Overview of Leadwood Lodge

Shaded by ancient leadwood and jackalberry trees, the exclusive Leadwood Lodge comprises only four luxury suites and is situated on the banks of the Sand River. Leadwood delivers an exclusive and very upmarket South African safari experience in the private Sabi Sand Game Reserve, adjacent to the world-famous Kruger National Park. The region boasts an abundance of wildlife and superlative Big 5 game viewing – especially leopard.

Enjoy close-up sightings of classic African animals while on open-vehicle game drives in the mornings and afternoons. For the slightly more adventurous, a guided bush walk offers the chance to discover the smaller details behind the African bush, as well as affording you the opportunity to enjoy the thriving and diverse birdlife of the area.

Highlights & Activities

What's on offer whilst on this itinerary?
  • Set in the private Sabi Sand Game Reserve with excellent leopard sightings
  • Exclusive, four-bedroom lodge
  • Elevated lodge with dramatic river views
  • Elegant suites with fireplaces, plunge pools and outdoor showers
  • A perfect romantic safari retreat
  • Enjoy the finest safari cuisine, all freshly prepared and tailored to your taste
Bird watching

Bird watching

Bush dining

Bush dining

Game drives

Game drives

Guided walking safaris

Guided walking safaris

Guided walks

Guided walks

Night drives

Night drives

Specialist guides

Specialist guides

General Facilities

Leadwood Lodge offers excellent facilities for you to enjoy during your stay. Soak up the beautiful views over the Sand River from the viewing deck and keep an eye out for thirsty animals coming down to the river banks.

In the evenings, order a refreshing sundowner drink from the bar before relaxing around the fire and swopping stories in the open-air boma.

Bar

Bar

Heated swimming pool

Heated swimming pool

Laundry service

Laundry service

Plunge pool

Plunge pool

Wi-Fi available

Wi-Fi available

Dining

Leadwood Lodge offers outstanding fine dining with dishes offering a delicate blend of African flavours. Dinners are special events at Leadwood and are served in a number of locations to maximise the magic of an African evening.

Plated meals are presented in the elegant dining room or the open deck under the magnificent African night sky. Alternatively, traditional braais (barbeques) are enjoyed in the warm atmosphere of the African boma around a crackling fire.

Expert Opinion

We know because we go
Liesel van Zyl

Liesel van Zyl

Product Manager

Gorgeously architected around a big tree on the river and taking a maximum of only 6 guests at a time, this boutique lodge is for a discerning traveller who has good taste and prefers a more intimate experience far from the maddening crowds.

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Positive Impact

The money from your trip stays in Africa, supporting local communities and conservation projects long after you return home.

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We take care of every detail, offering 24/7 assistance and local know-how from the right time zone, until you return safely home.

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Interested to know more? Click the link to find out all about Go2Africa’s Big 5 Guarantee

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Traveller Reviews

  • LL

    Leaded Lodge worked out very well for us. It was great having the entire lodge to ourselves. The staff were fabulous as was Mac, the ranger and his tracker, Prince. The accommodation was very comfortable and the food was delicious. They accommodated our needs well. They personalized many things too. For e.g., Champagne for Natalie and Mickey who got married in October, birthday cake for me. We did see a lot of game. Similar to what we have seen in other lodges.

    Laurence Levy
  • LC

    Beauitful lodge and suite, food was exceptional, staff were very friendly and accommodating, animal sightings were excellent.

    Liam Coppinger
  • MP

    Leadwood Lodge was over the top! Let me say that this should be the last stop on the itinerary as anything after it will suffer in comparison. The kids were “homesick” the first day of our next stop and they didn’t mean the USA. They wanted to go home to Martha, Chris, Justin, John, Isaac and Patricia at Leadwood Lodge!

    Margarita Padilla
  • SW

    The manager and staff were friendly, helpful and very efficient. All meals were excellent! Breakfast and lunch were usually served on a platform in the trees overlooking the river bed and dinner in a number of locations, including the Boma and a beautifully laid out table in our room.

