Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tinga Lodge is the classic safari experience, with a focus on the senses. Nine luxury suites capture the romance of the pioneer era, in considerably more comfort. Set apart on a high bank up from the Sabie River, each Suite is privately set with its own plunge pool and deck overlooking the water making the most of a view that often sees wildlife passing through. There is also a spa sala, the main lodge with its bar lounge, library, guest pool and boma offering spaces to enjoy the company of others, or some personal quiet moments. Mack & Madi Kids’ Adventure is our dedicated children’s programme available at Tinga Lodge and offers a wide variety of activities on site that keep the young ones entertained. There is a dedicated playroom for arts & crafts, baking and more. Special scavenger hunts on game drives and fun ‘sundowner’ stops of milkshakes or hot chocolate, will create some long-lasting memories. Million-star Tinyeleti Treehouse is the ultimate bush bedroom. Here romantics, adventurers, and solitude seekers alike can discover the magic of a night out in Africa – in complete luxury. Tinyeleti Treehouse offers a starry riverside retreat. All our treehouses have bathroom facilities with hot running water. The Treehouse Experience is booked additionally in conjunction with accommodation at the lodge, with the room available for returning to at any point. Hinkwenu Residence is located at Tinga Lodge. This stand-alone Residence in the bush makes the wildlife experience exclusive with its own hospitality and field guide teams, and safari vehicle for a more personal experience. The two spacious bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, that include an outdoor shower area. The private pool and furnished deck ensure guests have ultimate privacy whilst relaxing. Mack & Madi Kids’ Adventure programme is also available for the young ones. Lion Sands conserves 12 400ha (30 600ac) of a habitat that is home to the highest and most diverse concentration of wildlife in the southern hemisphere offering exceptional game-viewing opportunities. Natural animal populations include the Big Five, along with a supporting cast of 137 mammal species and over 450 varieties of bird, and the reserve is renowned for the quality of its leopard viewing. Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives with our highly qualified field guides and trackers. Bush dinners and boma dinners will have you dining under the African stars.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
River View
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu
Location
Lion Sands Kruger National Park The Farm Toulon 305ku, Airport Rd. Skukuza, Kruger National Park,, Kruger National Park 1350 South Africa
I had the most amazing experience staying at Tinga Lodge. I went on Safari not knowing what to expect. In my wildest imagination never did I expect the quality of Tinga Lodge. We had the most fabulous guides taking us on two drives a day.On the first day we saw the big five. Our driver Mandala was extremely knowledgeable and personable. He could tell us about every animal and bird. He would ask us what we wanted to see next and he would go out of his way to make it happen.It was not just about the quality of the drives, it was about the quality of the lodge. My room was spacious and comfortable. Each room had a very large bath and shower, sitting area, bar, and a deck with a private pool. The food was plentiful and delicious. They would wake you at five for our first drive. Coffee and muffins were waiting for us. When we returned from our drive. We had a made to order breakfast. There was a lovely lunch and high tea before our next drive. On our evening drives,all the jeeps would get together before sunset in the Bush for cocktails. When we returned from the evening drive. we were served dinner. Twice we had barbecues. Even though I do no eat meat, there was always chicken or fish. Although I was traveling alone, all the people that I was traveling with from Tauck were friendly and inclusive. I never felt alone. I can not say enough about the lodge's manager Nadia. She took the time to know each of her guests and even went out of her way to help me transfer photos from my camera to phone. By the time I left Tinga Lodge, I felt like I was leaving family.I hope one day i can make the trip to South Africa again and stay at Tinga Lodge.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:They are all fabulous
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
From the moment we arrived at Skukuza Airport by car, to the moment they dropped us off it felt like a warm bath of hospitality. It felt that the people working there enjoyed being in the service industry: professional, yet not uptight or forced. The location is outstanding and sitting on the deck overlooking the Sabie river gives you that Dr. Livingstone feeling. Waiter Amos knows his trade and is also not afraid to converse and make a joke or two. He remembers everyone’s preference. Quality and variation in meals are excellent. The rooms are large, clean and stylishly decorated, with a nice private deck and plunge pool: perfect during a hot summer afternoon. Our safaris were guided by Albert and Mishek: Albert has swallowed all the fieldguides he could find and Miskek fell in a giant bowl of binoculars when he was young. They showed us the beautiful scenery and we saw lots of wonderful animals. Being frequent Safari-goers they still made it very informative and interesting for us by pointing out the out of the ordinary things like the leopard-orchid. By just mentioning the above staffmemebers we are selling a lot of people short, like Lennart who showed us the bushbabies when escorting us to our room, and all the supporting staff creating a homelike feeling for us. So in short: we really enjoyed ourselves and hope to be back one day.
