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    The Kruger, South Africa

    Thornybush Game Lodge

    Top-class safari lodge

    Excellent safari in a private reserve

    From elegant, luxury accommodation to sublime cuisine to an animal filled reserve, Thornybush Game Lodge offers a first class safari experience. Found in the famous Thornybush Nature Reserve beside the Kruger, your game drives and walks here promise plenty of Big Five experiences.

    When you’re not out exploring the open savannah, your stylish, self-contained suite offers the perfect place to relax. Take in views of the seasonal Monwana River from your private deck or, if you opt for a family suite, from your private plunge pool.

    The friendly team here at Thornybush welcomes all ages, with family accommodation and a special safari program designed just for the little ones. Tailored drives, meals and activities will keep the kids entertained, while babysitters and childminders ensure you can enjoy some romantic safari moments to yourselves.

    Highlights

    Swimming pool

    Spa

    Library

    Daily game drives

    Walking safaris

    Restaurant and lounge

    Activities for children

    Ready to plan your adventure?

    Whatever you want from your trip, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

    The impact of your stay:

    • Thornybush, bordering Kruger National Park, strategically conserves abundant flora and fauna. Focused on community education, their Kids in Conservation initiative imparts environmental knowledge to local youth through a camp course, fostering understanding of nearby protected areas and exploring cultural heritage.
    • Illegal wildlife trade threatens South Africa’s wildlife. Thornybush combats this with an in-house anti-poaching unit and collaborations with local non-profits, actively participating in humane rhino dehorning initiatives. The painless process allows rhino horns to naturally regrow, akin to human fingernails.
    • Thornybush actively supports animal conservation through scientific research collaborations with local universities and researchers. Their game drive reports contribute to larger conservation projects, including ground hornbill, rhino tagging, and leopard identification initiatives.
    Find out more

    Plan your trip to South Africa

    Whatever you want from your adventure in South Africa, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

    Places to combine Thornybush with

    One&Only Cape Town

    South Africa

    One&Only Cape Town

    Situated on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, One&Only Cape Town is an invitation to experience the Cape Town at its most captivating. With uninterrupted views of Table Mountain and direct access to the marina’s cosmopolitan energy, this retreat blends exclusivity with the pulse of Cape Town’s thriving cultural scene. Set amidst a network of tranquil private waterways, the hotel offers an extraordinary sense of seclusion, yet remains just steps from the city’s premier design boutiques, acclaimed restaurants and lively bars. Step onto your private balcony to take in spellbinding views including Table Mountain’s rugged silhouette bathed in golden light at sunrise and the serene waters of the marina shimmering at dusk.

    Dining at One&Only Cape Town is a celebration of South Africa’s culinary diversity. At Ochre, the flavours of the Cape are reimagined in dishes that honour tradition while embracing modern sophistication. Just steps away, the sunlit terrace of Isola invites you to linger over fresh salads, colourful poke bowls and crisp wood-fired flatbreads, all accompanied by the gentle soundtrack of rippling water. For an exquisite evening, Nobu Cape Town, the only African outpost of the legendary Nobu Matsuhisa, offers an elevated take on Japanese-Peruvian fusion. One&Only Cape Town’s Wine Loft is a sanctuary for oenophiles. Immerse yourself in the artistry of winemaking with expert guidance and rare, sought-after bottles.

    Hidden within the hotel’s private waterways, the One&Only Spa is a secluded island of tranquility. Twelve serene treatment rooms await, where ESPA-trained therapists create bespoke wellness journeys. Afterward, recline in the spa’s lush garden, where relaxation is paired with nourishing refreshments. For those seeking more movement, the One&Only Fitness Centre is a state-of-the-art space offering high-energy boot camps and kettlebell training as well as personalised yoga sessions on the summit of Table Mountain. You can also embark on a guided hike up Lion’s Head, where panoramic views reward your climb with a breathtaking perspective of the city below.

