Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Kruger, South Africa - Explore & Book

"Ivory Lodge has been applauded by Tatler as one of the ‘best hotels in the world’, and a stay here really is the ultimate grand cru safari experience. Rob and Nick More had already triumphed at the amazing River Lodge. So at Ivory Lodge, instead of reworking the standard luxury-lodge formula, they opted for a series of smart spaces with a muted colour palette, just 9 luxurious villas, and an accent placed firmly on exclusivity, privacy and – best of all – exquisite beauty. Lion Sands hugs the bank of the magnificent Sabie river. This is the only lodge in the Sabi Sands Reserve with access to the river; where you are guaranteed spectacular game viewing. Add to this the best bush cuisine imaginable, South Africa’s top trackers and a setting that is drop-dead beautiful, and you get an idea why Ivory Lodge really does deserve a spot amongst the world’s best places to stay. Highs Some of Africa’s most stylish safari villas looking out to the rapids of the Sabie river Fabulous food prepared by the Ivory Lodge’s team of chefs A state-of-the-art spa and gym shared with the adjacent River Lodge Spending a night in one of the incredibly romantic Treehouses – highly recommended One of the best reserves in Southern Africa for game viewing – guests are virtually guaranteed the Big 5 within a day or two, led by some of the country’s top rangers and trackers Lows Following a fire in December 2024, the lodge sadly remains closed until 22 September 2025; the Fish Eagle Residence is available as normal A stay at Ivory Lodge is a very expensive treat but it is worth every last rand, and prices are all-inclusive Purists might argue that the style is too sleek and urban for a bush lodge (plate glass walls and air-conditioning, whatever next?) Staying anywhere else after Lion Sands is almost bound to be something of an anti-climax" - Guy Hunter Watts