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Thornybush Game Reserve
Thornybush Game Reserve is a private game reserve sharing unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park. Thornybush Game Reserve is 14 000 hectares in size and consists of open savannah woodland with patches of thicket and 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 vehicles at any one sighting, you can be assured of uncrowded safari sightings and great photographic opportunities.
Thornybush Game Reserve houses a collection of high standard 4-star and 5-star safari lodges, which are known to be some of the best safari lodges in the Kruger National Park. Each lodge is unique in its own way and offers a variety of accommodation from glamorous 5-star tented suites to more relaxed family friendly options. Passionate guides and trackers at Thornybush Game Reserve 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 Reserve offers an abundance of exciting experiences and wildlife activities.
Thornybush Game Reserve is located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa and is in close proximity to Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport. The easiest way to travel to Thornybush Game Reserve is to fly into Hoedspruit Airport followed by a 40 minute road transfer, alternatively it is a 6 hour drive from Johannesburg. Road transfers are pre-arranged.
Wildlife:
- High concentration of Big 5 with large herds of elephant and buffalo, as well as large lion prides.
- Other wildlife include but are not limited to the hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, cheetah, African wild dog, hyaena, warthog and many other cat and antelope species.
- Large antelope herds support the populations of predators in the reserve.
- Over 500 bird species have been recorded in the region. Many can be seen in the reserve.
Game Drives:
- Game drives take place twice a day in the early mornings and afternoons for a duration of 3-4 hours.
- Game drives are led by an experienced guide and tracker team.
- Vehicles are allowed to go off road to track and follow the wildlife.
- Strict traverse rules are in place and vehicle numbers are limited in each reserve. A maximum of two vehicles are allowed at any sighting.
- Night drives and guided bush walk are permitted.
Highlights:
- 14 000 hectares in size.
- No fences which allows free movement of wildlife between the reserves.
- Seasonal Monwana River is a prominent landmark in the reserve.
- One with the highest variety of fauna and flora.
- Some of the Kruger Park’s most luxurious lodges.
- Exceptional outdoor dining experiences.
- Exciting Big-5 game drives with game rangers and trackers.
- Renowned for close up sightings of the Big-5.
Location:
- Situated on the western boundary of the Greater Kruger and Kapama Game Reserve. It is located close to the Timbavati Game Reserve and the Kruger National Park.
- The Kruger National Park is almost 2 million hectares and lies in the north-eastern corner of South Africa in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.
Getting there:
- Thornybush private airstrip is the closet airstrip, two daily chartered flights from Johannesburg are operated by Federal Airlines.
- Hoedspruit (HDS) is the closet commercial airport to the Thornybush, daily flights operate from Johannesburg and Cape Town.
- Flight time from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit or private airstrip: 60 minutes.
- Flight time from Cape Town to Skukuza: 2 hours 30 minutess.
- Road transfers from Hoedspruit to Thornybush take 30 – 60 minutes lodge depending.
Special offers:
- Enjoy one free night with our PAY 3 STAY 4 offers.
- Honeymoon offers include 50% off one partners accommodation, plus extras.
- South African resident rates are bookable 30 days prior to arrival date only.
Packages:
Cape Town and safari packages are designed by our on-trend team of travel experts. Packages include flights, transfers, accommodation, and full board safari experience. View packages or enquire via the contact form on the page below.
Are you a SA Resident?
SA resident rates are available at Thornybush Game Reserve during certain periods.
SA Residents
Thornybush Game Lodge
Thornybush Game Reserve | Kruger National Park
All ages
Now $ 1,094 per person – 4 nights
USE PROMO CODE SDS438 IN BOOKING FORM
Shumbalala Game Lodge
Thornybush Game Reserve | Kruger National Park
+8 years
Now $ 314 per person per night
USE PROMO CODE SDS438 IN BOOKING FORM
Saseka Tented Camp
Thornybush Game Reserve | Kruger National Park
+16 years
Now $ 1,367 per person – 4 nights
USE PROMO CODE SDS438 IN BOOKING FORM
Thornybush Siviti Lodge
Thornybush Game Reserve | Kruger National Park
+16 years
Now $ 0 per person per night
USE PROMO CODE SDS438 IN BOOKING FORM
Thornybush Waterside Lodge
Thornybush Game Reserve | Kruger National Park
All ages
Now $ 0 per person per night
USE PROMO CODE SDS438 IN BOOKING FORM
Thornybush Monwana Lodge
Thornybush Game Reserve | Kruger National Park
All ages
Now $ 0 per person per night
USE PROMO CODE SDS438 IN BOOKING FORM
Thornybush Lodges
Thornybush Game Lodge
Thornybush Game Reserve | Kruger National Park
All ages
From $ 820 per person per night
Includes 2 daily game drives, meals, beverages…
Shumbalala Game Lodge
Thornybush Game Reserve | Kruger National Park
+8 years
From $ 777 per person per night
Includes 2 daily game drives, meals, beverages…
Saseka Tented Camp
Thornybush Game Reserve | Kruger National Park
+16 years
From $ 1,203 per person per night
Includes 2 daily game drives, meals, beverages…
Thornybush Siviti Lodge
Thornybush Game Reserve | Kruger National Park
+16 years
From $ 870 per person per night
Includes 2 daily game drives, meals, beverages…
Thornybush Waterside Lodge
Thornybush Game Reserve | Kruger National Park
All ages
Price POA
Includes 2 daily game drives, meals, beverages…
Thornybush Monwana Lodge
Thornybush Game Reserve | Kruger National Park
All ages
Now $ 1,269 per person per night
Includes 2 daily game drives, meals, beverages…
Thornybush Packages
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7 Nights Kruger National Park & Sabi Sands
Post Link7 Nights / 8 Days
From $ 8,149 to $ 8,477 per person
Includes internal flights, transfers, accommodation…
Stay at the exquisite Saseka Tented Camp in the Kruger National Park and Sabi Sabi’s signature Earth Lodge in the Sabi Sands. This is an ultra-luxurious experience with exceptional Big-5 game drives…
Days: 8premium -
10 Nights Kruger National Park, Cape Town & Winelands
Post Link10 Nights / 11 Days
From $ 6,590 to $ 8,231 per person
Includes internal flights, transfers, accommodation…
Saseka offers a tented safari experience like no other in the Kruger National Park. Embrace the breath-taking views from your exclusive Cape Town hotel and then relax in the Cape Winelands…
Days: 11premium -
14 Nights Kruger National Park, Cape Town & Winelands
Post Link14 Nights / 15 Days
From $ 4,548 to $ 5,108 per person
Includes internal flights, transfers, accommodation…
Experience the renowned Kruger National Park at 5-star Siviti Safari Lodge. Stay at a boutique hotel along the Atlantic coastline in Cape Town and then enjoy the Franschhoek wine region…
Days: 15premium
Best-price guarantee
Enquire at Thornybush