Lion Sands Kruger National Park (Tinga & Narina Lodges)

Run don't walk to Lion Sands River Lodge. I've been fortunate enough to have been around the world and have been able to invest in some memorable experiences...and this lodge's hospitality blew me out of the water. My husband and I were celebrating our wedding/honeymoon and we were having some challenges finding a safari lodge. Everything about this was perfect. One of the big considerations when investing in accommodations is "how do they treat their employees and how well do they treat the environment around them?" We saw firsthand the ethics and the respect this family owned company has for the land and the animals. Our staff, Derrick, Aidan and Eddie were unforgettable. I love getting to know the staff, their stories and exchange life wisdom....after all, isn't that what travel is about? I hope to come back in the next few years and get to meet these amazing humans again. The rooms are gorgeous and the food is amazing. I love that this place is on the water because you get to see more game this way. Read less

Trip of a Lifetime!! Where do I start?? From Henry and George greeting us at Sukuza airport to the arrival of Lion Sands River Lodge, this experience was exceptional and exceeded ALL of my expectations. The white glove service, group of professional staff and the small details were on par every single day of our 5 day stay. The Lion Sands River Bush Lodge overlooking tne Sabi Sands River is absolute gorgeous. The beautiful, comfy rooms, 5 star dining with exceptional food choices and endless cocktails, relaxing spa treatments, the zen like vibes resting by the infinity pool overlooking a river of Hippos, two safari rides a day with Henry and George, and a 3:30 PM tea time every day is just a snippet of what a day at Lion Sands River Lodge is all about. Every staff member that you interacted with heightened the bar and made our stay that much more special... Henry, George, Alice, Pretty, Johannes, Anelia, Meagan.......all added value to our stay and made our trip even more spectacular. First and foremost, the dynamite duo - Henry, our safari guide, and George, our tracker nicknamed the NINJA, are the BEST ever.. they are beyond experienced, skilled and exceptional in their knowledge of the bush and the different species of animals. They came highly recommended from another friend of ours that recently visited Sabi Sand. With that piece of data, I emailed the lodge to inquire if we could request Henry and George as our guides. To my surprise the GM of Lion Sands River Lodge was able to secure Henry and George for the four of us even though they primarily work at Lion Sands Tinga. This was the first sign that the accommodations were going to be over the top and seeking to please their guests... this was the beginning of our “safari adventure. “ A HUGE part of the safari experience is having phenomenal guides and trackers. Henry and George are a true sense of the the word “TEAM!” They have great chemistry together , are very funny, communicate effectively regarding the safety of their guests and in understanding these beautiful creatures’ behaviors, ensuring they never put their guests at risk and they work seamlessly together to give their guests an “over the top”wildlife experience. We, without a doubt, received that and more.!!!! They have made our first experience in the safari one of the BEST trips of our lives. Not only did we see the BIG FIVE, which everyone wants to see if they travel to South Africa, but with their skill and knowledge they were able to track and locate, off road deep in the bush, two leopards mating for a front row view, (not just once but three times), a pride of six lions with full bellies that walked 3 feet from our jeep in their quest to seek shade, an impala giving birth to her newborn and us having the blessing of seeing her first steps, three massive bull elephants walking directly towards our vehicle in a mission to seek water by the river in which Henry and George looked at each other with their own body language and slowly backed the Jeep up for over a mile so we can again have a “front row” view of these beauties plodding towards us. The list goes on and on.. Henry and George tracked us African Wild Dogs which are rare to see, Giraffes putting on a show for us eating the tops of the trees, Vervet Monkeys stealing guests food and water bottles, a female Impala giving birth, bush walking to track a female Leopard resting in the drain ditch, Kudus, Nyalas, Warthogs, Tortoises, Herds of Wildebeast, White Rhinoceros with their young making their way over the hill tops, Hyhenas causing chaos, Hippos bathing in the Sabi Sands River with a view from our lodge room and spa , Dung Beetles working hard to impress their lovers, Zebras, White back Vultures, Scrubhares, herds of African Cape Buffalo grazing the sunset fields while Henry and George prepared a night cap spread for us, Giant Eagle Owls, Waterbucks, Leopards mating, Dwarf Mongooses, Baboons and on our last ride, a Black Mamba slithering across the path ....the list goes ON and ON. The keen knowledge of these two and their chemistry on the bumpy safari roads make for an experience you will never forget. I highly recommend this trip! If have the opportunity to visit Lion Sands River Lodge or Tinga, you MUST request Henry and George for the most memorable rides and sights of your life! They are the dynamite duo!! Read less

We spent 3 nights at Lion Sands lodge and were delighted with what awaited us. The lodge was superb as were the staff. Our Butler “Israel” was incredibly attentive and we wanted for nothing, Fairly significant dietary concerns were taken care of without a hiccup. The accommodation was fabulous ...our only regret was not staying longer! Our safari guide, Quinton, and our tracker, Noel, were so knowledgeable and so much fun. We loved everything about the lodge, the safaris and the people. We would return in a heartbeat and are hopeful that we have opportunity to repeat our “trip of a lifetime”. Our first introduction to Africa and several lodges were second to none with our favourite of all lodges being Lion Sands. Our Canadian coffee pales in comparison as do our backyard animals! We will return with certainty! Do not miss the opportunity to experience Lion Sands...you will never forget it! Read less

We just returned from a three night stay at Lion Sands and I can't say enough about our experience. Even with a few rainy evenings/mornings we were able to see the big five. Our guide Mike and tracker Patrick were amazing and had a such a good dynamic. During the quiet times in the drives they made sure to keep it interesting by pointing out many different birds and small animals. Read less

We stayed at River Lodge for five nights while on our honeymoon, and it rose above and beyond the lofty expectations we had coming in. To start, the food was top notch and we thoroughly enjoyed every meal. David, our butler, was extremely attentive, and he was always there with a recommendation or a top off of our glasses. Our river suite was by far the best room we stayed in on our trip, and it was always kept clean by the staff. The highlight of our stay was the game drive experience put on by our guide, Lee, and our tracker, Surprise. We saw everything one could hope to see while on safari, and the information and commentary they provided left us feeling as if we'd really gotten to know the bush. Thank you Lion Sands River Lodge for the amazing experience, and we hope to be back in the future! Read less