1933 Lodge at Lion Sands

“You have to know your roots in order to find your wings!” This is exactly how Guy Aubrey Chalkley felt when he first discovered the raw beauty and ancient spirit of the Kingstown Game Reserve, near the Kruger National Park, back in 1933. As a tribute to their predecessor’s pioneering spirit, Nicholas and Robert More, the great grandsons of Guy Chalkley and present-day owners of Lion Sands Private Game Reserve, have undertaken to build their own private camp.

Opened in October 2007 and aptly named 1933, this lodge will welcome local guests, families and friends the world over. Since 1933  has been designed by the family and for the More family, it encapsulates both the warm, personal ambience associated with a family owned lodge and a world class luxury safari experience.

The lodge’s large windows, sliding doors and muted colours mirror the surrounding landscape and create a seamless, indoor-outdoor flow. Timber, thatch and screed flooring add earthy charm to the interior, where the decor is classic-contemporary. Take the lounge, for instance, with its natural fibres, oversized chairs and open fireplace that together create a haven for relaxation. The kitchen is ideal as it opens onto a dining area that’s equally suited to informal family meals or a banquet affair. All of these public areas open onto a large, wraparound wooden deck and 13.5m (15 yard) lap-size swimming pool.

Nestling on the banks of the Sabie River, 1933 represents a secluded environment where comfort and relaxation are the order of the day. There are four spacious suites, each with their own private view of the Sabie River. The bathrooms are just as inviting, courtesy of their double vanity units, elegant bath and outdoor showers. There is also a children's dormitory, able to sleep up to 8 children, with his and hers bathroom and an interleading bedroom for an au-pair.

If this sounds like your dream home, that’s exactly what 1933 at Lion Sands strives to be: a gracious home away from home – with a few added luxuries, including your own private chef and ranger, with the exclusive use of a 4x4 Landrover for safari game drives.    

What really sets 1933 at Lion Sands apart from any other safari lodge, is its prime setting on the canopied banks of the Sabie River – the very place where Guy Chalkley spent hours writing his storybook, Desert Pool, telling of the myriad adventures his two children, Tony and Louise, enjoyed while growing up on the Reserve.