River Lodge is the soul of Lion Sands and has been built on the banks of the Sabie River, positioned on a site with trees dating back 800 years. Facing due east, the lodge catches the sun as it rises over the Kruger National Park. Hosted by a family of staff that make it feel like home away from home, the lodge is about spirit, warmth and nature. Here you are invited to relax and experience African hospitality at its finest.

The public areas at River Lodge offers guests the following: a private lounge and bar with fireplace, an outdoor safari lounge, 2 swimming pools (heated in winter), wooden viewing decks, a secluded bird hide, a magnificent River Deck built on the river, a conference room, Africology Health Spa & gymnasium, curio shop & both an indoor and open-air (Boma) dining area.

The international award winning Lion Sands Ivory Lodge is ultra luxurious, yet simple and uncluttered. The lodge is about overriding exclusivity with complete privacy, where each suite is operated as a private villa. Neither word nor photograph can capture the sense of the pure beauty which is breathed in when opening the carved wooden doors leading into this private recluse – arguably the worlds finest suite.

Lion Sands Ivory Lodge was awarded third best hotel in the world by Tatler Magazine in 2010 and has been included in their “101 Best Hotels in the World” 2008, 2009 & 2011 listings. Ivory Lodge is also a proud member of Virtuoso, the largest exclusive by invitation only travel network group in the world.

The public areas at Ivory Lodge offers guests the following: a private bar with fireplace, a library lounge , well stocked wine cellar, wooden viewing decks, a magnificent River Island Deck built on the river, Africology Health Spa & gymnasium, curio shop & both an indoor and open-air (Boma) dining area.

We are always surprised at how a visit to Tinga can completely restore our energy and allow us to take a breath and relax. When you’re right on the Sabie River, watching the animals, surrounded by bush and sky, you really feel like you’ve escaped from the world. With 5000 hectares of wild bush in this private concession within the world-renowned Kruger National Park, you can go exploring off-road and follow the footsteps of the leopard, track down a herd of elephant or simply wait for them to come to you.

Tinga Lodge has nine private suites, making it a very personal experience. Tinga exudes the atmosphere of a classic safari lodge. The thatched cathedral-like entrance leads through to the colonial comfort of the lounge, which opens onto the massive wooden deck overlooking the Sabie River. Built around an enormous Jackalberry tree which is reputed to be over 200 years old, the deck affords magnificent views of the Sabie River, and regular sightings of the resident wildlife, including members of the Big Five.

Our staff are often called mind readers, sometimes saints and quite frequently invited to go back home with our guests (an invitation which they politely decline). They make it possible for guests to surrender, with every need taken care of and the guests’ comfort their first priority.

Life at Tinga has a timeless quality, where you can get lost in a moment, and take the time to really explore this piece of Africa on the banks of the Sabie River. If you want to escape from real life, Tinga is where you need to go. Tinga is subtle, sophisticated and serene – it’s an escape that everyone should enjoy at least once in their lifetime.