Top 12 Thornybush Safari Lodges
TOP 12 THORNYBUSH SAFARI LODGES
The Thornybush Private Game Reserve is an exceptional destination located within the Greater Kruger area of South Africa, sharing fenceless borders with the Timbavati, and the Greater Kruger Park, ensuring freedom of movement for the animals.
Renowned for its incredible wildlife diversity, stunning landscapes, and luxurious accommodations, Thornybush offers an unforgettable safari experience. The area is a diverse range of open savannah woodlands, thorny thickets, plains and dense riverine forests with annual rivers and dams. A Thornybush safari includes twice-daily game drives where you can see a plethora of wildlife. The sheer diversity of wildlife keeps guests returning time after time.
One of the standout features of Thornybush Private Game Reserve is its collection of exquisite luxury safari lodges. These lodges are designed to provide guests with the utmost comfort and an immersive experience in the heart of the African wilderness. Each lodge boasts elegant and spacious suites or chalets, often equipped with private plunge pools, outdoor showers, and private decks overlooking the surrounding bushveld. The lodges also offer world-class amenities such as gourmet dining, spa facilities, and attentive service, ensuring that guests have a truly indulgent stay. There are lodges to suit all travellers in Thornybush and we have listed them below.
Now let’s talk about the incredible wildlife found within Thornybush Private Game Reserve. The reserve is home to the iconic “Big Five” game animals, which include the African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros. These majestic creatures roam freely across the vast savannahs and lush riverine forests of the reserve, offering visitors breathtaking encounters and exciting game drives.
In addition to the Big Five, Thornybush is also inhabited by a rich variety of other wildlife. Zebras, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and various antelope species, such as impalas, kudus, and nyala, can be spotted during game drives or guided bush walks. The reserve is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 280 bird species recorded, including the iconic African fish eagle and colourful lilac-breasted roller.
Thornybush Private Game Reserve provides a unique opportunity to witness the beauty of Africa’s wildlife in a pristine and exclusive setting. Whether you are exploring the reserve on a thrilling game drive, relaxing in the comfort of your luxury lodge, or enjoying a sundowner while listening to the sounds of the bush, Thornybush promises an unforgettable safari adventure that will leave you with cherished memories for a lifetime.
Thornybush Game Reserve is located near the town of Hoedspruit for flights, or there is are private airstrips for charter flights and is an easy drive from Johannesburg. You can visit all year round as the game viewing is always exceptional. The dry season runs from the end of winter, July through to November, when the bush is drier and animals are often found near water sources.
The Top 12 Thornybush Safari Lodges are as follows, in no particular order
Monwana
Monwana is a modern, luxurious luxury safari lodge situated within the game-rich Thornybush Reserve. With its tranquil and picturesque setting, Monwana offers an intimate and exclusive experience for guests. The lodge has been recently rebuilt and features beautifully designed suites, blending modern comforts with an authentic African ambience. Taking advantage of a clean slate, Monwana is now simply gorgeous, light and airy, with many personal touches from the owners.
Each suite or villa has private viewing decks, where you can soak in the breathtaking views of the surrounding bushveld and very active waterhole. Each suite has a lounge area and private deck, complete with a heated plunge pool. The bathrooms are spacious and stunning. Families and small groups can enjoy the villas, with private guides, a private main area and private kitchens.
The main areas and fire pit overlook the Monwana River, which is seasonal. Monwana also offers exceptional game drives and guided bush walks, allowing visitors to encounter the diverse wildlife that inhabits the reserve, including the iconic Big Five. With its warm hospitality and remarkable safari experiences, Monwana ensures a memorable stay in the heart of the African wilderness.
Shumbalala Game Lodge
Enviably located in the central section of Thornybush, overlooking an active waterhole and the seasonal Monwana River, Shumbalala offers a wonderful classical luxury safari experience. Expect warm wood tones, attention to detail and outstanding guide and tracker teams. Shumbalala boasts luxurious accommodations, providing a serene and comfortable retreat in the heart of the African wilderness. With a limited number of suites or villas, Shumbalala offers privacy and exclusivity, allowing you to fully immerse yourselves in the surrounding natural beauty. Each of the four suites is elegantly designed, featuring modern amenities, private decks or plunge pools, and breathtaking views of the untamed bushveld. Each has a private plunge pool and deck, a fireplace for the cooler nights, open views to the bush or the waterhole and a full bathroom, complete with an outdoor shower. There is a 2 bedroom Presidential suite, with a large lounge and dining area with a fireplace. Each room is a full suite with a private plunge pool and there is an outdoor firepit area. Perfect for families or couples travelling together.
