Award-winning, exclusive gaming lodge in Houghton, South Africa

"Not what you’d expect from safari accommodation," says Tom Marchant, one of the founders of cutting-edge travel company, Black Tomato. He visited on a South African safari recently and wrote, "The new Ivory lodge at Lions Sands is contemporary and ultra chic, set in the game-rich Sabi Sand." The six exclusive monochrome villas, themed around ebony and ivory, are refreshingly uncluttered, with clean lines and pristine finishes—perfect if you want something super-modern to return to after a dusty game drive.

We lounged in our luxurious living room, watched baby elephants bathing in the river from our heated outdoor pool, indulged in a cool outdoor shower, and one of us (!) pampered herself in the Lalamuka Health Spa & Gym. Plenty to do … worthy of a 3-4 night stay. One of my insiders insists that a private seafood dinner in their wine cellar is a must-do. Especially if you arrange for a private wine tasting at the cellar with the Sand's sommelier prior to the dinner. An outstanding dinner experience ideal for a romantic evening: excellent food, very personalized service in a private and cozy environment! With zebra, gnu and the large Nile crocodile as neighbors, Ivory Lodge delivers a generous dose of both luxury accommodations and unbeatable experiences. It wasn’t rated six stars for nothing … Teeming with lions and cheetahs, a drive through the dense bush here brings never-ending surprises. And another string to its bow is that Lion Sands is the only reserve in the Sabi Sand which employs a full-time ecologist, meaning conservation is a top priority, and all of the guides are bursting with knowledge and fascinating stories about the area. So whether you chose to wallow in your pool watching the water buffalo doing the same in theirs, or sip cocktails on your evening game drive as the sun sets over the savannah, you can rest assured that you’re also helping out the ecology of the area. I look forward to going back.

The Ivory Lodge at Lion Sands
15 3rd Avenue, Parktown North, 2193, South Africa
Telephone: +27 (0) 11 880 9992