    Our ranger, Blaine was good company and very knowledgeable. We were fortunate to have many sightings of leopard, lion and fantastic up close viewings of elephant, particularly young ones playing and tumbling over each other and splashing about in the river. It was an incredible privilege just to watch and be part of a brief moment or two in their lives while they grow up.

    Simon Warner
  • TM

    Leadwood is a wonderful location. Accommodation was brilliant, spacious, well laid out and with plenty of private outside space. The common areas still provided privacy for us, we could have been the only guests. The staff were so friendly and attentive and nothing was a bother to them.

    Tom Melaugh
  • PN

    Phinda vlei was amazing. Our guide and tracker, Martin and Abel were incredible. They truly went the extra mile to find whatever we were asking to see. And we saw some incredible things! The rooms were very nice as was food but felt the food at leadwood was much better. Lucas the manager at vlei was very good but Nicola at leadwood was amazing. Our guides at leadwood were very good but the guide and tracker at vlei went above and beyond to satisfy whatever we wanted. Leadwood beautiful. Nicola made our stay so special, eating in a different place each night, music and braii one night. The cook went out of his way for the group of us there as nick was allergic to nuts, I can’t do seafood and ended up eating vegetarian and the other couple, one was gluten free! The chef had his hands full but all of us felt we ate the most amazing food. Happiness the cook at vlei made me some wonderful vegetarian things also. The cooking staff at vlei interacted with us more but food better at leadwood. Game drives were great in both places. I am being picky as both were amazing but after talking to everyone those are the differences we felt! Would we go back to either? Most certainly! One night I wasn’t feeling well so Nicola came to our room with toast, jam and ginger ale for me! She was such an asset to leadwood!

    Patti Nett
  • PN

    Phinda vlei was amazing. Our guide and tracker, Martin and Abel were incredible. They truly went the extra mile to find whatever we were asking to see. And we saw some incredible things! The rooms were very nice as was food but felt the food at leadwood was much better. Lucas the manager at vlei was very good but Nicola at leadwood was amazing. Our guides at leadwood were very good but the guide and tracker at vlei went above and beyond to satisfy whatever we wanted. Leadwood beautiful. Nicola made our stay so special, eating in a different place each night, music and braii one night. The cook went out of his way for the group of us there as nick was allergic to nuts, I can’t do seafood and ended up eating vegetarian and the other couple, one was gluten free! The chef had his hands full but all of us felt we ate the most amazing food. Happiness the cook at vlei made me some wonderful vegetarian things also. The cooking staff at vlei interacted with us more but food better at leadwood. Game drives were great in both places. I am being picky as both were amazing but after talking to everyone those are the differences we felt! Would we go back to either? Most certainly! One night I wasn’t feeling well so Nicola came to our room with toast, jam and ginger ale for me! She was such an asset to leadwood!

    Patti Nett
  • PN

    Phinda vlei was amazing. Our guide and tracker, Martin and Abel were incredible. They truly went the extra mile to find whatever we were asking to see. And we saw some incredible things! The rooms were very nice as was food but felt the food at leadwood was much better. Lucas the manager at vlei was very good but Nicola at leadwood was amazing. Our guides at leadwood were very good but the guide and tracker at vlei went above and beyond to satisfy whatever we wanted. Leadwood beautiful. Nicola made our stay so special, eating in a different place each night, music and braii one night. The cook went out of his way for the group of us there as nick was allergic to nuts, I can’t do seafood and ended up eating vegetarian and the other couple, one was gluten free! The chef had his hands full but all of us felt we ate the most amazing food. Happiness the cook at vlei made me some wonderful vegetarian things also. The cooking staff at vlei interacted with us more but food better at leadwood. Game drives were great in both places. I am being picky as both were amazing but after talking to everyone those are the differences we felt! Would we go back to either? Most certainly! One night I wasn’t feeling well so Nicola came to our room with toast, jam and ginger ale for me! She was such an asset to leadwood!

