with a view.

An expansive decking sits in front of the room, guests can unwind here watching the sunset over the vast bush while enjoying a drink from the room’s minibar.

Chic and luxurious, the superior luxury rooms at Lion Sands River Lodge are spacious and open-plan, filled with bright light and calming colours. Two of the superior luxury rooms are interconnected, making the perfect arrangement for a family or group of friends.

A large comfortable bed sits in front of floor to ceiling glass sliding doors meaning guests don’t have to leave the warmth of the bed to gaze over the beautiful wilderness outside the room. The beds are draped in mosquito netting so guests can have a comfortable night’s sleep without pesky bugs. All rooms come with their own ensuite bathroom, complete with a deep freestanding bathtub, double hand basins, a separate toilet, an indoor shower and a unique outdoor shower.

Outside the room is a wooden viewing deck, where guests can unwind and look to the horizon, keeping an eye out for any wandering animals.

These modern, geometric suites are perfectly located for maximum privacy and offer expansive views over the luscious bush and distant glistening river. One river suite comes with a second bedroom which makes it perfect for a small family or group of friends.

Entering into the main bedroom, a large bed sits in front of a glass wall which offers 180° panoramas of the luscious surroundings. The beds are lavishly draped in mosquito netting and are covered in crisp white bed linens and cosy scatter cushions. All river suites come with an elegant and luxurious ensuite bathroom, complete with a deep freestanding bath – perfect for guests to enjoy a relaxing soak in after a long day exploring.

The suites also come complete with a unique outdoor shower, where guests can enjoy a refreshing wash in the heart of nature. A private decking sits in front of the suite and includes a large sparkling swimming pool where guests will miss no views whilst escaping the afternoon’s heat.

With a range of dining experiences to choose from, guests can enjoy dinner in the dining room, around the crackling fire pit in the boma area, or in the heart of the bush.

All food is prepared by talented and professional chefs, and is created in an inventive way – using local flavours and ingredients to create delicious modern dishes. All dietary requirements can be catered for, and dinner will come paired with some of the finest wines in South Africa.

In the comfort of an open 4×4 safari vehicle explore the Sabi Sands Game Reserve and all the wonders it holds. A trained and knowledgeable guide will be able to take you to all the best viewing spots, where you may see giraffes, zebras, hyenas, or you may even be lucky enough to see the Big Five. Enjoy travelling around the park while stopping for a refreshing drink and tasty snack every now and then.

Being in a private game reserve means there are fewer vehicles driving around and animal sightings are more frequent as the animals are not disturbed.

Traverse through the bush on foot, immersing yourself in the very heart of the surrounding wilderness. A friendly and knowledgeable guide will lead the way and will point out the micro-ecosystems and smaller workings of the bush. Marvel at dung beetles rolling across the path, stop and view the birds’ nests in the treetops and see some bigger game, which may be a few meters away.

For a once in a lifetime experience, spend the evening and night under the wide starry sky. In one of the two treehouses, Chalkley or Kingston, enjoy a gourmet dinner and champagne, before settling down for the night under the wide sky and drifting off to sleep with the gentle sounds of the bush surrounding you.

Enjoy a slow start the next morning, waking in the fresh air before enjoying an indulgent massage or quick yoga practice in the sky.

Rest, relax and rejuvenate in the spa at Lion Sands River Lodge. Treat yourself to a stress-relieving massage to start your day with a fresh mind, or wind down after a long day with a facial, taking care of your mind, soul and body.

To help preserve and protect the environment and communities where they operate, MORE Family Collection – Lion Sand River Lodge’s owner – is “committed to regenerative tourism sustainable practices.” Their sustainable practices help to protect the planet for generations to come, and for the “continuity of life.”

MORE Family Collection is “committed to promoting conservation through education and raising awareness.”

They do this by being active members of programmes such as Nakavango Conservation Programme, which is a volunteering programme to help protect and preserve the Victorian Falls Private Game Reserve and to develop the nearby Woodlands Village. This programme gives its volunteers the opportunity to “learn about and make personal contributions to: conservation management and research on the reserve, community development projects, and the maintenance of Nakavango Conservation Centre and its sustainable green operations.”

MORE Family Collection has also established a field guide college called NJ MORE Field Guide College. This is Field Guide Association of South Africa endorsed, and helps to train new guides while creating the next generation of nature ambassadors. This programme has a track record of training guides who “have a vast knowledge of the environment, a passion for guiding, a dedication to teaching people about our extraordinary natural heritage, and inspiring them to do their part to protect it.”

MORE Family Collection has various development projects which help to support the local community with both staff and guests being encouraged to get involved in these projects.

The MORE Community Trust was founded in 2002. This trust helps the local communities through self-sustainable projects and they uplift local communities “through support and access to childcare; skills development through community-based development initiatives; access to fresh water and health facilities; and developing overall environmental health.”

Currently, some of the ongoing projects are providing digital education through the Huntington Digital Learning Campus, creating boreholes in Huntington Village so there is adequate access to clean drinking water, a “Soul Food” project which guests can donate to help local communities in need, and the support of the Frida Hartley Shelter which homes vulnerable local women and children.

The “Get Your Hands Dirty” programme is one which encourages guests to help in the projects which “address local needs around education, health and environment, and infrastructure.”

MORE Family Collection are committed to treating their staff fairly and to “following best practices in the employment and treatment of our people.” They hire locally wherever possible, they pay their workers and contractors fair wages, and create opportunities as well as “embracing diversity” and inclusivity. The health of their staff is promoted through “support partners, such as Mistral Medical.”

MORE Family Collection strives to make a positive impact on the environment in which they operate. They have specific issues which they are focusing on making as eco-friendly as possible, such as “energy, water, waste, food, materials and conservation.”