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Lodge · Sabi Sand
Lion Sands River Lodge
Set directly on the Sabie River, intimate and unhurried, with riverside views from every room and from the heart of the lodge.
From R 21 430 per person sharing, per night
Special offer available on selected dates.
Lodge · Sabi Sand
Lion Sands River Lodge
Set directly on the Sabie River, intimate and unhurried, with riverside views from every room and from the heart of the lodge.
Live availability
Lion Sands River Lodge
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Lion Sands River Lodge
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About the lodge
An overview of Lion Sands River Lodge.
Set directly on the Sabie River, intimate and unhurried, with riverside views from every room and from the heart of the lodge.
Highlights
- Sophisticated traditional safari lodge in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve
- Light and bright contemporary décor
- Lion Sands River Lodge is ideal for solo explorers, couples, and families looking for a luxury Big 5 safari adventure.
You Should Know
- Children aged 10 years and older are welcome at the lodge and are permitted on game drives.
- Children's activities and childminding services are available.
The Detail
Lion Sands River Lodge, set along the Sabie River, provides a picturesque backdrop with stunning views from the lodge rooms. Guests can watch a variety of animals that are drawn to the riverbanks. The private Lion Sands Game Reserve is an ideal location for close-up encounters with exceptional wildlife, including the Big Five.
The lodge features eight luxury rooms, six superior luxury rooms, three standalone river suites, and a two-bedroom family suite. Each accommodation is designed in a contemporary African style and equipped with modern amenities. The suites include private decks with stunning views of the river or the bush, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the natural surroundings.
Offering a tranquil atmosphere for relaxation, the lodge features a spa with a range of treatments and a swimming pool where guests can unwind while observing wildlife at the river. With a focus on personalized service, Lion Sands River Lodge tailors each guest's experience to their preferences, whether it’s arranging special meals, private game drives, or unique bush experiences.
Price Includes
- Luxury accommodation, all meals, teas/coffees, Skukuza airport road transfers, local branded beverages, and safari activities.
You pay the lodge's rate, never a markup.
The same as booking direct
Rates and dates.
Per person sharing, per night. Final pricing depends on dates, room category and party size.
Valid until 3 Jan 2027
Peak / migration
1 Jun 2026 – 30 Sept 2026
All Inclusive - All meals, drinks, daily game drives, specified activities and transfers
Special offer
R 22 520
per person · night · normally R 30 020
Shoulder
1 Oct 2026 – 19 Dec 2026
All Inclusive - All meals, drinks, daily game drives, specified activities and transfers
Special offer
R 21 430
per person · night · normally R 28 570
Festive
20 Dec 2026 – 3 Jan 2027
All Inclusive - All meals, drinks, daily game drives, specified activities and transfers
R 30 020
per person · night
Low season
4 Jan 2027 – 31 May 2027
All Inclusive - All meals, drinks, daily game drives, specified activities and transfers
R 28 570
per person · night
Rates are per person sharing, per night. Where a reduced rate is shown, it reflects a stay-pay or long-stay offer for those dates; honeymoon and other offers are applied separately when we prepare your quote. A single supplement may apply for solo travellers. We offer a price match guarantee, just ask your safari specialist.
Current offers
Special offer available.
Where the rates above show a saving, it comes from a stay-pay or long-stay offer. Honeymoon and last-minute offers are applied by your safari specialist when preparing your quote.
Stay & Pay
Stay four nights and pay for three under the StayMORE offer, valid for travel until 31 May 2027. As a safari property, River Lodge excludes this offer from 1 June to 30 September, and it does not apply from 20 December to 3 January. Subject to availability, for individual bookings of up to five rooms or ten guests.
Honeymoon
Honeymooners receive 50 per cent off accommodation for one guest on a stay of three nights under the LoveMORE offer, valid for travel until 31 May 2027. The offer is not available from 20 December to 3 January and is subject to availability, for individual bookings of up to five rooms or ten guests.
