Would you believe me if I told you that there is a place in South Africa that is the most luxurious and simultaneously most eco friendly place we’ve ever been to? Yes, it’s possible!
Let me introduce you to Rhino Sands Safari Camp: a luxury boutique safari lodge in the Manyoni Game Reserve well hidden in the dense bush.

On our arrival we were welcomed by a Nyala peacefully grazing in the main lodge area next to the Boma. When I think of a luxury tented lodge in Kenya, I see it in Rhino Sands.

BYOND TRAVELING rating – ★★★★★

For whom?
It’s the perfect place for honeymooners, couples and those that are searching for high standards of exclusivity.

When to go?
Because of the high vegetation in summers and the higher risks of malaria, we’d recommend to go in the dry season of the year: between May and October.

Location & Reachability ★★★☆☆
Rhino Sands is situated in the Manyoni Private Game Reserve, a 32.000 hectar reserve in the heart of Kwa-Zulu Natal. The reserve is precious for its wildlife protection efforts. It is part of the WWF’s Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (BRREP) . Read more in our previous article. The Lodge can be reached by car either from Johannesburg (6 hours drive) or from Durban (2 hours drive). You do no necessarily need a 4×4. The streets in the Reserve are dirt streets, yet don’t require the skills of an SUV. Because the bush in the Reserve is quite thick, we’d recommend you to go when the vegetation is lower (from June till November).

Amenities ★★★★★
The lodge has 4 tents in total meaning a maximum of 8 people can stay in the lodge. When you’re looking for exclusivity, this is the place to go. The whole lodge is tented, from the dinning to the rooms. All rooms are fully equipped with a private pool, a king size bed with mattress heating (you’ll love it during winter), a vintage mini bar, an indoor and outdoor shower as well as a bathtub, wifi and all the other precious amenities you can think of. Plus, every room has its own pivate butler service. The whole lodge is tented including an open terrace viewing the riverbed (the dining area), a beautifully decorated lounging area with vintage African details and pictures of animals from the reserve and a bridge leading us to our tent.

Service ★★★★★
The service is outstanding. Every vehicle takes a maximum of 4 guests. You can chose your preferred Gin & Toni combination or sparkling wine served on your game drive. After every Game drive your welcomed back with a special drink. Our ranger was a living wildlife book, teaching us everything we need to know about the little bush rabbit and the king of the bush. These are a few of the small details that differentiate a good service from an outstanding one.

Kitchen ★★★★★
Oh my god this chef. We love him. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner is à la carte. No buffet. Each meal can be chosen from a menu of 2-3 options. Everything we ate was absolutely delicious. Only once the chef spiced up the gambas a little bit too much. It’s ok, we already forgave him when he brought the desert. And as a wine lover I can tell Rhino Sands has an extensive and high quality menu of regional as well as international wines and bubbles. 

Sustainability ★★★★★
And now the most precious thing about Rhino Sands. The lodge is one of the most luxurious and simultaneously most eco friendly lodge we’ve ever been to. The tents are fully incorporated into its environment. Each and every single tree, bush and branch was allowed to keep its destined place. Unseen for visitors, the lodge has its own solar panels providing enough energy to run the lodge mainly on renewable energy. The water provided for the guests is bottled in glas instead of plastic. This all has been done in love for the African bush and its animals.

Value for money ★★★★★
Rhino Sands is a truly hidden gem. Yes, it is not in Kruger nor in any of the most famous reserves in South Africa. However, Manyoni offers stunning landscape together with plenty of game to spot, including the Big 5. The price per person per night at the lodge is 300€. It includes everything you heart desires: a luxurious tent, exclusivity due to the small size of the lodge, an excellent chef, outstanding service and an eye for details. This makes it more than worth it. For adventurous that look for exclusivity, luxury and sustainability alike.

What we loved the most
Exclusivity – Due to the size of the lodge (maximum of 8 guests only!) our stay was truly exclusive. We got pampered! The service was out-of-this-world and we barely saw other people, apart from out ranger. We truly escaped the rush of the big city life in this jewel called Rhino Sands.

The Details – to us, what makes the difference from a good to an amazing place are the details. From the glass water bottle, to the à la carte food. Our highlight: during one of our afternoon game drives, we stopped for the usual sundowners. Instead the usual drinks we found ourselves in a magical environment. A stunningly decorated table with drinks and snacks, on a viewpoint overlooking the reserve has been prepared for us. 

What we didn’t like so much
Distance– starting your journey from Johannesburg makes you drive a bit. 6 hours in total. If you have the chance to fly into Durban and take it from there, do it. You’ll only drive 2 hours to Rhino Sands.