A Stay at the Lion Sands in the Sabi Sands Reserve
I have not had a travel experience, to date, that has left a lasting impression on me quite like going on safari. Witnessing wildlife in their own environment is an inexplicable and humbling reminder of how grand and awe-inspiring this planet is.
After extensive research, I ultimately decided upon Lion Sands in Kruger National Park for our safari and am so thankful that I did. From the first email exchange with my dedicated travel consultant (shout out to Andrea!) to saying goodbye, it was a 5-star experience. Six key factors contributed to making this travel experience one to remember.
1. Exclusivity
While there are many different ways to experience Kruger National Park from self-drives and camping to exclusive VIP experiences and luxury lodges, we knew we wanted something closer to the latter and Lion Sands met our needs and then some.
From Cape Town, we flew directly into Skukuza airstrip in Kruger where we were greeted by Lion Sands staff, who escorted us to our private transportation. It was an hour and half drive to our first lodge and we were lucky enough to spot game along the way!
Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted and provided cold beverages and wet towels to freshen up before being personally escorted to our stunning suite. We even received a welcome gift- personalized water bottles (we still use them!). With a low staff to guest ratio, the Lion Sands lodges ensure each of their guests is well taken care of.
Since we arrived at lunch time, we dropped off our luggage in the suite and went straight to enjoying a delicious meal on the deck. Not only was the staff already aware of our dietary restrictions, we were also provided with personalized menus.
After lunch we wasted no time in attending our first evening game drive!
2. The Safari
Unlike other vacations, going on safari was a much more structured experience than I initially expected. Upon arrival to our first drive, we were assigned to a dedicated safari vehicle with three other guests.
Each day there were two, roughly 3-4 hour, game drives with breaks in-between to rest and enjoy the other amenities. About half way through each game drive, we would stop in the bush to enjoy tea, coffee and snacks during the morning drive and a cocktails during the evening drive.
A sample itinerary for the day could look something like this:
- 5:30AM: Wake-up call (the early wake-up is worth it!)
- 6:00AM: Morning game drive post tea/coffee/snacks in the main house
- 9:30AM: Brunch at the lodge after returning from the morning drive
- 4:00PM: Afternoon tea
- 4:30PM: Leave for evening game drive
- 7:30PM: Dinner
Being part of a smaller, intimate group provided us the ability to both interact with the other guests as well as ask our guide and tracker questions. Having a open safari vehicle (no roof) also allowed us to view and take pictures without any obstructions.
Within minutes of being on our first drive we found African hunting dogs, returning from a kill as well as several elephants. To say I just about lost my mind would be a severe understatement.
Over the course of our four day stay, we were lucky enough to witness the Big 5- lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard- as well as see hyenas, hippos, monkeys, alligators to name a few!
Check out my photo album with more pictures from our drives.
3. Accomodation
Located adjacent to Kruger National Park in the exclusive Sabi Sands private game reserve, Lion Sands lodges are the epitome of luxury. There are six lodging options to choose from, each with their own unique personality and function, including a treehouse! We really hoped to spend a night in the treehouse, but couldn’t get the dates to align- next time!
We ended up staying at two of their lodges: Narina Lodge and River Lodge and I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite.
Narina is an intimate property with 9 private villas, each equipped with a plunge pool, private deck AND an outdoor shower. Let me tell you, no experience will compare to being naked, in the middle of the African bush, watching elephants and buffalo play in the river. The lodge’s location on the Sabie River makes it ideal for animal sightings. We were lucky enough to enjoy daily sightings from our private deck as well as the main deck!
Comparatively, River Lodge is larger and has three room types. We stayed at one of the three River Suites, which provided more privacy away from the main house.
Both properties were beautiful, with high-end finishes and tasteful decor. (Note: Since my stay, the River lodge has been renovated and is even more amazing!)
4. Expertise
When people say they are going on safari, they are really referring to the game drives. Nature is unpredictable and while seeing wildlife is never guaranteed, chances greatly increase with experts leading the way. To watch our knowledgeable tracker and guide stare at what I thought was nothing in the ground, but was actually a paw print was incredible. The guides also communicate via walkie-talkie with other guides in the area so they are able to quickly pivot and head where animals are spotted.
Staying on private reserve also granted us permission to drive off-road, allowing us to track the animals and really observe them up close. While in Kruger National Park, we had to stay on the marked path.
As a side note, the Sabi Sands reserve has a large population of leopards. Our guide happened to be working on a project monitoring them and their cubs, so we were fortunate enough to see them many times. We even caught them mating– which is an interesting experience, to say the least.
5. Amenities & Activities
Obviously the game drives were the main event, but there were plenty more activities to keep us busy during down time. The lodges we stayed at had a spa, gym and pool(s) as well as more unique experiences such as bush walks (literally, a walking game drive) and night game drives (so creepy, but wow, the stargazing!) to enjoy. On our last night there, we attended the weekly traditional BBQ dinner with our game drive group. It gave us an opportunity to better know our guide as well as chat with other guests, which was a great time!
We also spent a lot of time just enjoying our room and the FANTASTIC mini bar and even opted to have a romantic dinner in our room one evening. I cannot say enough good things about the food. Being vegetarian, it can be difficult to find satisfying meals while traveling, but the chef prepared meals at Lion Sands hit it out of the park.
6. Service
The staff when above and beyond throughout our stay with little touches to make the experience special. From the personalized welcome water bottles we receive upon arrival to the notes and messages left in the room to the hot water bottles and blankets provided during the game drives. Every little thing truly enhanced the overall experience.
As if the whole stay hadn’t already left me on cloud nine, the universe granted me the most perfect goodbye. As we were waiting for our airport ride, 20 + elephants and babies came to see us off. It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of moment. If it weren’t for my fiance physically carrying me away, I don’t think I ever would have left!
If you’re looking for a unforgettable safari experience, tailored to your needs, look no further than Lion Sands in Kruger National Park. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Note: The Beyond Borders Collective is not paid to endorse this property; commentary is based solely off of our own personal travel research and experiences.