Lion Sands River Lodge
One Michelin Key
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Hotel Details
Location
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
South Africa, Africa
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Key Highlights
- ✓Guests consistently highlight several outstanding aspects of Lion Sands River Lodge:
Expert Review: Lion Sands River Lodge
Lion Sands River Lodge, nestled within the renowned Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa, is celebrated as a premier safari destination, earning a Michelin Key One-Key rating for its exceptional offering. Guests consistently laud it for delivering a luxurious and deeply immersive wildlife experience.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
The overall sentiment for Lion Sands River Lodge is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing their stays as "exceptional," "amazing," "incredible," and "magical." It is often highly recommended for special occasions like honeymoons and is recognized for providing a truly memorable luxury safari. The lodge was recently ranked #9 in Condé Nast Traveller's 2025 Readers' Choice Awards for Top Resorts in South Africa, underscoring its high standing among travelers.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently highlight several outstanding aspects of Lion Sands River Lodge:
- Exceptional Safari Drives: The core of the experience, game drives are frequently praised as exceptional, with expert guides and trackers ensuring incredible wildlife sightings, including the Big Five, and particularly leopards. The ability to drive off-road for closer encounters significantly enhances the experience.
- Prime Location: The lodge's unique position on the perennial Sabie River, within the Sabi Sand Game Reserve and bordering Kruger National Park, offers unparalleled views and frequent wildlife sightings directly from the lodge and private rooms.
- Impeccable Service: The staff are consistently described as friendly, attentive, kind, knowledgeable, and dedicated, often going "above and beyond" to cater to guest needs.
- Luxurious Design & Ambiance: The lodge features a contemporary take on traditional safari lodge decor, with luxurious wooden finishes, thatched roofs, and spacious viewing decks that blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings.
- Comprehensive Amenities: Beyond game drives, the lodge offers two outdoor pools, a well-equipped gym, and the Africology Wellness spa for pampering treatments. The unique "treehouse experience" for overnight stays is also a highly celebrated highlight.
3. Room Quality
The rooms at Lion Sands River Lodge are described as "fabulously roomy and luxurious," combining neutral colors with a sleek design. All 18 suites (including Luxury, Superior Luxury, and River Suites) are air-conditioned, spacious, and comfortable. They feature king-sized beds, often with romantic canopy mosquito nets, and large picture windows or sliding glass doors that open onto private decks with stunning river views. En-suite bathrooms are well-appointed, frequently including deep soaking tubs, indoor and outdoor showers, premium bedding, and plush bathrobes. River Suites offer an added luxury with private plunge pools on their panoramic wooden decks. Thoughtful touches like complimentary minibars stocked with drinks and snacks, flashlights, and bug spray are also provided. Wildlife sightings, such as hippos, elephants, and crocodiles, can even occur from the privacy of your porch.
4. Dining Experience
The dining experience at Lion Sands River Lodge is generally considered of "good quality" and "delicious." Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are all-inclusive and served at set times around the game drive schedule. Guests enjoy a mix of healthy options and comfort foods, with some appreciating the opportunity to try unique African meats like ostrich fillet. Breakfast is often served on the lodge's main deck, offering scenic views, and "surprise" bush dinners or traditional African braais are a memorable highlight for many. While good, some guests note that the food, though excellent bistro fare, might not always reach "outstanding" fine dining levels, and a desire for more varied or unique dining locations (e.g., riverbed dining) has been mentioned.
5. Service & Staff
The service and staff at Lion Sands River Lodge consistently receive effusive praise. They are described as "fantastic," "incredibly kind, chatty and attentive," ensuring that "every need is anticipated." Guests frequently highlight the personalized attention from every member of staff, from the restaurant and bar to cleaning and reception teams. Guides and trackers, such as Jason and Abraham, and Mendrew and Brian, are particularly commended for their extensive knowledge, skill in locating animals, and engaging personalities, creating lifelong memories for guests. The lodge managers are also noted for their consummate hospitality.
6. Location & Accessibility
Lion Sands River Lodge boasts an "impeccable location" within the Lion Sands Game Reserve, which is part of the greater Sabi Sand Game Reserve. This reserve shares unfenced borders with Kruger National Park, allowing for free movement of wildlife and exceptional viewing opportunities. Its unique position along the banks of the perennial Sabie River means animals are often visible directly from the lodge and guestroom decks.
The lodge is accessible by car from Johannesburg or by plane. Complimentary roundtrip airport shuttles are typically provided from Skukuza Airport (SZK), which is a short drive away. Other nearby airports include Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) and Mala Mala Airfield. While there are no elevators, the property offers wheelchair-accessible parking and paths of travel.
7. Value & Pricing
Lion Sands River Lodge is a luxury property, and its rates reflect this. While expensive, many guests believe it is "completely worth the price you pay" for the unparalleled safari and luxury experience. The rates are all-inclusive, covering all meals, selected drinks, and the twice-daily game drives.
As of early 2026, Luxury Room rates can range approximately from ZAR 28,575 to ZAR 30,025 per person per night (based on two people sharing), with Superior Luxury Rooms and River Suites being more expensive. Guests should also factor in a resort fee (approximately ZAR 574 per person, per night) and a destination fee (approximately ZAR 176 per person, per night). Special offers, such as "Stay 4 nights and pay for 3" and honeymoon discounts, are often available.
8. Common Complaints
While reviews are overwhelmingly positive, a few minor criticisms have been noted:
- Dining Variety: Some guests, while acknowledging the good quality of food, felt that the meals were "good, but not outstanding" or more akin to excellent bistro fare, and expressed a desire for more unique dining experiences like riverbed dinners, which were not consistently offered.
- Bathroom Configuration: One guest found the single shared bathroom in a two-bedroom family river suite to be challenging for four occupants.
- Unheated Plunge Pools: The private plunge pools in the River Suites are not heated and can be quite chilly, even in the African sun.
- Wildlife Proximity (Minor Concern): Although most guests appreciate the unfenced nature of the lodge and frequent animal sightings, a few have expressed a slight discomfort with predators potentially wandering near the lodge, though staff escorts mitigate any safety concerns.
- Big Five Guarantee: While Big Five sightings are highly probable, one review mentioned difficulty seeing all of them during a five-safari stay, emphasizing that wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •While reviews are overwhelmingly positive, a few minor criticisms have been noted:
About One Michelin Key
One Michelin Key is awarded to hotels that offer a very special stay. These properties are characterized by their unique personality, high quality, and ability to create memorable experiences for guests.
