Lion Sands Ivory Lodge

Hotel · Ehlanzeni

Lion Sands Ivory Lodge

Hotel · Ehlanzeni

Unnamed Road, Mpumalanga, South Africa, 1260, South Africa

Highlights

Luxury villas with plunge pools, spa, exceptional safari guiding

Unnamed Road, Mpumalanga, South Africa, 1260, South Africa Get directions

lionsands.com

@lionsandsgamereserve

@iescape

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

https://www.i-escape.com/lion-sands-ivory-lodge

View Postcard for Lion Sands Ivory Lodge

Nik Beck

Google

We stayed at the Ivory Lodge for 3 nights from 26.11-29.11.. What an amazing place, wildlife that leaves you speechless and a team that is not only lovely and caring, they made us feel at home and part of their family during our stay. We take with us many memories and unforgettable moments (and yes, the storm night and us in the tree house is part of it and the tale of our ‚rescue’ will be told many times 😎). Morgan, Bryce, thank you for the hospitality, Anthony, Andrejs and Lawrence, you were the best, we miss you all. And Young T, your smile and positivity is infectious😍 we hope to come back! Best wishes Nik (aka Thomas 😂) &Birgit

Danielle & Anna Parlagreco

Google

My wife and I had the absolute best time at the Ivory Lodge! Everything from the staff and accommodation to the food and views were out of this world amazing. Our guide, Themba, and tracker, Brian, made every game drive so exciting. They are incredibly kind and knowledgeable and are also very attentive to the animals and environment which we appreciated so much. Our butler, Rodnick was the best of the best - he went out of his way to cater to our every desire! Chef Brian was also amazing and all of the meals were delicious. We cannot say great enough things about the Ivory lodge and all of its staff. We stayed one night in the Kingston treehouse and it was out of this world - a must do!! PS - as an LGBTQ+ couple, we felt so welcomed and safe at the Ivory Lodge :) We cannot wait to go back!!

Lilian Hartman

Google

Recently had the absolute pleasure of staying here as part of a work group, and honestly there are no words for just how amazing this place is! The villas are immaculate and stunning, the service is exceptional, the food delicious and the setting phenomenal. It has a unique position on a bend of the river sabi- and we saw a hyena, multiple herds of elephants, buffalo, crocodiles and hippos all whilst eating breakfast. Our guide Raymond and tracker Amu were incredibly knowledgable and worked so hard to ensure we had the best experience. Thank you Lion Sands!

Amanda Ferrarotto

Google

The most fantastic place. Period. Ty, Raymond, Solly and the rest of the team were beyond fantastic. The Safaris were incredible - we saw the big 5 plenty and many others. Rooms near the river welcomed all animals while we were having a cocktail at lunch or on our private villa decks. The spa was delightful and meals were a dream. MUST do a night in the treehouse - we did Kingston, it was once in a lifetime amazing. Really, just the perfect experience!!

Andrea Lowitz

Google

Wow this place was unbelievable beyond words. From start to finish, the resort exceeded all of my expectations, from the safari to the food and service. The staff at Lion Sands truly goes above and beyond to ensure that guests have a remarkable stay. They are warm, friendly, and attentive, always ready to assist with any requests or questions. The accommodations at Lion Sands Resort are nothing short of luxurious. The rooms are beautifully designed. Not to mention, our lodge also had a private pool overlooking the river and an outdoor shower. Incredible! Waking up to the sounds of nature and enjoying breathtaking sunsets from the private deck were truly unforgettable moments. The highlight of our stay was definitely the safari. Anthony and Andres were the best guide/ tracker team. They are so knowledgeable and taught us a ton about the wildlife and local culture. Our safari was an adventure filled with awe-inspiring encounters with lions, elephants, rhinos, and other magnificent creatures. The dining experience at Lion Sands Resort was exceptional. The culinary team prepared a variety of delicious meals, and the attentive service provided by the staff made every meal a delightful experience. Our personal butler, Reinick, was outstanding. We also had the opportunity to spend a night at their treehouse, which I would highly recommend! Overall, our stay at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge was nothing short of extraordinary. The combination of breathtaking scenery, exceptional service, and unforgettable wildlife encounters made it a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. I would highly recommend Lion Sands to anyone seeking an immersive and luxurious safari getaway.

Margo Roberts

Google

Absolutely stunning experience! I traveled with my daughter, my son and his wife. This was the first time we had been on safari. We had the honour of having Aaron as our guide, Bricks as our tracker and Abel as our butler - extremely skilled, personable and capable. Our very first night on safari we saw a wide variety of wild life, including elephants, lions, leopard (with a recent kill!), giraffes, impala and related - extremely close up. I was so overwhelmed and in awe I cried! The Lodge itself is stunning, the accommodations beautiful and the general vibe is super peaceful - and very intimate with nature (one afternoon elephants ambled up to the pool ;)

Alexander Feo

Google

If you want to truly be blown away by your safari experience, stop searching NOW - you found the right spot. Ivory Lodge at Sabi Sands is the epitome of a luxurious 5 star safari. The lodges were absolutely stunning with views overlooking the River where you can see wildlife congregating daily. All of the staff members are genuinely friendly and they emphasize the meaning of attention to detail. Knowing it was our honeymoon, our butler Torrence set up a romantic private fire pit-side dinner for my wife and I that truly made us feel special. Chef Thobi and Ruth are fantastic, creative chefs and will have you weighing a few extra lbs by the time you leave! We befriended a group of honeymooners at the lodge and they put together a delicious family style meal just for us! And last but certainly not least, our guide/tracker crew, Simon/Coulture, were very knowledgeable and made sure we saw all Big 5 while having a fun time along the way. Thank you Lion Sands for the experience of a life time and we can’t wait to come back and see you all!

Tyrone Vieira

Google

More tha Outstanding!!!!! Stayed in the Fish Eagle Private Villa at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge and it was nothing short of spectacular in every sense. The accommodation is amongst the best if not the very best we have ever experienced in a lodge. The villa is MASSIVE and extremely well equipped. The lines and architectural design breathtaking. We could have stayed forever. The service was again fantastic. One of our party had allergies which were not only "accommodated" but at every single meal there was careful consideration of this and a customised and personalised menu for that guest. The food overall was spectacular and hands-down the best we have had in any lodge! We loved the intimacy of a smaller lodge with the Villa making it even more special. There are simply too many facets to cover in a single review. This is truly a great property with brilliant food and outstanding rooms.