What to Expect
At Thornybush our purpose is to open your heart and soul to the wonders of safari and the wild beauty of the Greater Kruger Park. You’ll wake with the birds and feel the sun warm the earth, and sleep to the sounds of nature as the night sky dances silently with the stars.
A vast diversity of wildlife coupled with our luxury safari lodges provide our guests with an immersive and unforgettable bush experience, whether it’s a romantic getaway or a family holiday safari.
Highlights
Luxury Suites
The luxury suites are superbly equipped and furnished in the lavish style befitting this five-star lodge. Calming, earth tones are used throughout to enhance the tranquil atmosphere of your surroundings, and the furnishings and accoutrements are of the highest standard. The en-suite bathroom features a double basin, large bath overlooking the Savannah, indoor and outdoor showers. All suites have air conditioning and feature a mini-bar and coffee station.
All the suites have private wooden decks, with comfortable seating, overlooking the reserve and waterhole. Here you can take some time-out to gather your thoughts, catch forty winks or update your journal while enjoying the benefits of fresh air, sunshine and peaceful surroundings.
Kamara House
Opening in May 2023, Kamara House is the newest luxury safari accommodation in the Thornybush Nature Reserve and is part of Game Lodge’s upcoming refurbishment. A private house overlooking a small riverbed, it’s perfect for multigenerational families or small groups.
From the moment you arrive, everything is taken care of by our friendly staff and your dedicated butler, so you can spend the day relaxing on sun loungers with your book or watch passing wildlife from the rim-flow plunge pool. Close to Game Lodge, you can stroll across to the Spa for a wellness massage or pre-lunch drinks on the main deck.
Meals are prepared by your personal chef and served alfresco-style outside or in the spacious dining area. Each dish is created using the freshest ingredients with little to beat the smell of home-baked bread wafting through the house as you arrive back from your morning game drive.
The interiors at Kamara House are a contemporary mix of organic textures and tones that echo its bush setting. Two bedrooms are connected to the main area of the house and one of them has an interleading children’s bedroom so little ones can sleep close by. After dinner, sit around the table chatting about the day’s sightings or stargaze from your deck as the lions roar in the distance. Kamara House has its own game vehicle, guide and tracker.
The day starts as dawn breaks over the African bushveld. After an early morning wake-up call, coffee, tea and rusks are served on the main deck. Shortly after, depart in an open Land Cruiser with experienced Guides and Trackers who will share their extensive knowledge of the bush. These drives are undertaken at times best suited for game viewing which varies depending on the season but typically starts early morning. Where applicable you may be invited out of the vehicle to see tracks, examine certain plants and follow spoor.
The afternoon game drive is preceded by high tea and extends into the evening to view seldom seen nocturnal species by torchlight.
After a sumptuous Breakfast is served either back at the camp or in the riverbed or bush, guests are offered walks to suit their interests and fitness levels and are accompanied by an armed ranger and tracker.
Walks allow guests a better chance to see some of the smaller creatures of the bush as well as an opportunity to learn more about the flora and fauna of the region, and to have a chance to follow tracks in more detail.
