Lion Sands Ivory Lodge

Lion Sands Ivory Lodge is the Sabi Sand-side lodge of the family-run Lion Sands Game Reserve, on the banks of the Sabie River in the Greater Kruger. Lion Sands describes its reserve as the only private reserve spanning both the Sabi Sand and Kruger National Park, with about 13 miles of Sabie River frontage in total; Ivory itself sits on the Sabi Sand portion, while sister lodges Narina and River sit within the adjoining Kruger concession. The reserve was founded in 1933 by Guy Aubrey Chalkley and has been family-run by the MORE family for four generations.

Ivory has nine units: eight single suites or villas and one double villa, Fish Eagle. The single suites are vast, each with a separate living room, an open-plan en-suite bathroom with outdoor shower, air conditioning, an open fireplace, a king bed and a private heated pool on its own viewing deck, under thatch in a zen-chic style. Fish Eagle Villa is a three-bedroom, roughly 6,350-square-foot villa for up to eight guests (six adults, two children) with a private chef, wine room and stocked pantry.

Game viewing is led by a ranger and tracker team on morning and evening drives, with guided walks, night drives and hippo tours also offered. Leopard sightings are a Lion Sands hallmark, and the reserve is described as virtually guaranteeing the Big Five within days. Paid extras include ballooning over the Sabie valley, clay pigeon shooting, helicopter flights, cultural village visits and a night in one of the reserve's treehouses. All meals are included, served across a mahogany deck, riverside platform, bush boma or private suite deck, with a state-of-the-art spa and gym (the spa is shared with sister lodge River Lodge). Access is via Skukuza airfield, about 12km away.