P.s. Albert: we will be back once you send us proof of existence of the Striped polecat at Tinga!
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Date of stay: January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from MORE Family Collection Lodges and Hotels, Owner at Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Responded 22 Feb 2023
You had us all smiling with this review. Thank you so much for the kind words and the personal acknowledgements to so many of our dedicated people. It was our pleasure to ensure your safari was everything you hoped for and more. That elusive polecat better pose for a picture soon so we can get you all back here. All the best from our team Mark Broodryk, General Manager, Kruger National Park, Lion Sands Game Reserve
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
WOW, what a wonderful lodge. From the pickup at the Skukuza airport to the check in, everything was 5 star!! The accommodation is absolutely spectacular! The rooms are literally on the Sabie River ( and at the moment it’s flowing like I’ve never seen before!! ). Because we are celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary, the staff had gone out of their way to put an amazing welcome message on our bed, to a bottle of champagne in the ice bucket! Everything was perfect!! The staff from management to housekeeping just can’t do enough for us!! Our ranger is Johan and our tracker is Emmanuel ( I called him Mannie for short - and now everyone on our vehicle is calling him Mannie ) Lol!! My wife is a big bird watcher and the combination of Johan, Mannie and my wife, they’ve collectively identified over 100 species on 6 game drives. The lodge has its own private concession area in the Kruger National Park. In numerous visits to the KNP I’ve only ever seen Wild Dog once. On our first 4 drives we saw 8 dogs on 1 day and 22 on another!! We’ve seen the Big 5 and loads of amazing game. The bush is extremely lush due to good rainfall which is great for the animals!! The guest services staff lead by Cathrine and Sue are absolutely incredible!! Our compliments to the head chef DK and his tremendous staff, every meal has been spectacular!! We have really enjoyed our stay at this incredible lodge and would recommend it to all South Africans and international guests!! Even during the very stressful time with CV19, the entire staff at Tinga Lodge has made our stay stress free for both of us!!! One of the pics attached is of our deck at our room!! Truly a view one could get use to waking up and seeing every morning!! Thanks to ALL at Tinga Lodge for making our celebration a memorable one!! God Bless and Best Wishes, Alan and Cecilé
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Date of stay: March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We visited Tinga on our honeymoon and the whole experience was far beyond our expectations. From the minute we were met at Skukuza airport to the time we were dropped off, all the staff went above and beyond. Albert, our guide and Mishak, our tracker were amazing - knowledgeable, welcoming and excellent company! They ensured that we saw everything and knew everything there was to know not only about the animals, but also trees, plants, the bush, conservation etc. We saw elephants, lions, buffalo, a leopard, white rhino, giraffes, crocodiles, hippos, baboons, hyenas, a jackal, monkeys, vultures, impala, inyala, kudus - and some of these were astonishingly close to the jeep. Our butler, Amos was amazing, remembering our breakfast drinks every day. My husband does not drink alcohol so the lodge made sure both the jeep and our room were well stocked with 0% beer. We were welcomed back after each drive by the wonderful staff and our room was kept spotless by the house keeping team who made sure it was cleaned by the time we returned from the morning drive and all prepared for the evening after dinner. Overall, if I could give Tinga Lodge and its staff and the whole safari experience more than 10/10, I would! Our goal now is to save up enough to return to South Africa and Tinga Lodge!
