River Lodge ReceptionCredit: DookPositioned in the shade of a 300-year-old Jackalberry tree, welcomes guests to our new Sabie riverside sanctuary.
River Lodge GalleryCredit: DookWith a Safari Boutique and spiral staircase leading up to a Creative Lab, where guests can transform their photographs into works of art.
River Lodge Firepit LoungeCredit: DookA relaxation area for pre-dinner drinks and tales told under the stars.
River Lodge Guest Swimming PoolCredit: DookProviding welcome respite from the heat of the day, and an ideal spot to watch animals coming down to the Sabie to drink.
River Lodge BarCredit: DookA place to pause between safaris
River Lodge Guest LoungeCredit: DookWith panoramic windows and fold-back glass doors, allows guests to fully appreciate the natural setting.
River Lodge River SuiteCredit: DookOne of four exclusive waterside havens for both couples and families, each with its own plunge pool and deck offering the best game-viewing seats in the house .
River Lodge River Suite BedroomCredit: Dook
River Lodge River Suite bathroomCredit: Dook
River Lodge Luxury RoomCredit: Dook
Dining Room
Breakfast on the deck
Gym
Aerial view River LodgeCredit: Dook
Aerial view River LodgeCredit: Dook
Walking safariCredit: Lion Sands Game Reserve
Kids on safariCredit: Lion Sands Game Reserve
Vehicle tracking LionCredit: Lion Sands Game Reserve
Lions on the bridgeCredit: Lion Sands Game Reserve
ElephantsCredit: Lion Sands Game Reserve
HipposCredit: Lion Sands Game Reserve
Chalkley TreehouseCredit: Lion Sands Game Reserve
Kingston TreehouseCredit: Lion Sands Game Reserve
Gourmet food
Gourmet food
Food and Wine
Outdoor dining - Boma
Gourmet food
Gourmet food
Gym
Gym
Gym
Outdoor dining - River bed dining
Spa
Spa
Spa
River Lodge
Breakfast
Guest dining area
Creative lab
Creative lab
Creative lab
Breakfast area
Pool dining setup
Gallery
Guest area
Guest area
Chalkley Treehouse
Chalkley Treehouse
Kingston Treehouse
Lion Sands River Lodge is situated in the Lion Sands Game Reserve – one of Africa’s truly unspoiled wilderness areas, where the private Sabi Sand Game Reserve meets the world-renowned Kruger National Park. The lodge is the Eden of the More family’s youth and the first Lion Sands’ lodge to welcome guests, who between visits have married, become parents, and whose children have grown and now come to stay. In recent years the lodge has undergone a renovation that has introduced a new sense of brightness and space – where lovers and families come together and share extraordinary experiences. This is a place for making memories.
Rooms
Facilities
Activities and Services
8 Luxury Rooms have bathroom en-suite, lounge area with mini bar and wooden deck from which to appreciate the wilds beyond.
6 Superior Luxury Suites are larger in size, and have ample open-plan bathrooms and outdoor showers - 2 sets are interleading, and are therefore ideal for families.
3 River Suites are located further from the guest areas and are therefore more private. They have incredible river views, best appreciated from the expansive decks. River Suites also have outdoor showers.
1 Family River Suite is located further from the guest areas and is, therefore, more private. They have incredible river views. The suite has 2 bedrooms with interleading doors, and are therefore ideal for families.
Property Facilities
24-hour Security, Bar, Eco Friendly, Gym, Internet Access, Library, Mobile Connectivity, Pool, Secure Parking, Spa
Room Facilities
Air Conditioning, Balcony / Deck, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Dressing Gowns, En-Suite, Fan, Hair Dryer, Internet, Mini Bar, Outside Shower, Safe, Shower, Tea / Coffee
Services
Airport Shuttle, Credit Card, Foreign Exchange, Laundry Service, Room Service
Africa has been called the greatest show on earth, and Lion Sands presents a safari that plays out like a highlights reel. Our reserve conserves 5 000ha (12 500ac) of a habitat that is home to the highest and most diverse concentration of wildlife in the southern hemisphere. You will see all of Africa’s iconic species – lion leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, and zebra – along with a supporting cast of no less intriguing 137 mammal species and over 450 varieties of bird. Our safaris present an adventure that is wild, and then some!
Being entirely private, Lion Sands offers you an intimate safari experience. With only six guests to a game viewer and exclusive traversing on our reserve, you’ll have minimal encounters with other people. Though compelling sightings do attract more attention, the number of vehicles here is also limited. This ensures the animals aren’t put under stress and you are able to spend more time with them, observing their natural behaviour. While you are out exploring, you will by no means be roughing it. Your game viewer has cushioned bucket seats, waterproof device holders, blankets and ponchos – and stops off in a scenic spot for drinks and snacks.
