Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards: Why Lion Sands Was Named the No. 1 Africa Safari Lodge
July 7, 2026
Four Safari Lodges, One Shared Philosophy.
Lion Sands Game Reserve has been named the No. 1 Safari Lodge in Africa in Africa and the No. 4 Hotel in the World in the 2026 Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards.
It’s a meaningful recognition, not only because of the rankings themselves, but because of what they reflect: one reserve consistently delivering a considered safari experience across four distinct lodge personalities, united by a shared philosophy of field guiding, thoughtful hospitality and continual refinement.
The Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards are shaped by travellers' experiences. For Lion Sands, this recognition reflects something larger than memorable wildlife sightings or beautiful accommodation. It reflects the consistency with which guests experience the same thoughtful approach to safari across four distinct lodges, season after season.
Field guiding expertise and familiarity with the reserve
While wildlife and landscape are central to a safari, a memorable experience depends on field guiding teams who understand the reserve well enough to navigate and interpret what’s happening in it.
At Lion Sands, field guiding is central to the experience because it's rooted in deep familiarity with the reserve. Field guides and trackers work in partnership, combining technical tracking skills with ecological knowledge and familiarity with this reserve to interpret the landscape rather than simply move through it. Together they read the many signs that shape every drive: fresh tracks in soft sand, alarm calls, the direction of a giraffe’s gaze, the movement of prey species, the behaviour of birds, and the subtle way animals respond to scents on the wind.
Animal sightings are never guaranteed, but understanding the reserve transforms every game drive into something more meaningful than a checklist of species. Guests may arrive hoping to see leopard, elephant or lion, but often leave remembering the stories behind those sightings: how they unfolded, what influenced them, and how each encounter forms part of the wider ecology of Lion Sands.
That philosophy extends beyond today's guest experience. Through the MORE Field Guide College, MORE Collection continues to invest in developing the next generation of field guides, recognising that exceptional safaris begin with exceptional people. It reflects a long-term commitment to mentorship, ethics, hands-on experience and continual learning - ensuring the knowledge shared on every game drive continues to evolve. At Lion Sands, developing this knowledge further is considered the foundation for how the reserve – and, through it, Africa - is shared.
Thoughtful hospitality begins behind the scenes
Travel + Leisure recognition also carries particular meaning for MORE Collection because it reflects consistent operations throughout the year. A stay at Lion Sands Game Reserve may feel natural and unforced to the guest, but that ease is created by many people working carefully in the background.
It’s the room prepared before arrival; the dietary request remembered; the game vehicle stocked with flasks of hot coffee before first light; the wine handpicked to suit the evening. It’s found in the seamless handover between teams, making service feel personal without being intrusive.
These details aren’t grand gestures, and they’re not always the first things guests mention. Yet they determine the overall feeling of a stay at Lion Sands. Although the style of hospitality may shift from one lodge to another, each thoughtful touch allows guests to relax into the present, knowing that their needs are being held with the same care.
One food philosophy, many expressions
Food and wine are a special part of the safari experience at Lion Sands. When done well, dining in the bush connects meals and shared moments to the wilderness and the people preparing the food.
Continual refinement that stays true to the safari experience
One reason Lion Sands continues to resonate with guests is its commitment to continual refinement. Rather than introducing change for its own sake, the teams continually ask how the guest experience can become even more thoughtful while remaining true to the reserve and its heritage.
That philosophy is reflected in experiences that continue to evolve - from nights spent beneath the stars in the treehouses to the expansion of the Artist Residency, deepening the relationship between creativity and hospitality. At the Creative Lab, guests can turn a favourite safari image into a tangible keepsake to take home, while the ever-developing Mack & Madi programme helps younger guests connect more deeply with the wilderness. Each refinement strengthens the guest experience while remaining true to the reserve and its heritage.
Travel + Leisure® is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Holdco, LLC, a subsidiary of Wyndham Destinations, Inc. and is used under limited license. Lion Sands Game Reserve is not affiliated with Wyndham Destination, Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Years in the making
Being named the No. 1 Africa Safari Lodge in the 2026 Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards is a proud moment for Lion Sands Game Reserve. More importantly, it reflects years of consistently exceptional experiences created by people who know the reserve, care for it, and continually look for ways to make every stay even better. It also reinforces a responsibility to keep refining the guest experience while remaining true to the reserve, its people and the wilderness that defines it.