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from MORE Family Collection Lodges and Hotels, Owner at Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Responded 28 Jul 2023
Thank you for such a beautiful review, and for spending your honeymoon at Lion Sands. We are incredibly privileged to be surrounded by such a diversity of wildlife, and it is wonderful that you had excellent sightings. Hopefully we shall see you for your anniversary. Kind regards Mark Broodryk, General Manager, Kruger National Park, Lion Sands Game Reserve
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This is the way to visit the Kruger national park. It may seem pricey but it is worthwhile every cent ! Nadia the lodge manager is an exceptional lady. She is not only very beautiful but I overheard her conversations with staff and she is a true leader and mentor and it shows in the staff's friendliness and service levels Upon arrival I had a delicious ostrich burger. To my surprise one of the most sought after game rangers in the area, Henry, is now also at this lodge. My game ranger on this trip Simon was so knowledgeable and he really knows his plants and birds so well and he overachieved especially on leopard rhino buffalo elephant and hyena sightings. Isaac is a formidable tracker and I felt so safe among all the animals. You will be in the pap of luxury and experience non-stop happiness. The spa treatment I enjoyed was 5 star quality and they bring all the local flavors of the bushveld through Africology to you. What an excellent cosmetic brand for the game reserve. Remember your swimming costume for the pool next to the river or your own private plunge pool. Your bath is in a glass dome surrounded by the veld and I got to watch a hippo while in my bath. Shoutout to the resident Nyala for bidding me farewell. And thank you Danielle and your team for my lovely road trip food and takeout cappuccino when I departed. You guys have created something magical. Please keep it up! I will see you again!
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We booked Tinga lodge more than a year before our stay. As a family of 5 we do our research and selected Tinga because it is family friendly with large pool, comfortable common area and has activities for kids. Our family has travelled extensively and we are happy to pay 5-star rates but we expect 5-star service.
After traveling halfway around the globe and upon our arrival at Tinga the staff, clearly anticipating our arrival, rushed out informing our driver to take us to a different lodge. The driver protested stating the reservation was make for Tinga. We rechecked our reservation and confirmed that we booked, paid, and were confirmed for, Tinga Lodge. Though we protested the driver was quickly dismissed and we were loaded on a land rover and ushered off through the bush to another lodge some 15min away.
We were deposited at an “intimate” couples sister lodge without the family amenities we booked for. The resort was sub-par and poorly maintained and in 40C weather with no pool and the only pool a disgusting plunge pool. Upon request management agreed to allow us the use of the facilities at Tinga and on our first day we decided to be shuttled to Tinga lodge. The staff at Tinga, especially the bar tender, were rude and made it very clear that they were “fully booked and very busy” even though we were the only people in the common area for most of the day. The message that we were unwelcome was loud and clear and we did not return to Tinga during the remainder of our stay.
A once in a lifetime experience with our family was tainted by poor management and/or post covid greed whereby existing booking are “replaced” by last minute bookings at much higher rates. This disgraceful practice has become common since COVID, but we expect the MORE group to hold itself to the higher standard.
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from MORE Family Collection Lodges and Hotels, Owner at Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Responded 16 Jan 2023
We completely understand your frustration with the change from Tinga Lodge to Narina Lodge but assure you it was a reservations system error and nothing to do with a rate/yield decision as both Lodges are rated the same level of luxury and are therefore priced the same. Unfortunately, the reservations system error occurred months ago when we were planning to build a three-bedroom residence at Tinga Lodge and had to close several suites to avoid any negative impact on the inhouse guests when the construction was scheduled to take place. We regret that this was not communicated to you, and the move to Narina Lodge was made without your confirmation. This is by no means standard practice, and for this we have taken full responsibility. We pride ourselves in offering a world class luxury safari experience at all four of our award-winning lodges at Lion Sands. Recognising your hearts were set on Tinga Lodge, we provided access to the facilities. We are sorry that this, along with our efforts including a personal engagement with our CEO in terms of compensation were not well received. Kind regards, Jopie van Rooyen, General Manager, Lion Sands Game Reserve
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To stay at Tinga Lodge was nothing short of a privilege. The entire staff and team do not miss a beat. You are made to feel more like family rather than guests. Every day throughout our stay we were treated to amazing surprises from a private candlelit dinner to a cheese and wine stop along the bank of the Sabie River.
