Chalkley Treehouse in South Africa + Video: On Your Bucket List?

Want to see what it is like sleeping in a treehouse? Check out our video below.

YouTube Video of our Treehouse Experience

Lion Sands Chalkley Treehouse sign

Lion Sands has deep family roots.

It all started with Guy Chalkley, the founder of the reserve. His granddaughter Louise later married John More, who went on to build the first two camps in 1978.

After a devastating flood years later, Chalkley’s great-grandsons, Nicholas and Robert More, stepped in to rebuild and expand the vision.

Today, Lion Sands is home to four stunning lodges: River Lodge, Ivory Lodge, Narina Lodge, and Tinga Lodge.

And here’s a cool detail: Guy Chalkley himself used to make camp in a massive old leadwood tree on the property. That very spot became the site of the now-famous Chalkley Treehouse.

Chalkley Treehouse was built around an old leadwood tree

For our Chalkley Treehouse night at Lion Sands, I kept it super simple.

Just tossed a change of clothes into my Zomake daypack and left my big suitcase back at River Lodge.

If you’re wondering what to bring for something like this, check out my detailed safari packing list and my guide on what clothes to actually wear on safari.

Both will save you some guessing especially if this is your first safari experience.

After our evening game drive, instead of heading to the lodge, our guide dropped us off at a second jeep. Basically our little “Uber” into the wilderness.

A staff member walked us up the wooden stairs and introduced us to our open-air bedroom perched high above the bush.

Waiting inside was a picnic basket with a three-course dinner, a bottle of wine, breakfast goodies for the next morning, hot coffee, and a perfectly chilled bottle of Veuve Clicquot. Not exactly roughing it.

After a quick safety rundown, the staff drove away, leaving us completely alone under the stars with the sounds of the African night all around us.

Unreal experience!

Sorry for the blurry picture! The sun was setting quickly behind us.

Lion Sands Chalkley Treehouse at nightfall

You are truly out in the middle of nowhere.

No lights, only a sky packed with stars.
No voices, just the soundtrack of nature.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, we lit the lanterns and unpacked dinner before the bush went completely dark. I figured it might be something simple like sandwiches, but nope.

This was a full-on five-star feast. More on that later.

Getting ready to eat dinner at Lion Sands Chalkley Treehouse

Lighting the lanterns as we dine in the African bush

After some delicious food and a slight buzz from the bottle of wine, I ventured downstairs into the open-air bathroom to get ready for bed.

To my surprise … there was hot water and a flushing toilet. Definitely not roughing it. Call it “glamping,” safari edition.

By then, the night chill was settling in and the mosquitoes were on the hunt. I wrapped up fast and dove into the bed, tucked safely under a thick mosquito net that felt like a cozy little cocoon.

Sleeping under the stars in a king-sized bed with mosquito netting

That night was chilly, and I was extra grateful for the hot water bottle the staff tucked into the bed.

The Chalkley Treehouse offered the perfect sleeping conditions: a cool head but a warm body. I snuggled down into the warm fluffy covers and looked up through the transparent netting.

I’ve never seen so many stars. It was unreal.

I tried to snap a photo, but it didn’t come close. Some things just live better in your memory. The lodge even leaves an iPad with a stargazing app if you want to geek out on constellations.

Every so often I’d hear distant grunts or growls. Lion? Wild dog?

Honestly, I was too cozy to care. After days of 5 am wakeups, my eyes didn’t stand a chance. I drifted off, only to be gently nudged awake by the sunrise painting the sky bright and blue.

My view through the mosquito netting of the open sky as I woke up to get ready for our morning safari drive

I really didn’t want to crawl out of that bed, but our safari jeep (with the rest of the group) was due any minute.

And since the bedroom and bathroom are totally open to the bush, you definitely don’t want to be caught mid-change when your ride shows up.

Dry shampoo to the rescue (I swear by Kevin Murphy). Even though there was hot water, it was freezing outside, so no way was I braving a shower.

Quick freshen-up, then my husband and I sat down to a champagne continental breakfast.

As we nibbled biscuits, we got to “people-watch” the savannah. Impalas leaping around in the distance. I kept hoping a lion or leopard would strut into view, but no luck.