These are our after-breakfast walks on the wild side. For those who wish to experience the bush, not just observe it, there is no better guided excursion. You are dropped in the thick of things and all five senses engage… Feel the scrub crunch beneath your feet, touch a velvety acacia seed pod, hear the crack of a branch indicating you are not alone, and spot the game appear just metres off – exhilarating! This is also a wonderful opportunity to encounter the smaller creatures, often missed on safari vehicles, and to discover more about the reserve’s plants – many with fascinating medicinal properties and traditional uses.
The African landscape stretches as far as the eye can see at Lion Sands, and we knew we had to find a special place to capture and enjoy its vastness and splendour. Guy Aubrey Chalkley once set up camp in a majestic centuries old Leadwood Tree to escape predators roaming the plains below.
We decided that this would be the ideal place to build the ultimate bush bedroom, the Chalkley Treehouse. The treehouse is a secure and lavish platform under the African stars, with all the comforts that a guest can experience at a five star safari lodge.
We take our guests to the tree house at sunset, where drinks and a scrumptious picnic dinner await them.The hours of African dusk can be enjoyed relaxing and absorbing the vastness of the bushveld as it transforms from day to night, before turning in for slumber beneath the incredible night sky.
Make your way through rows of magnificent white boulders and across a small drawbridge, and you will find Africa opening up in front if you. Set amid the pure and untouched wild, you will be surrounded by African bush and uninhibited wildlife at its best.
The Kingston Treehouse is constructed entirely from wood and glass, with contemporary décor in understated hues of greys, white, black and purple. No matter what the weather has in store, you will have a safe and luxurious setting with a unique window to enjoy the ever-changing views. In fact, we defy you to find two identical African sunsets.
The 60m2 Treehouse is situated about 5 minutes from the main lodge, and you will have radio contact with the rangers, should you choose to. You will also find some cellphone reception; but don’t expect any wi-fi in the bush. Kingston is equipped with full bathroom and shower facilities, and Africology products to complete your sensory experience.
Enjoy a dinner of tapas or a full meal with Champagne, under the splendor of an African starlit sky.
From boma feasts to safari refreshment stops, dining promises to be a highlight – for all our guests, with any dietary requirement, including kosher, catered for. Our chefs transform local recipes into contemporary dishes, giving you a taste for Southern Africa. Paired with premium wines from the Cape, dining becomes an experience. Our wine tastings are also a favourite of connoisseurs and dabblers, alike.
In our experience, being well taken care of inspires a fundamental sense of well-being. And how better to indulge than with luxurious accommodation, wholesome food, and spa therapies? We favour Africology products, instilled with the belief that self-care brings balance. So with our massages, wraps and facials, we promise a wellness experience to rejuvenate your body, quiet your mind, and revitalise your spirit.
Lion Sands together with More Community Trust assists our local Huntington and Justicia B villages, and you can get involved, too. Take a community tour, the proceeds of which go to our development projects here, or roll up your sleeves to help out through our Get Your Hands Dirty initiatives.
These centre on education, infrastructure, health and environment, and you can choose the area best suited to your skills and interest. These are extraordinary social experiences that bring you to the heart of Southern Africa to make your own and others’ dreams come true.
Your Stay
3 Nights
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included
Fast Facts
Safari Lodge
Spoken Languages: English
No. Rooms: 18
Special Interests: Big 5, Birding, Flora, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife, Wine
andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge | Ngala Private Game Reserve
Ngala Private Game ReserveNgala Safari Lodge Cottage Verandah
Ngala Private Game ReserveNgala Safari Lodge Cottage
Ngala Private Game ReserveNgala Safari Lodge Bathroom
Ngala Private Game ReserveNgala Safari Lodge Bathroom2
Ngala Private Game ReserveNgala Safari Lodge Family Cottage with Inter leading door
andBeyond Ngala Safari LodgeLodge Pool
Ngala Private Game ReserveNgala Safari Lodge Family Suite1
Ngala Private Game ReserveNgala Safari Lodge Family Suite2
Ngala Private Game ReserveNgala Safari Lodge Family Suite3
Ngala Private Game ReserveNgala Safari Lodge Cottage Triple
Ngala Private Game ReserveNgala Safari Lodge Family Suite4
Ngala Private Game ReserveNgala Safari lodge Walking2
Ngala Private Game ReserveNgala Safari Lodge WildChild Programme
Ngala Private Game ReserveNgala Safari Lodge Bush Dinner
Ngala Private Game ReserveNgala Safari Lodge - Walking Safari1
andBeyond Ngala Safari LodgeGame Drive
Ngala Private Game ReserveZebra
Ngala Private Game ReserveLion
andBeyond Ngala Safari LodgeBush Dinner
Ngala Private Game ReserveLeopard
The Ngala Treehouse
The Ngala Treehouse
The Ngala Treehouse
The Ngala Treehouse
The Ngala Treehouse
The Ngala Treehouse
The Ngala Treehouse
The Ngala Treehouse
andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge is situated in Ngala Private Game Reserve, which shares an unfenced boundary with the world-renowned Kruger National Park, South Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuary and one of the biggest game reserves in the world. A spectacular diversity of wildlife moves through this immense wilderness, including breeding herds of elephant, leopard, spotted hyena, giraffe, large buffalo herds and white rhino. With its name meaning lion in Shangaan, the local language, Ngala lives up to its promise, supporting several large prides of these powerful cats. African wild dog can also be spotted moving through the reserve.
