Game Lodge at Thornybush

Thornybush Game Lodge is the origional establishment of the reserve, now comprising 20 luxury suites of which 2 are family units. The exquisitely thatched main lodge area overlooks a waterhole and riverbed visited by elephant, buffalo, and other game. A second, lower deck opens between a dining area and elegant bush bar. The lodge’s glistening communal pool encircled by sun loungers overlooks the wild landscapes for perfect lazy afternoons. Bush dinners are a delight, surrounded by lanterns, crackling fires and the sounds of the wild. Thornybush Game Lodge is ideal for families, with children’s activities and family-orientated services available. 

Thornybush is a private game reserve sharing unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park. Known for 14 000 hectares of open savannah woodland with patches of thicket, its superior Big 5 habitat boasts some of the best game viewing in South Africa. Here a full Big 5 sighting within the first 2 days of your safari is very likely. With limited reserve lodges and guests, you can be assured of uncrowded safari sightings and great photographic opportunities. Thornybush also houses other 4-star and 5-star safari Lodges on the reserve.

Passionate guides and trackers at Thornybush Game Lodge strive to connect the dots on each game drive, explaining the ecosystem and how the smallest of insects correlate to the largest mammals. This makes for an intriguing understanding of the wild and makes every sighting even more spectacular. Get up-close to nature during a guided bushwalk and take a night-time safari in search of rare nocturnal animals and big cats with a spotlight. Thornybush Game Lodge offers an abundance of exciting experiences and wildlife activities.