Lion Sands Private Game Reserve was established in 1933 by Guy Aubrey Chalkley and forms part of the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve as well as the Kruger National Park, which together with some other parks make up the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa. Guy Aubrey Chalkley, was a keen hunter and travelled extensively throughout Africa. It was on one such adventure that he stumbled across the farm known as Kingstown. Belonging to the Transvaal Consolidated Lands, this was a jewel of a property on the border of the Kruger National Park. These were the same lands that were soon to become the basis of what is now the world-famous Sabi Sand Game Reserve.
Filled with affection for the animals around him and with admiration for the pristine condition of the Kingstown property, its a known fact that Guy never lifted a rifle to an animal in this reserve. Guy purchased the property on 25 November 1933 from Transvaal Consolidated Mines for four thousand pounds and fourteen shillings.
John More, who married Guy’s granddaughter, Louise Chalkley, introduced Kingstown to the public in 1978 when he built two camps: River Lodge and Bush Lodge. Even during those early days of extremely basic bush operations, when hot water was a luxury, the More family concentrated on keeping Kingstown in its pristine state.
Today, the family employs a full-time ecologist to monitor the effect of commercialization on the wilderness.