Tucked under a canopy of mopane and tamboti trees, andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge boasts 21 classic thatched cottages, including a spacious family suite. Each ensuite cottage, with private veranda, exudes a romantic colonial ambiance with nostalgic safari memorabilia throughout. The gracious family suite accommodates four guests and includes a private swimming pool and the use of a private vehicle. The Lodge’s sparkling swimming pool and sundeck overlook a natural riverine woodland, ideal for avid birdwatchers. Hearty breakfasts and delicious lunches are served in the dappled shade of an enormous weeping boerbean tree. Upon their return from exhilarating evening drives, guests are welcomed by Ngala’s warm, hospitable staff and a banquet set in the elegant candlelit courtyard or an African feast in the open-air traditional boma. The Lodge’s spacious thatched bar, dining and sitting areas are open to the warm breezes of the inviting African bushveld.
Rooms
Facilities
Activities and Services
Ngala Safari lodge has 20 air-conditioned thatched cottages with ensuite bathrooms including a shower, twin hand basins, wc, bath. Each cottage has an intimate veranda.
The lodge boasts three family cottages, each consisting of two suites that are conveniently interlinked via a door for easy access. The cottages exude a romantic colonial ambiance with nostalgic safari memorabilia throughout. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows make the most of sunny safari days and a private veranda offers the perfect setting for private dinners. Guests can also take advantage of spacious ensuite bathrooms as well as inviting al fresco showers. The cottages can accommodate two adults and two children.
Situated in the shade of a weeping boerbean tree on the banks of the seasonal Maponi River, the family suite at andBeyond Ngala Safari Lodge consists of two ensuite bedrooms, as well as a cosy dining area. The suite also entitles guests to the services of a dedicated butler, as well as a ranger and tracker team and a private safari vehicle. The only guest suite at the lodge with views of the river, each room boasts its own private deck overlooking the shaded riverbed and even the bathrooms look out onto the dense riverside thickets. The addition of a fully sized private swimming pool ensures that both children and adults have a secluded place to cool off from the African sun. The family suite can accommodate a maximum of two adults and two children.
Property Facilities
24-hour Security, Bar, Communal Dining, Gym, Internet Access (Complimentary), Kiddies Club, Laundry Service (Complimentary), Meal on Request, Mobile Connectivity, Pool, Private Vehicle Available, Restaurant, Spa
Room Facilities
Air Conditioning, Balcony / Deck, Bath, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Dressing Gowns, Electrical Outlets, En-Suite, Fan, Fridge, Hair Dryer, Internet Access (Complimentary), Lounge Area, Mini Bar, Mini Bar (Complimentary), Outside Shower, Safe, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Verandah, Wheelchair Friendly
Enjoy early morning and late afternoon game drives that continue after nightfall. andBeyond’s professionally trained guides will ask you about your favourite wildlife and will do their best to ensure that your preferences are met, whether it is tracking a particular species or spending more time enjoying each sighting and getting to know the habits of the animals. They will also tell you about the vegetation of the region and will explain the behaviour of the animals that you come across. In some cases, the guides will be able to identify individual animals and let you know about their history and habits. andBeyond Ngala Private Game Reserve is home to all of the Big Five, but is particularly well known for its large prides of lion and occasional sightings of wild dog, as well as large herds of elephant and buffalo. Venture out in search of leopard or lion sleeping off the exertion of the hunt from the night before.
Accompanied by your ranger, enjoy an interpretive nature walk, around the lodge, where you learn more about the intricacies of the African bush, from discovering fascinating flora and reading animal tracks with your guide to meeting smaller wildlife up-close.