Just as I thought “one more hour, please,” we heard the jeep pulling up beneath the treehouse.

Chalkley Treehouse at sunrise

The Chalkley Treehouse is basically two wooden platforms built around a giant leadwood tree.

Everything is completely open to the elements, so it feels raw and wild. At night, lanterns light the two staircases that take you up to your “room in the sky.”

Chalkley Treehouse consists of 2 wooden platforms

Climb the first set of stairs and you’ll find the bathroom. It’s simple but surprisingly luxe: a mirror, single sink, a flushing toilet (with TP!), and two rain showers that open straight out to the African bush.

And yes, there’s hot water if you’re bold enough to shower in the chilly morning air.

Open bathroom with 2 shower heads

Head up the second flight of stairs and you step onto a wide open platform with a king-size canopied bed at its center.

There are also a couple of nightstands, a cozy couch, a coffee table, and even a small dining table. All set against the backdrop of the African bush. 

Lion Sands Chalkley Treehouse at sunrise

Both the bed and dining table face west, giving you front-row seats to a breathtaking sunset as you enjoy dinner and drift off to sleep.

Sunset at Chalkley Treehouse

I thought we’d be getting a simple picnic. Maybe a sandwich and a few snacks. Instead, dinner turned out to be a full 3-course gourmet feast paired with a bottle of wine and champagne.

We decided to save the Veuve Clicquot for breakfast the next morning, which came with biscuits, muffins, and coffee.

Don’t worry. After your morning game drive, you’ll still get a full hot breakfast back at the lodge.

Here’s what was on our dinner menu:

Dinner menu at the Chalkley Treehouse

Ah, champagne with breakfast makes for a great vacation!

Enjoying breakfast picnic-style at Lion Sands Chalkley Treehouse

There are two treehouse options at Lion Sands: Chalkley and Kingston.

So which one should you pick?

Because the couple we shared safari drives with stayed in Kingston the night before us, we actually got to see it in person during pickup.

Funny enough, I had originally booked Kingston but switched to Chalkley afterward, and I’m so glad I did.

Kingston is absolutely gorgeous. It’s larger, more luxurious, and more weatherproof. It has a a glass-enclosed bathroom, a thatched roof with roll-down walls, and a treetop view.

Chalkley, on the other hand, is what they call the “Original Adventure.”

No roof, no walls, just an open-air platform overlooking the savannah. It’s rustic and romantic, with nothing but the sky above you, yet still modern enough to feel comfortable.

My husband summed it up perfectly: Kingston is for your honeymoon; Chalkley is for your anniversary.

We were celebrating our 10th and wanted something unique and unforgettable. Chalkley gave us exactly that.

Chalkley Treehouse at sunrise

I’ll admit, I was a little nervous at first.

“Are you sure the lions can’t get in?” was my first thought.

But Lion Sands has safety covered.

The Chalkley Treehouse sits high above the ground with multiple tall locked gates.

Before leaving you for the night, a staff member gives a full orientation so you know exactly what to expect (and yes, once they leave, you’re not allowed to wander out).

You’re also given a two-way radio in case of an emergency.

What started as hesitation quickly turned into comfort. I felt completely safe and ended up having one of the best night’s sleep of my life.

The cost of the treehouse experience is ZAR 5205 ($293 USD) per person per night. The cost is in addition to the room rate you already paid for the Lion Sands River Lodge.

* 2025 Rate

if you’re heading to Lion Sands: book the treehouse early.

These things go fast, and if it’s on your bucket list, don’t leave it to chance.

We actually rolled the dice and waited until we got to the lodge to book. Luckily, there was still a night open, but I wouldn’t bet on that working out for everyone.

If you’re curious what the lodge itself is like, be sure to read my full review of Lion Sands River Lodge.

And if you’re just starting safari planning, I put together a detailed South Africa safari guide with all the stuff I wish I knew beforehand.

Lion Sands River Lodge is already an incredible safari on its own, but spending a night in the treehouse? That’s the cherry on top.

It was the highlight of our epic 2-week Africa adventure.

Easily one of the coolest, most romantic bucket-list experiences we’ve ever done.

10/10 recommend.

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Anything else you want to know about our treehouse experience that I forgot to share?

Let me know in the comments below!