T+L’s Lodge Evaluate of Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, South Africa

Final December, a hearth broke out at South Africa’s Lion Sands Ivory Lodge. Everybody was safely evacuated, however the principle space was destroyed. Practically a yr later, the lodge reopened after a rebuild and a classy overhaul, with eight suites alongside the banks of the Sabie River. The brand new property is extra elevated—actually—as the principle space is now perched excessive above the river.

The lodge is within the non-public Sabi Sands Sport Reserve, on the sting of South Africa’s Kruger Nationwide Park, probably the greatest locations on the continent to see iconic wildlife. (I noticed the Massive 5 inside 24 hours, which is comparatively frequent.) A spotlight of my keep was discovering two fluffy leopard cubs clumsily clambering throughout their mom. A feminine leopard even wandered proper by camp one afternoon, such is these animals’ degree of unbotheredness.

South African lodges normally have tracker-and-guide groups (in different nations, it’s extra frequent to have solely a information). Generally the dynamic has apparent tensions, however on this journey, I used to be relieved to be with a duo that appeared to genuinely like one another. One night, our tracker discovered a thin tree snake along with his highlight as we drove again to the lodge after sundowners, and a trainee, who was shadowing our information Gustav “Gus” Thomas, identified the nests of baboon spiders as we had our morning espresso within the bush.

After which the remaining: a white rhino mom grazing along with her calf; two outdated elephant bulls effortlessly uprooting a tree to entry the leafy larger branches; a coalition of male lions munching on a recently-killed buffalo; kudus—massive antelopes with huge ears and spiral horns on the males—barking at a leopard to shoo her out of their house.

It isn’t all about guiding and wildlife, although—the meals and spa therapies are equally beautiful. Under, my full overview of Lion Sands Ivory Lodge.

The Rooms

Ivory Lodge has eight 1,500-square-foot one-bedroom suites lining a wood walkway. They’re named after birds; I stayed in Sandpiper, which was a brief stroll from the principle space (it’s the third suite alongside), however far sufficient to not catch any noise.

The design favors clear strains, with numerous pure mild and supplies in impartial tones and a variety of textures: clean flooring, knotted wool rugs, brass lamps, and partitions of tough stone or tiles. A few massive summary artworks add splashes of shade.

Coming by the hefty wood door, there’s an entrance space, with the bed room and loo to 1 aspect and the residing space to the opposite. The elevated deck stretches throughout the whole entrance of the suite and options shaded seating and a temperature-controlled plunge pool, excellent for watching the hippos within the river beneath.

Within the bed room, privateness curtains slide over the French doorways, however the window above stays uncovered, letting in loads of pure mild. The toilet, stocked with TheraNaka toiletries, has indoor and out of doors showers, plus a standalone bathtub.

Meals and Drink

Meals at Ivory Lodge are served both inside the principle eating space or on the deck, climate allowing.

The suites have somewhat hatch by which a smoothie and a muffin are quietly delivered half an hour earlier than morning recreation drives, so friends can have a fast chunk earlier than heading out. Espresso is served out within the bush. There’s a correct breakfast again on the lodge, with a alternative of lighter bites like contemporary fruit, chia seed pudding, and muesli, or one thing extra substantial, resembling eggs Florentine.

Lunch was my favourite meal—a number of mild tapas, excellent for warm days. My butler recommended I attempt all 5 dish choices on the menu, however I caught to 3: a peach caprese salad with balsamic glaze, a Waldorf salad, and blackened salmon skewers.

There’s a pickling room, with jars of pickled produce, dried meat, and cheeses to pattern. The pre-game drive afternoon tea has a savory and candy choice. (Scotch eggs and baklava cake have been served on my first day). Dinner is somewhat heartier—assume tomato carpaccio, adopted by rooster supreme, and an apple mille-feuille for dessert.

There’s quite a lot of glorious South African wines on supply, resembling Donkiesbaai cinsault, Storm Wines pinot noir, Holden Manz Hiro rosé, and David & Nadia chenin blanc. Nonetheless, there’s nothing like a gin and tonic to finish the day within the bush.