The main area has a lounge area, an indoor and outdoor space, a fire pit and various dining options throughout the lodge. Shummbala has an impressive wine list, all from top South African wine farms. There is a communal pool and the gardens are well taken care of. It is not uncommon to see the Nyala buck keeping the grass trimmed.
Saseka Tented Camp
IPerfectly positioned along the Mowana River, Saseka Tented Camp is an exclusive and luxurious safari retreat situated in the heart of the Thornybush Private Game Reserve. This enchanting camp’s entrance and main areas overlook the river bed and are a series of tiered decks with a roof that mimics being under a tree canopy.
Saseka exudes a sense of tranquillity and intimacy, with a communal lounge, dining area, and a boma where guests can gather around a crackling fire under the starry sky. It is a beautiful space where most meals are enjoyed. The tents are spread out through a wild garden and feature a private viewing deck, allowing you to admire the stunning vistas and observe the wildlife passing by.
Each tent has a private plunge pool with a lounger as well as a wrap-around deck with a table and chairs as well as a large couch. The tents have floor-to-ceiling glass doors, an indoor sitting area, a desk/coffee/drink station and a large bed. The bathroom has a free-standing bath as well as indoor and outdoor showers.
Coming soon is a beautiful full-service spa area and gym that will be shared between Saseka and the nearby sister lodge, Thornybush Game Lodge.
Thornybush Game Lodge
Another renowned lodge is the Thornybush Game Lodge, which blends modern comfort with authentic African charm. It features luxurious chalets with private decks, a stunning swimming pool, and an intimate boma area for evening gatherings around a crackling fire. This remarkable lodge seamlessly blends contemporary elegance with the untamed beauty of the African bush. You are treated to spacious and beautifully appointed chalets with striking wallpaper and private decks where you can soak up the serene surroundings. The lodge’s main area features a stunning swimming pool and a cosy boma, creating the perfect setting for relaxation and camaraderie.
With highly skilled rangers and trackers, Thornybush Game Lodge provides exhilarating game drives and walking safaris, ensuring unforgettable encounters with the Big Five and other fascinating wildlife species. At Thornybush Game Lodge, guests can immerse themselves in the wonders of nature while indulging in the finest comforts and exceptional service.
The newly built Kamara House has 3 lovely bedrooms, perfect for smal groups or families travelling together. The deck boasts a fire pit and private pool, that leads out from the expansive lounge and dining area. Kamara House comes with a private guide, vehicle and chef to ensure your stay is unique and intimate.
Siviti
In the southern section of Thornybush, along the banks of the seasonal Timbavati River, lies Siviti. This beautiful lodge overlooks the surrounding Timbavati Plains area and boasts a rim flow pool that is often shared by thirsty elephants. The main areas have sitting and dining options, including a boma for dinner. There is a gym and spa treatments available at Siviti.
The Timbavati Suites are elegant and luxurious, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open up to a private deck and plunge pool. The opulent bathroom has a bathtub that has wonderful views with a glass enclosure that can open.
The Timbavati Villa has two bedrooms and a shared deck and lounge area with a private pool and fire pit.
For groups or families, the Timbavati Homestead consists of 4 spacious en-suite bedrooms, an outside safari bath, a kitchen, an upstairs and downstairs lounge area, a bar, kitchen, lounge and pool. It is sold as fully catered or on a self-catering basis and comes with a private guide, tracker and vehicle.
Serondella
Newly renovated and beautiful, Serondella is a luxury safari lodge overlooking an active waterhole in the Thornybush. Serondella is a contemporary lodge that welcomes children making this a fantastic choice for a Kruger family safari. The main area is sprawled over a large deck, with a swimming pool and sitting areas, all overlooking the waterhole and a dry river bed. The camp has a gym and a spa to enjoy between game drives.
There is a range of gorgeous suites to choose from at Serondelaa. Private suites are perfect for couples, with a unique bath outside and a deck area overlooking the waterhole. The Family suites are great when you have children with you as it has two bedrooms, a shared living area, a private kitchen, an outside deck, and a plunge pool. Willem’s Den is a new addition at Serondella and is a self-contained suite for larger families offering space, privacy, and comfort with three bedrooms and bathrooms, a kitchen, lounge, private garden, verandah, boma and plunge pool. This is the perfect place to accommodate different generations in a home-like environment.