    Singita Ebony Lodge

    Sabi Sands

    Singita Ebony Lodge

    Sitting alongside the meandering Sands River, set amidst wild bush and enormous trees in the middle of South Africa’s ‘big cat country’, is Singita’s original Ebony Lodge. Unrivalled hospitality is blended with the heritage of an English county home to create a timeless and most welcoming safari experience.

    The 12 suites, two which have two bedrooms and are perfect for families, all feature en-suite bathrooms and indoor-outdoor showers, private heated plunge pools and spacious game viewing decks.

    Your suite has been decorated according to a black and white colour scheme in homage to the big ebony trees that surround the lodge and interiors are furnished with vintage campaign furniture from Luke Bailes’ (the founder of Singita) family collection, sepia photography, tribal print murals and imitation leopard and zebra-print fabrics. Interior walls have been replaced by canvas or glass to create a light and airy atmosphere and to capitalise on the amazing views outside, to beautiful effect in the bedroom where you’ll enjoy an uninterrupted view out onto the terrace.

    The food here is exquisite yet unpretentious, fitting of the lodge’s homely feel, and is paired with an extensive range of handpicked South African wines. Free time at the lodge can be spent indulging in the Bush Spa, relaxing in the library, using the well-equipped gym or cooling down in the pool.

    Of course the highlight here is the rich array of wildlife. Species such as leopard, lion, rhino, large herds of buffalo, elephant, reedbuck, hyena, hippopotamus, nyala, cheetah, wild dogs and many types of birds can be spotted on expertly guided day and night game drives, and thrilling walking safaris. Other activities such as stargazing will get Africa even further under your skin.

    Leeu House

    The Winelands

    Leeu House

    Leeu House is situated in an enviable position on the main street of Franschhoek, a country guesthouse in the midst of the hustle and bustle of this vibrant village, surrounded by award-winning restaurants, wine farms and boutique shops.

    Stylish interiors are a 21st century take on the traditional Cape Dutch heritage of Franschhoek. The twelve individually styled rooms feature goose-down duvets and fine linens, air-conditioning, flat-screen smart televisions, unlimited Wi-Fi access, Nespresso machines and private bars. The en-suite bathrooms have marble floors, showers and vanity tops, freestanding baths, vast showers and underfloor heating. Three of the suites open onto their own private gardens, while others boast small intimate terrace courtyards.

    Dine inside in The Conservatory or al fresco on the terrace, enjoying Leeu Collection wines and spirits from the complimentary bar. Innovative cuisine is prepared by the talented culinary team headed by Oliver Cattermole. Committed to sourcing organic and ethically farmed ingredients, his globally influenced menu features the freshest local produce.

    All Leeu House guests have full access to the facilities and spectacular grounds at nearby sister property Leeu Estates, such as the on-site spa, inspired cuisine, or make use of the gym facilities and heated infinity swimming pool. Leeu Estates also features an extensive network of walking, jogging and cycling trails, and a world-class wine cellar.

    In addition to this, Leeu House is recognised for its fantastic work in the local community, where they do everything from providing tasty snacks to local schools and also sponsor a learning centre for disadvantaged children.

    Tswalu Kalahari Reserve

    The Kalahari

    Tswalu Kalahari Reserve

    The malaria free Tswalu Reserve, owned by the Oppenheimer family, consists of over 100,000 hectares of the ‘green’ Kalahari grasslands home to eighty mammal species and 340 varieties of bird.

    Furthermore, the reserve is not further divided up into concessions or reserves and the only accommodation is the Motse Camp and Tarkuni House, which only allow for a maximum of thirty guests at one time in the entire of Tswalu. If you are staying for three nights or more you’ll also get a complimentary private vehicle, guide and tracker to make this your very own private Kalahari. The motto is, if you see another Range Rover on your game drives, complain.

    And whilst you really couldn’t get any further from a package holiday, the accommodation at Tswalu truly does have it all ‘wrapped up’ as far as a five-star safari lodge goes, with more luxury, authenticity, exclusivity and conscientiousness than any other in Africa. Having won awards for both their spa and conservation work, you just have to see the efforts they make to look after the wildlife and support local communities to know the lengths they go to look after you.

    Ariel view of waves breaking on a forested shoreline