The suite’s minibar is stocked with wines, beers, spirits, and delicate drinks, all included within the nightly fee. Snacks embody dried mangos, jerked biltong meat, and cookies. In between recreation drives, friends usually spend a lot of the time of their suites, so there’s an in-room snack menu consisting of a charcuterie platter and cheese board. A cocktail information with all of the elements, stirrers, and shakers can also be provided.

Actions and Experiences

The primary actions at Ivory Lodge are the sport drives, which happen twice a day in open-top 4×4 autos with a information and a tracker. They’re shared with different friends, however non-public autos can be found on request (ZAR 19,680/$1,153 per day).

Throughout my November keep, we headed out at 5:30 a.m., whereas afternoon drives began at 4 p.m., arriving again in time for drinks across the firepit and dinner. Outings are sometimes about three hours lengthy, with a espresso or sundowner break within the center. Visitors can even select to go on bush walks as a part of a morning recreation drive or after breakfast.

Pictures fanatics can spend time on the Artistic Lab on the sibling property River Lodge subsequent door, and have their photographs edited by an expert or get assist selecting photos to print on canvas. Cameras and lenses are additionally obtainable to lease (from ZAR 750/$44 per drive), with enhancing providers included.

There’s additionally a fitness center with a pleasant leafy view, providing cardio tools and weights, in addition to a spa.

And for a very particular expertise, you possibly can ebook one in all Lion Sands’ three tree homes (from ZAR 5,620/$330 per individual sharing) for an evening underneath the celebrities, full with a lantern-lit dinner.

The Spa

The on-site spa has two remedy rooms, a steam room, a sauna, and an ice tub.

I had a one-hour full-body therapeutic massage with a therapist, who thought-about all my factors about the place to focus and the place to go simple. She used TheraNaka marula physique oils, that are additionally on the market within the spa. I might hear an African fish eagle calling overhead as she labored out my muscle kinks. As an alternative of a bell or gong, she used a rain follow sign the top of the remedy—a bamboo tube crammed with rice or beans that creates a relaxing rain-like sound when tipped back and forth.

Different obtainable therapies embody the two-hour African Rejuvenation, which features a physique scrub, steam, therapeutic massage, and a facial. Additionally on the spa menu: magnificence therapies, together with pedicures and eyebrow shaping.

Household-friendly Choices

Children over 10 years outdated are welcome on the suites at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge. Youngsters of any age can keep on the exclusive-use Fish Eagle Residence, which is on the identical website because the lodge.

There are actions for kids, resembling pizza-making and plaster-casting of animal tracks.

Although youngsters are welcome, I didn’t really feel that Ivory Lodge is the very best match for households—there are different lodges in the identical space that cater extra particularly to households. Whereas Ivory Lodge is a good match for honeymooners and {couples}, its bigger sibling property, River Lodge, might be a better option for vacationers with little ones.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Lion Sands Ivory Lodge shouldn’t be accessible.

By way of sustainability, the lodge avoids single-use plastics in its suites. Filtered water is provided in reusable glass bottles; cotton wool pads and non-plastic Q-tips are saved unfastened in refillable containers; lavatory merchandise are in glass bottles; and minibar drinks are in glass bottles or cans. All eating choices are à la carte, which minimizes meals waste.

Ivory Lodge has a photo voltaic plant that meets a few of its vitality wants; effectivity is improved by single-glazed home windows and shading to maintain indoor temperatures down. Supplies used for the rebuild have been chosen for sturdiness within the bush, resembling aluminum and timber cladding.

Location

Ivory Lodge is within the Lion Sands Sport Reserve, which straddles the non-public Sabi Sand Sport Reserve and Kruger Nationwide Park, in northeast South Africa. Being in a personal reserve means fewer autos and experiences like off-road driving, bush walks, and nighttime safaris. Lion Sands has a restrict of two autos per sighting of their reserve, which is best for each wildlife and guests. (It could actually get busier on the sting of reserves the place shared traversing rights imply autos from a number of lodges could be at one sighting. I noticed this at a leopard sighting with about six or seven autos current.)

The lodge is simply half an hour’s drive from Skukuza Airport (SZK), which has direct connections between Cape City and Johannesburg with Airlink. Lodge transfers from Skukuza Airport are complimentary.

Ebook Now

Nightly charges at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge begin from ZAR 45,990 ($2,657) per individual sharing.

Each T+L lodge overview is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed on the property, and every lodge chosen aligns with our core values.