Lion Sands Tinga Lodge

Tinga Lodge is Lion Sands' classic safari lodge and its most family-minded. It sits under riverine trees on the bank of the Sabie River in the Kruger National Park portion of Lion Sands Game Reserve, a few minutes from Skukuza Airport, with nine suites, a pool deck lit by lanterns at night and a fire where guests gather after the evening drive. Children from six are welcome.

The suites mix traditional safari style with modern comforts: a king-size canopy bed, a lounge with a fireplace, an en-suite bathroom with bath and indoor shower, an outdoor shower and a private deck with a plunge pool looking onto the river, where hippo graze the banks at dusk and buffalo often cross in the morning.

Game drives run at sunrise and late afternoon with a field guide and tracker, no more than six guests per vehicle, and guides are happy to pause for a child's questions. Tinga guests reach both the Kruger and Sabi Sand sides of the reserve. The Mack and Madi programme runs from the Owl House kids club, with tracking, scavenger hunts, baking and crafts, while adults use the spa or the Creative Lab, where you can print and edit your photographs.

For a night under the stars, Tinga guests can book the Tinyeleti Treehouse over the Sabie, which takes two adults or two adults with two children aged 10 to 15. Hinkwenu Villa, an exclusive-use family home, shares the Tinga site.

Staying here supports MORE Collection's Impact Fund, which every guest contributes to through a small nightly Impact Levy. The fund works across four areas: health and wellbeing for staff and their families, resource sustainability, education and training (including the MORE Field Guide College, a one-year course for local trainee guides) and investment in neighbouring communities. The More Community Foundation has worked with the villages of Huntington and Justicia B since 2002, starting with Henna Pre-school, and guests can visit these projects or bring school supplies through Pack for a Purpose.