The rooms are beautifully decorated and are extremely luxurious... each suite has a private plunge pool. All the meals were excellent and you definitely won’t leave hungry.
Our highlight without a doubt was spending time in the bush with Johan, Mannie and Robin - their knowledge and enthusiasm have made this trip our most memorable yet! If you are lucky enough to get paired with them, don’t forget to ask Johan for the ‘last morning magic’ 😁
Thank you all again and we cannot wait to return! See you soon
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Date of stay: March 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
From the moment you arrive at the airport until you leave, Lion Sands takes every effort to put the customer first and ensure each and every guest is looked after. Attention to detail is considered in all aspects of your stay - food is high quality, accommodation is spacious, very comfortable and provides all mod cons. But for me, it was the staff who made it a little more special, little thoughtful touches and a can do attitude was evident. Location was brilliant - 5 mins from the airport and even less before you start to see the wildlife. I can thoroughly recommend this as as special place for couples and families alike.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:August was a great time to go. Chilly mornings and evenings - so bring some warm clothes, but...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from MORE Family Collection Lodges and Hotels, Owner at Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Responded 23 Aug 2023
Thank you so much. We absolutely loved meeting your family, and we so enjoyed the kids - and that they had such a great time. We are glad you were able to enjoy your last night in the Hinkwenu Residence. We hope to see you all again! Kind regards Mark Broodryk, General Manager, Kruger National Park, Lion Sands Game Reserve
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We had a 5 star experience staying at Lion Sands Tinga for my wife and my honeymoon and the staff really went above and beyond to make this stay truly special from the food to the safari and everything in between. We had the pleasure to be paired with our guide Jabu and tracker Wanted and together they did such a great job at spotting animals and making each safari ride a treat! They were very knowledgeable and took pride in their jobs and were patient with each and every question we had. Ellon was our waiter for every meal and took special care for remembering all our preferences (we love the More Chilli sauce!). His passion for service is unmatched. Nadia and her staff were consistently checking in with us and ensuring all our needs were met. The cleaning staff were top notch and loved the special personalized note each day! We did a few spa services and thought they did a fantastic job and how nice to hear the sounds of nature at the same time! We highly recommend staying at the Lion Sands Tinga Lodge.
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:If rain is expected in the forecast bring some water proof shoes and jackets. The panchos...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a very relaxing and amazing weekend stay at Lion Sands - Tinga Lodge. The hospitality and friendliness by the staff there is amazing. They make you feel very welcome and they have enough time for you to tell you about their lodge, themselves and talk about anything that the conversation brings. The food is delicious. I do not eat breakfast and dessert but I don’t regret the breakfast and full courses meals I had there. Their suites are beautiful, neat and clean. Falling asleep comes very easy in their room and ery comfortable bed. The guided tours are to die for. We have seen 4 of the big fives and many other animals and birds. A truly must go place for great time.
Thanks to all staff here more especially Nkululeko at the reception for such an awesome weekend.
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Date of stay: March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Johannesburg, South Africa13 contributions2 helpful votes
Good day
Apologies for the delayed response. Camera rental is not currently available at Tinga Lodge, but could possibly be arranged from River Lodge or other supplier. Have you confirmed your reservation, as you can get in touch with the concierge service to arrange.
Hope that is helpful.
Johannesburg, South Africa13 contributions2 helpful votes
Good day
Yes we do. Please kindly contact our reservations team to notify the lodge of your dietary needs.
Head Office & Reservations: +27 (0) 11 880 9992
Or directly with the lodge +27 (0) 13 735 8400
Hi! I am not the owner or an associate of the hotel but I’m pretty sure when requested,they will make do their best to fulfill your dietary requirements.
There are more places to choose from in the Kruger National Park area.
PRICE RANGE
R 28,356 - R 55,695 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
tinga private game hotel skukuza, tinga private game skukuza
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Tinga Private Game Lodge
LOCATION
South AfricaKruger National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
9
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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