Photo from Lion Sands Game Reserve website

Making a name for itself as one of the most extravagant destinations for a romantic honeymoon, Africa has been impacting the lives of newlyweds for decades. With accommodation options from highly-adventurous and rustic camps to luxurious and lavish hotels and villas, Africa has something for every couple.

For the nature-enthusiasts, adventurists, and romantics, the Chalkley Treehouse on the Lion Sands Private Game Reserve is where it’s at. With a panoramic view of South Africa’s magnificent wilderness and an open-air layout, the Chalkley Treehouse allows you to watch the transformation from day to night. As you watch the sunset from your completely private bush bedroom you’ll witness one of the most hypnotizing night skies as the navy blue sky melts into a black, velvety blanket speckled with crisp stars. Just one night in the Chalkley Treehouse and you’ll find yourself in paralyzing awe.

A night in the treehouse unfolds like this  . . .

* At sunset, you will be escorted to the treehouse, which is a secure bush bedroom above the treetops and sprawling plains.

* Private service is provided for you when you arrive to your destination–this includes cocktails,  a bush dinner under the stars, and anything else you desire from the five-star service.

Photo from Lion Sands Game Reserve website

* After your meal you will have complete privacy where you can soak in the soothing sounds, scents, and sights of the African bush with your loved one. The experience of being completely immersed in nature without any exterior sounds and sights from civilization is an extremely rare and highly-rewarding treat.

* Once you’re ready to retreat to a comfortable, goodnight’s sleep, you have the luxury of preparing for bed in a completely private bathroom facility.

* In the early morning, you will be brought by your personal ranger for a morning game drive and afterward, enjoy a delicious breakfast in the bush.

What does the treehouse look like?

Situated securely on a 500 year-old leadwood tree, the Chalkley Treehouse is lit by the subtle glow of 19th-century-style lanterns, and exudes romance and intimacy. Above the white, linen-lined bush bed you will find sheer, white-canopying cloths to keep bugs from entering. The dark wood platform of the treehouse is fenced by thick, unobtrusive branches that take away nothing from the gorgeous view surrounding you. In addition to these features, the treehouse also includes a bedside table, bathroom facilities, and a bush vanity table.

The great thing about Lion Sands Private Game Reserve is there are a handful of accommodations to choose from, and each has fantastic activities included in the rates. There are also additional activities guests can choose from with an extra cost. You can’t go wrong at the Lion Sands Private Game Reserve–here’s proof:

Included in Rate:

Astronomy: During the evening game drive, guests are delightfully surprised when the vehicle stops to allow for peaceful and quiet star gazing. Guests hear about astronomy and its association to African folklore, and learn about the solar system as they see it from Africa by their knowledgeable tour guide.

Breakfast in the Bush: No boring restaurant setting here. Guests are taken to a nearby location on the reserve where they can experience a delectable continental breakfast from the comfort of a set table and attentive staff, while watching the resident animals perform their early morning rituals.

Safari Lunch: A picnic is set up upon request by guests who want to enjoy Africa’s exceptional nature during their lunch hours.

Dinner in the Bush: Illuminated by the soft glow of a crackling fire and paraffin lamps, the bush dinner takes place in the ultimate tranquil and romantic setting. As guests reminisce about the adventurous day behind them, chefs prepare sensational meals with the heat from the fire.

Bush Walk: Known throughout South Africa as one of the greatest ways to experience the African bush and its diverse species of wildlife, a bush walk takes visitors through the surrounding eco-systems and opens their eyes to hidden elements of nature. During the tour through the bush, certified and highly-knowledgeable rangers teach participants about the flora and their medicinal purposes in African society, as well as show them how to track animals by their calls and tracks.

Game Drives: Guests enjoy both morning and evening game drives and witness a wide spectrum of different creatures throughout various times of the day. During game drives, there are frequent sightings of lion, cheetah, rhino, elephant, and buffalo, as well as smaller animals such as nile crocodile, and various species of eagles, ducks, owls, pythons, tortoises, lizards, and more. No game drive is ever the same, which makes it one of the most exciting and adventurous African safari tours to take part in while on an African safari vacation.

Hippo Tours: Because the game drives throughout the reserve focus on the interior regions, guests often do not have the chance to witness hippos on game drives. But, on a hippo tour, guests are taken to a nearby river where resident hippos congregate as well as other exotic creatures such as the nile crocodile.

See what I mean when I say you can’t go wrong at Lion Sands Private Game Reserve?

Visitors to the Lion Sands Game Reserve in April were rewarded with plentiful sightings of wild game, especially lion and leopard. And, as usual, the Big Five sightings were exceptional!

Birds spotted during the month of April included African fish eagles, and saddlebilled and woollynecked storks. Several migrating species were also spotted, such as the Eurasian bee-eaters and woodland kingfishers.

Reptiles spotted during the month of April included the tree agama, African rock python, Nile crocodile, and Mozambique spitting cobra. With the colder weather approaching, reptile sightings were less frequent because they’ve been seeking shelter from the chilled air.

Lion sightings were extraordinary during the month of April. Both the Southern Pride and Hilda’s Rock Pride were regularly spotted, which was a great treat for Lion Sands’ guests. There have been occasion sightings of a single female from the Hilda’s Rock Pride over the past several months. The reason for the solo female lion is because the rest of Hilda’s Rock Pride has moved south of Lion Sands to neighboring parts of Kruger National Park. The Lion Sands’ ecologist is not absolutely positive what triggered these lions to move to other parts of Kruger Park, but has a sound theory. According to the Lion Sands’ ecologist report, “Lion prides are a socially complex arrangement and the move might have to do with a change in their social structure or interactions with other prides.”

There is speculation that the solo female lion has a group of cubs sheltered in the riverine vegetation. Guests were delighted to see three of the female’s adorable cubs playing in the grasslands while she basked in the hot, African sun. Future guests to the Lion Sands Game Reserve can look forward to spotting these cubs as they grow older.

Leopard sightings during the month of April were outstanding! With up to three leopards being spotted on each African safari tour, guests saw leopards mating and hunting. Several kills included impala, duiker, scrub hare, and banded mongoose.

The chart below was taken from the Lion Sands’ ecologist’s report and “indicates the percentage of Big Five sightings in the month of April on game drives on Lion Sands Private Game Reserve.”

Want to learn more about Lion Sands Game Reserve and view their March ecologist’s report? Read Hills of Africa Travel’s past blog entry, Experience a Luxurious Stay and Spectacular Game-Viewing at the Lion Sands Private Game Reserve.

With fantastic game-viewing, gorgeous scenery, and luxurious accommodations, Lion Sands Private Game Reserve is arguably South Africa’s finest destination. Let Hills of Africa Travel plan your ideal South African honeymoon safari, or family safari. We strive to ensure each guest has a life-altering African safari trip, which is why all of our itineraries are crafted around your personal tastes and preferences. Contact us today at (877) 845-4802. We’re looking forward to making your dreams come true . . .