Thornybush Nature Reserve

Private bush retreat areas such as the Thornybush Reserve are a fantastic example of the advantages of a smaller reserve size when considering a romantic or intimate getaway in the park - at roughly 11.000 hectares large, with only five lodges of which to speak, this bush venue is tailor made for unique bush weddings or business indabas, veld-side retreats where personalised attention and intimacy outstrips size and business.

This shouldn't lead guests to assume the reserve is quaint or under furnished - Luxury Lodges are possessed of first class decor and furnishings, with state of the art facilities, delicious cuisine, and a wide variety of accommodation, including safari camps, bush lodges, and camp sites. Regardless of your safari, there is a combination within Thornybush Reserve to suite your needs. Thornybush Game Lodge is a warm and inviting reserve experience, the perfect way to spend a honeymoon, take the kids on holiday, or retreat with a group of friends or colleagues into the welcoming African bush.

Lodges within Thornybush Nature Reserve

Guests at Chapungu Luxury Tented Camp are struck by the range of extra, smaller luxuries provided by the staff there: arrive from your afternoon game drive to be greeted with a warm face cloth and a liqueur, return to your room find your bed scattered with flower petals, or a bottle of sparkling wine waiting on your dresser. The camp offers exciting bush exploration, excellent cuisine, and gorgeous tented accommodation, raised up on stilts, surrounded by lush vegetation and the chattering sound of forest inhabitants.

Lodging at Serondella Game Lodge is comfortable and fully equipped, with a range of suites, and the lodge area itself rustles continuously with the sound of local wildlife. With an intimate and subdued lodge atmosphere, this luxury venue is coloured by the immediate riverine vegetation and vibrant wildlife - meaning "place of the elephant", Serondella is home to all the members of the Big Five, and 280 different bird species.

Thornybush Game Lodge strikes a charming balance between safari authenticity, and commercial comfort - at a slight remove from the bushveld depths perhaps preferred by some, this lovely bush lodge is the greater reserve's eponymous flagship. First class, and family orientated, the lodge itself boasts impressive creature comforts and facilities, including a library, air conditioned suites, and a day spa. Thornybush is a relaxing stay, in an area comfortably framed by the wilds of the Kruger National Park.

Shumbalala Lodge is an attractive camp within Thornybush Reserve. Exclusive and well appointed, it sports twenty stunning suites of various sizes for accommodation. Guests will notice the inviting fireplaces and warm colours of the main camp as they arrive, and the staff's pleasant and helpful attitude makes a firm impression after everyone departs. With exciting encounters with local wildlife, elephant back safaris and exhilarating balloon rides, Elephant Plains goes well beyond the traditional bush safari.

Nkelenga luxury lodge is brought to life by the textures and colours of its rustic design. Warm, inviting, this rustic safari lodge accommodates guests in a series of enchanting stilted tents, hovering as it were above the gorgeous Thornybush Nature Reserve. Brushing shoulders with the bows of great trees, guests can sip in the atmosphere of this wonderful venue from the comfort of their tents, or out on an adventure in the wild.

Waterside's tranquil accommodation overlooks the pristine expanse of the Thornybush Nature reserve from the banks of a peaceful lake. Set beside the Kruger National Park, the game-rich location is home to a variety of species including the sought-after Big Five. Waterside is the ideal spot for intimate events like weddings, conferences and special occasions, with room for families in its luxury suites. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or safari adventure, Waterside promises the discerning traveller an experience of utter luxury in the bush.