Last minute
South African and SADC residents booking within 30 days of arrival receive a reduced nightly rate for travel until 19 December 2026, with a 60-day booking window applying to stays from 1 June 2026. A South African ID or SADC passport is required, the rate applies to new bookings only, and it cannot be combined with any other MORE Collection promotion or special rate.
Long stay
Book two or more MORE Collection properties and receive 10 per cent off accommodation at each under the DiscoverMORE offer, valid for travel until 31 May 2027. It cannot be combined with other MORE Collection promotions and does not apply from 20 December to 3 January. Returning guests, with their accompanying family and friends, receive 10 per cent off accommodation under Friends of MORE, which may be combined with other promotions and is likewise excluded from 20 December to 3 January.
Family policies
Travelling with children.
What our safari specialists know about bringing children to Lion Sands River Lodge, current as of May 2026. They plan family trips here all the time, so anything below that needs arranging, they will sort. For the bigger picture, see our guide to safari with children .
- Minimum ages
- Stay 10+ · Game drives 10+ · Walking safari 16+
- Child rates
- Children under 10 not accommodated. Ages 10–15 charged at 50% of the full adult per person sharing rate; 16+ charged at full adult rate. Children 10+ accommodated in their own room are charged the full adult rate. If two under-16s share a room (including interleading), one is charged at the full adult rate. In the 2-bedroom Family River Suite, a minimum of 3 full adult per person sharing rates applies.
- Family rooms
- Family unit available.
- Care
- Kids' programme
- Exceptions
-
Lion Sands River Lodge does not offer Private Safari Vehicles, so no private-vehicle workaround exists for younger children on drives. The Family River Suite (two bedrooms, one bathroom) sleeps up to 4 (2 adults + 2 children), and two sets of interleading Superior Luxury Rooms are also available — but the lodge's age-10 minimum still applies; these family units do not unlock under-10 access. Note on the sister Lion Sands treehouses: Kingston Treehouse accepts 2 adults + 2 children aged 10–15; Tinyeleti Treehouse accepts 2 adults + 2 children aged 6–15; Chalkley Treehouse is no children. The Mack & Madi Kids' Adventure Explorers programme is available for children meeting the age-10 minimum.
Sleep-outs
Under the stars.
Star beds, sleep-out hides, walking sleep-outs and overnight platforms documented at Lion Sands River Lodge.
Star bed
Chalkley Treehouse
The Chalkley Treehouse is a dedicated overnight sleep-out experience available exclusively to guests staying at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge or River Lodge. It accommodates a maximum of 2 adults (no children), is weather dependent, and is classed as a bookable activity separate from the room rate. Advance reservation is essential and must be confirmed at time of booking.
- Availability
- Advance booking required; weather dependent; subject to availability; guests must be staying at Ivory Lodge or River Lodge
Star bed
Kingston Treehouse
The Kingston Treehouse is a dedicated overnight sleep-out experience available exclusively to guests staying at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge or River Lodge. It accommodates 2 adults and 2 children aged 10–15 years. The experience is weather dependent, classed as a bookable activity, and requires an accommodation booking at an MFC property. Advance reservation is essential.
- Availability
- Advance booking required; weather dependent; subject to availability; guests must be staying at Ivory Lodge or River Lodge
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.
Imagery
A closer look.
Your specialist for this lodge
Safari Specialist - Southern Africa
Knows Lion Sands River Lodge backwards. Your direct contact from first enquiry to the day you come home.
With Dolan and Shann across the team.
"Our contact at Safari.com was fantastic. She was able to answer all my questions, or find and out then text me back. Communication using email and WhatsApp was excellent. While planning our trip we had a large change and Denise was able to work with our Safari lodge to find a solution, which solved it. Booking went smoothly, suggestions about the trip were very helpful and I felt I was working with a professional who wanted the best experience for my family."
Speak to a safari specialist
Let's design your stay.
From your first enquiry to the day you come home, one named safari specialist looks after every detail. We can handle the whole trip, not just the stay at Lion Sands River Lodge: multi-country itineraries, internal flights, road transfers, tipping guidance, travel insurance, the lot. A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours.
Planning something beyond the ordinary?
Private & bespoke travel