Thornybush Game Lodge

Thornybush Game Lodge sits above a sandy riverbed that acts as a natural pathway for wildlife, so elephants and buffalo often wander past while lunch is served on the deck. It is one of the oldest lodges in the safari industry, first opening its doors in 1961.

The lodge put the Thornybush Nature Reserve on the map as a game-viewing destination, and the reserve now shares an unfenced border with the Kruger National Park. Morning and afternoon game drives with a guide and tracker go in search of the Big Five, and bush walks can be arranged with your guide.

Meals set the rhythm of the day. Breakfast and harvest-style lunches are served in the thatched main area, with nyala grazing nearby and sunbirds flitting through the aloes. Dinner might be à la carte, around the fire in the boma or at a lantern-lit setting in the bush.

Between game drives, there is a pool, a library and a deck with a sunken lounge and fire pit. Thornybush Wellness adds spa treatments, an infrared sauna and a juice bar.

Children of all ages are welcome, and a long-standing team looks after every guest with genuine warmth.

ACCOMMODATION

Each suite is a private retreat, with large sliding doors that open onto a deck and the bush beyond. Natural textures and soft furnishings set a calm tone, and there is air conditioning, a bathtub, indoor and outdoor showers, a coffee station and a minibar. For families or small groups who want their own space, Kamara House is an exclusive-use villa within the lodge, with a private pool, a personal chef and its own game vehicle, guide and tracker.