Rebuilding Ivory Lodge: Art, Landscape and Legacy

In the fifth and final episode of our rebuild series, Robert More is joined by artist and sculptor Robbie Leggat and landscape designer Tim Steyn for a conversation about creativity, collaboration and the future of Lion Sands Ivory Lodge. What emerges is a story of rediscovering legacy and finding new ways to bring guests closer to nature.

A Heritage Revisited

The discussion took place at The Stables in Johannesburg, one of the city’s oldest homes, with deep ties to the More family. Guy Aubrey Chalkley, Robert’s great-grandfather, purchased the property in the 1920s before moving his family to White River and eventually establishing the farm that would become Lion Sands Game Reserve. Returning to this setting links the rebuild of Ivory Lodge to a broader story of heritage, continuity and vision passed through generations.

Sculpting Memories in Bronze

Robbie Leggat, whose bronze pieces are already part of the MORE Collection guest experience, shares insights into his process. His sculptures, inspired by careful observation of creatures in the wild, aim to capture not just physical likeness but the essence of life lived in motion.

One story that stands out is of the three bronze ground hornbills originally commissioned for Ivory Lodge. These were caught in the fire, with one of the birds being reduced to a pool of molten metal. Rather than losing them, Robbie re-melted the bronze and re-cast the first edition, preserving both the artwork and its history.

Upcoming works for the lodge include the trio of ground hornbills, a goliath heron poised at the water’s edge and a female bushbuck with her lamb. Each sculpture has been sensitively designed to reflect species commonly encountered around the Sabie River, rooting the art firmly in its environment.

A Living Landscape

If Robbie’s bronzes bring wildlife closer, Tim’s landscaping ensures that the environment itself becomes an extension of the guest journey. He explains how the fire, while destructive, created new opportunities. Three ancient trees were lost, but this allowed the architectural footprint to shift and open up a central green space. Thirty new trees will be planted, re-establishing shade and scale for generations to come.

Guests will now arrive through a calming entrance of water features before moving along a 40-metre boardwalk that reveals sweeping views of the river. The design creates a deliberate transition from the excitement and wilderness of the bush to the tranquillity of the lodge, culminating in the riverfront view that defines Ivory Lodge.

Creating Emotional Connection

Both Robbie and Tim emphasise that their work is not about spectacle but about intimacy. Robbie speaks of sculpting birds drying their wings or a bushbuck quietly drinking, capturing stillness rather than high drama. Tim echoes this by describing the landscape as a sequence of emotional thresholds, from arrival calm to forest-like density to river openness.

As Robert reflects, the collaboration is built on trust and shared purpose. “To have such a high level of understanding of what we want to create for our guests, and for you to always deliver on that, is a privilege,” he says.

This episode closes the rebuild series but opens a new chapter for Ivory Lodge. For those who return, the familiar will feel renewed. For those arriving for the first time, the journey will begin from the moment they set foot on the property. In every bronze feather and every leaf in the breeze, a story continues to unfold.

For a more detailed look at the experience, watch Episode 5 below or on YouTube, and subscribe to see the rest of the design journey as we prepare for Ivory Lodge’s reopening.