    Patti Nett
  • ST

    Thank you so much for arranging our trip – we had the best holiday ever! Leadwood Lodge was stunning and, as it turned out, we were the only guests for the entire four days of our stay. It became almost like a second honeymoon trip for us – surprise bush picnics and candle-lit dinners on top of spectacular game viewing. Thanks again.

    Stacy Townson
  • ST

    Thank you so much for arranging our trip – we had the best holiday ever! Leadwood Lodge was stunning and, as it turned out, we were the only guests for the entire four days of our stay. It became almost like a second honeymoon trip for us – surprise bush picnics and candle-lit dinners on top of spectacular game viewing. Thanks again.

    Stacy Townson
  • ST

    Thank you so much for arranging our trip – we had the best holiday ever! Leadwood Lodge was stunning and, as it turned out, we were the only guests for the entire four days of our stay. It became almost like a second honeymoon trip for us – surprise bush picnics and candle-lit dinners on top of spectacular game viewing. Thanks again.

    Stacy Townson
  • MS

    We had a fabulous trip, and thank you for arranging it for us.

    Michael Scott
  • MS

    We had a fabulous trip, and thank you for arranging it for us.

    Michael Scott
  • MS

    We had a fabulous trip, and thank you for arranging it for us.

    Michael Scott
  • TW

    Having been to many Game reserves, the Leadwood lodge was worth every penny for the quality of game viewing. This has probably ruined it for all other trips. The People were also great and managed the correct balance of social integration, BBQs in the evening, and privacy. Made some new friends and Sandie was in tears when we left. Only complaint was the lack of heating in the plunge pools, they were freezing. After all the money they have spent and the rates they charge I wouldn’t expect the heating to break the bank.

    Tommy Wakefield-Smith
  • TW

    Having been to many Game reserves, the Leadwood lodge was worth every penny for the quality of game viewing. This has probably ruined it for all other trips. The People were also great and managed the correct balance of social integration, BBQs in the evening, and privacy. Made some new friends and Sandie was in tears when we left. Only complaint was the lack of heating in the plunge pools, they were freezing. After all the money they have spent and the rates they charge I wouldn’t expect the heating to break the bank.

    Tommy Wakefield-Smith
  • TW

    Having been to many Game reserves, the Leadwood lodge was worth every penny for the quality of game viewing. This has probably ruined it for all other trips. The People were also great and managed the correct balance of social integration, BBQs in the evening, and privacy. Made some new friends and Sandie was in tears when we left. Only complaint was the lack of heating in the plunge pools, they were freezing. After all the money they have spent and the rates they charge I wouldn’t expect the heating to break the bank.

    Tommy Wakefield-Smith
  • CE

    Leadwood Lodge was amazing. Our favourite. The staff, the standard of accommodation, the food, the attention to detail were all absolutely brilliant. I would recommend this lodge to anyone as a wonderful honeymoon treat.

    Claire Evans
  • CE

    Leadwood Lodge was amazing. Our favourite. The staff, the standard of accommodation, the food, the attention to detail were all absolutely brilliant. I would recommend this lodge to anyone as a wonderful honeymoon treat.

    Claire Evans
  • CE

    Leadwood Lodge was amazing. Our favourite. The staff, the standard of accommodation, the food, the attention to detail were all absolutely brilliant. I would recommend this lodge to anyone as a wonderful honeymoon treat.

    Claire Evans
  • HR

    We especially loved Leadwood and the people there. I think Harry and I have both got the Africa bug now and we are definately going back in the future.

    Harriet Roberts
  • HR

    We especially loved Leadwood and the people there. I think Harry and I have both got the Africa bug now and we are definately going back in the future.

    Harriet Roberts
  • HR

    We especially loved Leadwood and the people there. I think Harry and I have both got the Africa bug now and we are definately going back in the future.

    Harriet Roberts