South Africa & Zimbabwe - 6-day Sabi Sand & Victoria Falls Safari - Private accommodated

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.

Whether you are looking for adventure, family time, romance, relaxation, or the chance to give back… we take great pleasure in creating enriching experiences* that reconnect you with the ‘wonder-fulness’ of life. And Victoria Falls is never short on wonder!

Flight of Angels (all ages): an amazing 13-minute helicopter flip over the Victoria Falls, along the Zambezi River, and over Zambezi National Park where you will likely spot wildlife on the plains below

Zambezi Spectacular (all ages): encompassing the Flight of Angels, this 25-minute helicopter flight then continues downstream taking you for a thrilling flip over the Batoka Gorge

Tour of the Victoria Falls (3 years and older) ­– feeling like one of the early explorers, make your way through the riverine forest and along the falls with your guide giving insights into this environment and its epic history

Victoria Falls Canopy Tour (6 years and older): rope bridges and cable slides take you through the forest canopy and whizzing out over the Zambezi rapids, where the falls’ spray is just visible beyond Victoria Falls Bridge

Flying Fox (4 years and older): taking a running jump into the air, you will soar over the 200m/655ft-wide Batoka Gorge with the mighty Zambezi River gushing 120m/390ft below – and earn serious bragging rights!

Woodlands Village Tour (all ages): experience the local people’s way of life and warmth of their hospitality when visiting this community, including its Masuwe Primary School, which is given support by Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel

Luxury Sunset Cruise (all ages): settled on the Zambezi Explorer’s Signature Deck, served drinks and snacks, this leisurely trip along the Zambezi River is an idyllic way for you to soak up the last of the sun’s rays and toast another adventure-filled day in Victoria Falls

In-Room Spa Treatments (all ages): pampering back at the hotel affords you some me-time out between adventures or the option to treat the family

*Incur an additional cost

Please note: all off-property activities include hotel transfers and are weather dependent

A late afternoon safari offers a whole new perspective on the bush. Our expert guides will show you where to look and share insights into animal behaviour. Enjoy an African sunset with sundowners at one of our favourite spots, witness the stars appear and watch nocturnal animals come to life.

Our luxury safaris go out on the 4 000ha (9 900ac) Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve – the only privately-owned reserve within the immediate vicinity of Victoria Falls. All the Big Five, rare and endangered species, and flourishing birdlife find sanctuary here, and their diverse habitats across grasslands, forests and rivers are idyllic environments to enjoy scenic game viewing experiences – including black rhino game drives.

Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve (VFPGR), established in 1996, is the only reserve in the region where you can see the critically endangered black rhino. Since 2000, it has held the status of a rhino Intensive Protection Zone, serving as a beacon of conservation triumph. Its success is rooted in a deep commitment to safeguarding the area's rich natural heritage. Today, the reserve has a dedicated Anti-Poaching Unit, a thriving rhino monitoring and breeding initiative, and a facility dedicated to ranger training.

Mack & Madi Kids’ Adventure Explorers
“As parents to twins, Mack and Madi, I and my late wife Britt (partner in life and in MORE) learned what it means to travel as a family. Africa is a new world for children – filled with colourful people, marvellous attractions, and curious animals – the stuff of storybooks and dreams come true.

To discover it together is pure magic …reconnecting loved ones with each other (tech and work forgotten) and the ‘wonder-fullness’ of life. In this spirit, MORE brings you our Mack & Madi experience, giving your family every freedom to enjoy these precious moments to the fullest.” – Robert More

Mack & Madi Activities & Excursions

Our specially-planned adventures (and a little downtime pampering) are full of surprises and delights for the best time you’ll all have on your family Victoria Falls vacation – sure to impress teens, too!

Just some of the fun includes:

Tour of the Victoria Falls (all ages) – feeling like one of the early explores, make your way through the forest and along the falls with your guide telling stories of this area and its epic history

Flying Fox (6 years and older) – taking a running jump into the air, soar over the Batoka Gorge with the mighty Zambezi River gushing below you – and earn some serious bragging rights!

Zambezi Nature Sanctuary and Crocodile Ranch (all ages) – see and learn about the area’s indigenous animals, including the infamous Nile crocodiles, with a chance to hold a baby croc (they’re rather cute!) during hatching season

Fishing Expedition (4 years and older) – catch and release, picnic and play in the beautiful surrounds of Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve

Girls Mani and Pedi (4 years and older) – join mom back at the hotel to spend some girly time together

Movie Night and Dinner (all ages) – spend a cosy evening at the hotel with your family, watching a favourite film, while tucking into burgers and popcorn

*Incur an additional cost