Experience the thrill of tracking animals on foot, as you engage all your senses to discover a world where each sound, scent and bent blade of grass has a meaning. Led by an expertly-trained ranger and tracker team, a tracking walk offers the chance to track and view certain Big 5 animals on foot. Done in such a way that the animals never know that you are there, tracking walks ensure an undisturbed natural experience of their lives, while ensuring safety, as they never feel threatened by your presence. An unparalleled way to experience Africa, a Tracking Walk is a uniquely &Beyond mix of the excitement of tracking big game and gaining an understanding of one’s place in the natural order.
Experience the romance of Africa under a blanket of stars in the luxurious Ngala Treehouse, a remote, yet safe retreat in the middle of the reserve, far from Wi-Fi and artificial light. The treehouse features two sleep levels including a covered and weatherproof space with a king-size bed, hot running shower and flushing toilets. An elevated sleep-out platform allows you to slumber al fresco under a retractable screen. Enjoy sundowner drinks and snacks on the upper deck, a picnic and midnight treats. Completely off the grid, this treehouse promises luxury and comfort while offering the most exclusive wilderness experience.
Cocooned in natural bush surrounds, this 4-level treehouse features two sleep areas: level 3 is covered and weatherproof, with a king-size bed, and level 4, a sleep-out platform under a retractable awning. Toast the sunset. Enjoy a starlit picnic dinner. You’re assured of an intimate wilderness experience, completely off the grid, themed in luxury and exclusivity.
Surrounded by home comforts, a stocked bar and a selection of midnight and breakfast snacks, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in a lodge. However, your night at Ngala Treehouse is essentially an overnight wilderness experience that complements your stay either at &Beyond Ngala Tented Camp or Ngala Safari Lodge.
Download the fact sheet under downloadable documents.
This spectacular helicopter flight takes off from Hazyview, near the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Soar over cascading waterfalls and along the escarpment to God's Window, with its panoramic views, and on to the Blyde River Canyon. Land at a magnificent viewpoint to enjoy a delicious picnic. After your flight, you will be taken back to your game lodge.
Available at an additional cost.
For those looking for an active thrill beyond the excitement of Big Five sightings on a game drive vehicle, a walking safari offers an opportunity to connect with the African bush, interacting with all its inhabitants, from largest to smallest. Embark on an adventure where your feet tread in the tracks of zebra and buffalo, your nostrils fill with the scent of crushed wild grasses and you push through the brush and all six senses re-awake as Africa touches you and you touch Africa.
Availability of specialist guide dependent.
Photographic enthusiasts, from beginners to advanced, can now capture the wondrous landscapes and magical creatures of andBeyond’s Ngala Private Game Reserves, by taking advantage of a fully-equipped photographic safari vehicle. The vehicle has been fitted with state-of-the-art camera mounts and cater for a maximum of four guests, ensuring exclusivity during your safari experience.
Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with rhino at andBeyond Ngala Private Game Reserve while assisting in the conservation of this endangered species. This adventure allows guests to witness the capture and darting of rhino. A wildlife vet will locate and dart the rhino from the vantage point of a helicopter, while the guests and ground crew will follow in open 4x4 safari vehicles. Once darted, the veterinary team will notch the sleeping animal’s ear for research and security monitoring, as well as insert a microchip into the horn, enabling researchers to correctly identify different rhino on the reserve. Groups of up to eight guests can participate in this conservation initiative and have the never-to-be-repeated opportunity of touching the anaesthetised giant during the notching procedure. Guests will need to spend a minimum of three nights at Ngala.
Additional costs apply
With a dedicated game ranger and tracker, as well as a private game drive vehicle, guests have the luxury of tailor-making their own safari experience; choosing their own game drive times and spending as much time as they want at sightings.
andBeyond’s WILDchild programme, designed especially for children visiting our safari lodges and camps in Africa, is filled with fun, interactive activities that offer opportunities to learn and discover new experiences and cultures. Deeply rooted in the love for the African bush, it not only creates a series of unforgettable moments for the whole family but forges strong bonds between our young guests, our planet and its people.
&Beyond has partnered with Healing Earth, a leading natural, eco-friendly and holistic spa & skincare company, to produce a truly authentic African spa experience for the mind, body and soul. Therapeutic in its approach, Healing Earth only uses all-natural ingredients and essential oils. The luxuriant spa products & soothing treatments are inspired by the wisdom of Africa’s traditional healers & celebrate our continent’s vibrant heritage, communities and plant life.
Your Stay
3 Nights
Fully Inclusive - Bed, All Meals, Fees and Activities
All Local Brands (Spirits, Wine and Beers) Included
Fast Facts
Safari Lodge
Spoken Languages: English
No. Rooms: 21
Special Interests: Adventure, Big 5, Birding, Flora, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Wildlife