Rialto
Mpumalanga

Lion Sands River Lodge

Rialto is a Virtuoso agency and can provide VIP access and offers.

Set along the banks of the Sabie River and attracting abundant "big five" wildlife from Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Kruger National Park, Lion Sands has four luxurious lodges: River Lodge, Ivory Lodge, Tinga Lodge, and Narina Lodge. To get above the bush, reserve one of the three Treehouse experiences.

Sabi Sand, 1260 Mpumalanga, South Africa
See member ratesAsk your AI assistant
One offer
4th Night Free
Stays until Apr 30, 2027

About Lion Sands River Lodge

Insider tip

Lion Sands Game Reserve is the quintessential African safari destination.

In the hotel’s own words

Lion Sands Game Reserve

Read moreShow less

Lion Sands is the only private reserve rooted in both the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve and Kruger National Park. The lodges offer exclusive traversing on private concessions. We have 10.5km of exclusive river frontage on the perennial Sabie River with our four luxury riverside lodges – Ivory, River, Tinga, and Narina. The river attracts a diversity of wildlife that guests can view from the lodge or their room.

Lion Sands conserves 12 400ha (30 600ac) of a habitat that is home to the highest and most diverse concentration of wildlife in the southern hemisphere offering exceptional game-viewing opportunities. Natural animal populations include the Big Five, along with a supporting cast of 150 mammal species and over 500 varieties of bird, and the reserve is renowned for the quality of its leopard viewing. Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives with our highly qualified field guides and trackers. Bush dinners and boma dinners will have you dining under the African stars.

The reserve includes the iconic Lion Sands Treehouse experiences (Chalkley Treehouse, Kingston Treehouse, and Tinyeleti Treehouse).

VIP Hotel Program · Invitation-only

Virtuoso benefits, included

All 976 Virtuoso hotels →

Virtuoso is an invitation-only network of luxury travel agencies. VIP rates generally meet or beat the hotel's website rates and include this hotel's own Virtuoso amenities below.

  • Room upgrade on arrival, based on availability
  • Daily breakfast for two per bedroom
  • When staying at River, Tinga, or Narina lodge, guests receive a 45-minute Aroma Bush massage per person, once per stay
  • When staying at Ivory Lodge, guests will instead receive a 60-minute massage per person, once per stay
  • Stays of 4+ nights, guests will also receive a complimentary A4 Creative Lab canvas print
  • Stays of 5+ nights, guests will also receive a complimentary night in a Treehouse, once per stay
  • Early check-in and late check-out, based on availability

Get live availability and self-book

Use our comprehensive research platform to find the best hotels with VIP rates.
Already a member? Sign in

Rooms and suites

9 room types, as described by the hotel.
Villas
1Ivory Lodge - Luxury Suite
Eight suites flow along the Sabie River at Ivory Lodge, each with private terrace, plunge pool, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing the water. Watch waterbuck descend to drink as light dances across the current, vervet monkeys chattering in riverside trees - that rare ease of being completely present in the wild.
2River Lodge - Luxury Room
Eight Luxury Rooms at River Lodge feature king or twin beds, full en-suites, and private terraces overlooking the Sabie River. Open the glass doors wide and let the wilderness in - birdsong at dawn, the river's constant flow, buffalo drinking at dusk.
3River Lodge - Superior Luxury Room
Six Superior Luxury Rooms offer generous space with open-plan bathrooms and outdoor showers beneath the trees. Two interleading sets welcome families perfectly. Sink into cushioned couches with sundowners as the river catches golden light and wildlife moves to the water below.
4River Lodge - River Suite
Three standalone River Suites feature private terraces and plunge pools where the Sabie flows directly past. Morning coffee in your pool whilst fish eagles call overhead. Outdoor showers under African stars. Space to breathe, to reconnect, to simply be beside flowing water.
5River Lodge - Family River Suite
Our two-bedroom Family River Suite offers flexible king or twin configurations with central en-suite, private deck, and plunge pool. Stories spill over breakfast on the deck. Everyone finds their rhythm here - together when it matters, space when you need it.
6Tinga Lodge - Luxury Suite
Nine suites at Tinga Lodge combine classic safari romance with contemporary comfort. Each features a private plunge pool, fireplace, and elevated deck overlooking the Sabie River.
7Narina Lodge - Luxury Suite
Explore Narina Lodge. · Nine elevated suites at Narina Lodge sit amongst century-old trees above the Sabie River. Private plunge pools, outdoor showers, and raised decks create peaceful seclusion in the canopy.
Residences
8Fish Eagle Residence
Set beside the Sabie River at Ivory Lodge, Fish Eagle Residence is a spacious three-bedroom home for families or groups travelling together. With its own lap pool, wine room, and fire deck, it offers privacy and comfort in the heart of the wilderness. · Explore more..
9Hinkwenu Residence
Explore the Residence. · Hinkwenu Residence accommodates six guests in a private two-bedroom safari home with a dedicated concierge, chef, butler, field guide and tracker, and private vehicle. Located at Tinga Lodge, it offers a private pool and fully stocked pantry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does booking through Rialto cost more than booking with the hotel?

No - VIP rates under Virtuoso always meet or beat hotel's public, flexible rate, and provide valuable amenities and possible upgrades. Rialto also provides the hotel's non-VIP and corporate rates, so you can compare with full transparency.

What is the value of the VIP benefits?

Daily breakfast for two comes with every stay at this hotel - which could add $50-100/day in value, not counting any other VIP program benefits like room upgrades.

How does this compare to other programs, like through AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts, or Chase Edit?

Using a hotel's own VIP program may provide higher upgrade priority, additional VIP benefits and promotional rate offers, and a direct relationship with the hotel for special requests. Rialto offers more VIP hotels than any credit card program. In addition, Chase Edit rates can be substantially more expensive as they rarely run promotions whereas AMEX rates are often comparable but do not offer programs such as Upgrade at Booking.

Can my AI assistant book this hotel?

Yes. Connect Rialto to Claude or ChatGPT and ask for rates. You finish the booking on a secure Rialto page. Card details are not sent through the AI chat, so either you would approve the final checkout step and reconfirm all the information, or if you authorize your agent with Computer-Use permissions, it can fill out the checkout form as well.

Rates are shown to members

Rialto is invitation-only. Apply for access and hear back within 24 hours.

Apply for accessMember sign in