Each Villa sleeps two adults and is a peaceful refuge – with its own plunge pool and relaxation areas, including a dining/lounge area, furnished patio and viewing deck. A guest spa and fitness area is set away from the main lodge and Villas.

Two en-suite bedrooms can sleep four adults and another two children, each on an extra single bed in their parents’ rooms. All areas have been carefully designed to bring people together, or to give those wanting privacy their own generous space. An open-plan living room (including kitchen, dining and lounge area) leads out to the patio, firepit, viewing deck, lap pool, and star jetty. Downstairs, away from the shared spaces, you’ll find a personal spa/gym. The Villa also comes with its own personal chef, field guide and safari vehicle.

Game drives, in open safari vehicles, head out at sunrise and again in the late afternoon. The reserve’s natural animal populations include all of the Big Five, and it is renowned for the quality of its leopard sightings – the most elusive of predators. With no more than 16 vehicles allowed on the reserve at any one time, Lions Sands assures you a truly personal safari, and the field guides are able to take you within close range of Africa’s most impressive species. Photo opportunities are spectacular! Also included is a hot beverage/sundowner stop to purely appreciate being in the bush and in the moment.

For those who wish to experience the bush, not just observe it, there is no better guided excursion. Feel the scrub crunch beneath your feet, touch a velvety acacia seed pod, hear the crack of a branch indicating you are not alone, and spot the game appear just metres off – exhilarating! This is also a wonderful opportunity to encounter the smaller creatures, often missed on safari vehicles, and to discover more about the reserve’s plants – many with fascinating medicinal properties and traditional uses.

Between safaris you’ll have the luxury of free time and how better to indulge than in the spa? We favour Africology products, instilled with the belief that self-care brings balance. So with our range of therapies, we offer a wellness experience to rejuvenate your body, quiet your mind, and revitalise your spirit. If you must gym, there’s a fully kitted out facility with a view of the bush to take your mind off the burn.

From boma feasts to safari refreshment stops, dining promises to be a highlight – for all our guests, with any dietary requirement, including kosher, catered for. Our chefs transform local recipes into contemporary dishes, giving you a taste of Southern Africa. Paired with premium Cape wines, dining becomes an experience. Our wine tastings are also a favourite of connoisseurs and dabblers, alike.

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.