At Ivory Lodge, creativity and wilderness converge. Acclaimed artists live and work on site, transforming the studio into both gallery and working space. Guests witness art being created in real time - from first brushstroke to final detail - whilst engaging with creators inspired by the exact landscape surrounding you.

Where Art Meets Wilderness - Watch art being created in real time at the Artist Residency at Ivory Lodge. Engage with artists about inspiration - how that morning's leopard sighting influenced their brushwork, how the Sabie River's light shapes their palette. Each residency brings different creators, from acclaimed names to emerging talents discovering their voice in wilderness.

Art Born Here - Own a piece created in the exact setting that inspired it - a painting of the river you're watching, a sculpture influenced by elephants you spotted together. It's authentic cultural encounter rather than curated exhibition, supporting the creative community whilst offering something rare: witnessing the moment inspiration becomes tangible art.

This is why you came to Africa - to witness the Big Five where two legendary reserves meet. At Lion Sands, game drives and bush walks reveal animals living wild across the only private reserve spanning both Sabi Sand and Kruger National Park. Exceptional leopard sightings and 6.5 miles of exclusive Sabie River frontage make this one of Africa's most sought-after safari destinations.

The Reserve - Lion Sands' unique position across both Sabi Sand and Kruger National Park creates extraordinary wildlife variety. Thirteen miles of exclusive Sabie River frontage provides a natural gathering point where elephants wade, hippos wallow, and predators hunt. Non-migratory species ensure exceptional year-round sightings - lions prowling riverbanks, leopards in trees with remarkable frequency, buffalo herds crossing the current.

Exclusive Experience - Lion Sands offers safari without crowds. With only six guests per vehicle and 12,400 hectares of exclusive traversing, you'll rarely encounter others. Our vehicles feature cushioned bucket seats, waterproof console boxes, blankets, and ponchos for all-weather comfort.

Bush walks transform everything. Without an engine, senses sharpen - your armed guide reveals spoor, tracks, and intricate connections a vehicle can't capture. It's about understanding that safari isn't just big animals, it's reading how the entire wilderness functions.

Lion Sands together with MORE Community Foundation assists our local Huntington and Justicia B villages, and you can get involved, too. Take a community tour (proceeds go to our development projects here), or roll up your sleeves with our Get Your Hands Dirty initiatives. These centre on education, infrastructure, health and environment, and you can choose the area best suited to your interest.

Between game drives, find spaces to simply breathe. Lion Sands' wellness experiences restore what daily life depletes - deep sleep returns, tension melts away, and time slows enough to reconnect with yourself. Massage therapies work through safari-tired muscles to the soundtrack of birdsong drifting through open windows. Facials and deeply hydrating body treatments use TheraNaka™ and TheraVine™ products infused with African shea butter, CBD oil, and Pinotage botanicals. Hand and foot rituals bring softness after days in open safari vehicles. Couples enjoy shared spa experiences whilst the wilderness continues just beyond your treatment room.

Every meal at Lion Sands celebrates South African flavours and the wilderness surrounding you. From refined plated dinners to relaxed boma barbecues under stars, bush breakfasts to surprise riverside picnics - dining becomes part of your safari experience, shaped by our chefs' creativity and the rhythm of the season.

Our Chalkley and Kingston Treehouses set you in the middle of big landscapes, globed by even bigger skies, their lights twinkling down to the horizon. Below, the stillness is punctuated by animals’ whistles, huffs, and growls… carried on the wind. Heaven for the hopeless romantic, the adventurer, the person who needs a complete disconnect and digital detox, and the wildlife enthusiast who prefers the bush au naturel.

Fully equipped fitness centres offer cardio and strength training when energy needs release. Yoga on your private deck overlooks the Sabie River, where flowing water creates natural calm. Gentle bush walks clear the mind whilst sharpening the senses. Here, wellness isn't separate from wilderness - it's woven through every moment.