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Waterbuck Game Lodge
Located in the southern section of Thornybush is the Waterbuck Game Lodge, beautifully located in a picturesque part of Thornybush and overlooking a large dam. The main areas boast a welcoming lounge and dining area, complete with a large fireplace for cooler nights. The deck and bar overlook the pool and gardens, as well as the active dam. Animals frequently visit for a drink and the dam often has hippos. This intimate lodge has 4 rooms that are spread out in the undergrowth of the lush forest. All rooms have been perfectly positioned to afford privacy. The rooms have airconditioners, a fantastic deck that overlooks the surrounding bush and a comfortable sitting area on the deck. The bathrooms are ensuite and there is an outdoor shower. Game drives take place twice daily and have the option of driving throughout the reserve. and the guides are great with children.
Shimungwe Lodge
Shimungwe, named after the Bateleur, is a welcoming homestead-style safari lodge right on the banks of the seasonal Timabvati River, in the southern sector of Thornybush. This area is diverse, with many trees and interesting flora. The main area has an indoor lounge with a fireplace and the deck has a dining area, a sitting area and a pool. The fire pit is a perfect place to enjoy an alfresco dinner. The lodge has a small waterhole on the other bank of the river and in the dry season, animals frequent for a drink. The river provides hours of entertainment as animals regularly pass by. The rooms are well set up, each with air conditioning, a full bathroom, an outdoor shower and best of all, a private deck and sitting space that overlooks the dry river bed. Shimungwe is a great place to spend some time in the summer months when migratory birds have arrived.
Tangala Safari Camp
Tangala is a captivating wilderness retreat nestled in the middle of the Thornybush Reserve. This comfortable and rustic camp offers a genuine safari experience and is run fully on solar power. The main areas overlook the surrounding bush and an active waterhole and have various sitting spaces, an outdoor boma area for dinners and a pool to enjoy in the hotter months. The camp features comfortable tents and authentic bush chalets. Each has a covered patio, twin beds and an ensuite bathroom with a shower. The private deck provides a secluded spot to admire the surrounding wilderness. Twice daily game drives are conducted in the Thornybush Game Reserve by knowledgeable rangers and trackers.
Royal Malewane
Offering one of the most exceptional safari experiences in Africa, Royal Malewane has three luxury safari lodges. With its colonial-style architecture and beautifully appointed suites, Royal Malewane Lodge provides an atmosphere of refined luxury and overlooks an active waterhole. This magnificent lodge has Liz Biden’s eclectic touch, with no expense spared to create an oasis of luxury and opulence, brimming with old-world elegance. The suites at Malewane Lodge all have gorgeous views of the bushveld and are spacious, with airconditioners, private sitting areas, a large deck with a private pool, and a large bathroom. Africa House is a private bush villa at Malewane Lodge. This spacious and elegant, exclusive-use bush villa has private services of guides and vehicles, as well as private meals to be enjoyed in Africa House. Enjoy six en-suite bedrooms on either side of a central courtyard. Each bedroom is uniquely decorated with a private outside shower and deck.
Farmstead at Royal Malewane
Farmstead is a beautiful contemporary space that offers a decadent homestyle stay. This luxury retreat has rustic elements that come together to create a wonderful private safari setting. The main areas have a large pool and various sitting spaces, indoor and out, to enjoy the African bush. There are three Luxury Farm Suites. each has a spacious en-suite bedroom with a bath and a shower, as well as an outdoor shower. There are large front and back verandahs, and a beautiful deck with a private pool overlooking the bush. The Farmhouse is a three-and-a-half-bedroom exclusive-use villa with private services. Unwind on the magnificent deck with a large swimming pool. Children of all ages are welcome.
Waterside at Royal Malewane
Royal Malewane Waterside is the newest addition to the Royal Portfolio’s safari collection. This is a new and unique safari lodge, that uses many bold and captivating colours. Waterside’s extra-large suites exude an effortless elegance. Jewel-toned oriental rugs cloak the floors and private plunge pools beckon on expansive decks. The Baobab Suite is a two-bedroomed
sSuite. Children of all ages are welcome in these rooms. Waterside House is spacious and elegant with vibrantly natural furnishings, Waterside House welcomes children of all ages. Light floods into the four en-suite bedrooms, each of which enjoys a private deck.