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Thornybush Game Lodge
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Thornybush Game Lodge
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Thornybush Game Lodge
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About the lodge
An overview of Thornybush Game Lodge.
Elegant and exclusive, Thornybush Game Lodge offers the complete package for individual guests, family holidays, corporate getaways, small groups or wedding extravaganzas. Exhilarating dawn and dusk safaris, an exclusive on-site spa, gourmet cuisine, the world’s finest wines and sublimely luxurious accommodation await the discerning traveller at Thornybush Game Lodge. A fully-equipped conference centre for sixty delegates completes the picture.
Highlights
- The luxury suites are superbly equipped and furnished in the lavish style befitting this five-star lodge.
- All the suites have private wooden decks with comfortable seating, overlooking the reserve and waterhole.
- A number of activities are arranged for children at Thornybush Game Lodge. Sign your kids up for the ‘Ranger in Training’ program when booking your accommodation, and they will enjoy fun, educational activities throughout their stay.
You Should Know
- Children of all ages are welcome.
- Children under 6 years of age are not permitted on game drives.
The Details
Thornybush Game Reserve's exclusive private 5-star Thornybush Game Lodge provides accommodation consisting of 18 suites and 2 family suites.
Each Luxury Suite is positioned to offer guests privacy and features an en-suite bathroom with a bath and separate indoor and outdoor showers, air conditioning, minibar, tea and coffee making facilities, and a private deck with a view of the seasonal Monwana River course or riverine thicket.
The Family Suites are larger than the luxury suites, with a comfortable lounge area, a sleeper couch that converts into a double bed for children, a larger private deck, and a plunge pool.
The facilities at Thornybush Game Lodge include a curio shop, swimming pool, award-winning Amani Spa, conference facilities, babysitting services, a library with internet access, and a charming outdoor boma where guests can enjoy their meals under a canopy of stars.
The Kids at Thornybush Game Lodge program makes it an ideal family getaway. Children receive a complimentary activity backpack and are assigned a ranger upon arrival. Outdoor activities are tailor-made to suit children’s needs and include game walks and drives. At the end of their stay, children are awarded ‘Ranger in Training’ certificates.
Thornybush Game Lodge offers unique, exclusive safari experiences in both open land cruisers and on foot. The private reserve is home to an abundance of species: 147 mammals, including the "Big Five," 114 reptiles, 507 birds, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, and 336 trees. The reserve is predominantly open savannah, and with a nearly perfect year-round climate, it is the ideal African safari holiday destination.
Thornybush Game Lodge is perfect for solo explorers, couples, small groups, and families looking for a luxurious safari adventure.
Price Includes
- Accommodation, all meals and snacks, all local drinks (soft drinks, house wine, selection of local beers, local spirits), minibar, morning and afternoon game drives in open safari vehicles accompanied by experienced guides and trackers, Wi-Fi.
- Our rates are per person sharing unless stated otherwise.
- Single supplements may apply.
- Request a quote or speak to one of our agents for the best, most current rates available.
The same as booking direct
Rates and pricing.
Per person sharing, per night. Final pricing depends on dates, room category and party size.
Valid until 15 Dec 2026
Why book through us
You pay the lodge's rate, never a markup. What you get on top is a specialist who knows Thornybush Game Lodge personally, looks after every detail of the trip, and stays reachable on WhatsApp from the moment you enquire to the day you come home.
By season
Green season
1 Mar 2026 – 30 Jun 2026
All Inclusive – All meals, beverages, and two daily game drives
Special offer
R 14 850
Normally R 19 800
Peak / migration
1 Jul 2026 – 31 Oct 2026
All Inclusive – All meals, beverages, and two daily game drives
R 19 800
Shoulder
1 Nov 2026 – 15 Dec 2026
All Inclusive – All meals, beverages, and two daily game drives
Special offer
R 14 850
Normally R 19 800
Rates are per person sharing, per night. A single supplement may apply for solo travellers. We offer a price match guarantee, just ask your safari specialist.
Exclusive offer
Already reflected in the rates above.
The reduced rates shown in the table apply for the periods listed. Here is what is running and why.
Stay & Pay
Stay 3 Nights, Pay for 2 – Valid for bookings made until 28 February 2026. Stay 4 Nights, Pay for 3 – Maximum of 6 travelers per group. Valid for travel between 1 March – 30 June 2026 and 1 November – 15 December 2026.
Honeymoon offer
For couples celebrating a wedding.
Documented from Thornybush Collection's 2026 rate sheet. A formal offer you can claim, not marketing language.
Honeymoon Special
Partner pays 50% — minimum 4-night stay
Thornybush Collection offers a Honeymoon Special at Siviti Lodge (Thornybush Reserve, Timbavati) where one partner pays 50% of their accommodation cost. A minimum 4-night stay is required, and the offer is blacked out from 13 April 2025 to 4 May 2025. The special does not apply to the Timbavati Homestead.
- Minimum stay
- 4 nights
- Combinable
- Specials do not apply to THE HOMESTEAD
Honeymoon Special
50% discount on one partner's accommodation
Thornybush Collection offers a Honeymoon Special across all Thornybush lodges (excluding Kamara House Villa) where couples staying 3 nights or more receive a 50% discount on one partner's accommodation. The offer is not combinable with any other promotions.
- Minimum stay
- 3 nights
- Combinable
- Not combinable with any other offers
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Terms and eligibility may change. Your specialist confirms all offers at the time of booking.
Family policies
Travelling with children.
What our safari specialists know about bringing children to Thornybush Game Lodge: minimum ages, activities, family rooms and child rates, current as of May 2026. They plan family trips here all the time, so anything below that needs arranging, they will sort. For the bigger picture, see our guide to safari with children .
Minimum ages
- Stay
- All ages
- Game drives
- 6+
- Walking safari
- 16+
Programmes & care
Kids' programme
Babysitting available
Accommodation
Family unit available.
Child rates
Child rate under 12: 50% sharing with two adults; 75% in separate room with one adult. Three children sharing: 50% of adult rate each when travelling with 2 adults (triples on request).
Notable exceptions
- Children of all ages welcome to stay, with special activities provided and babysitters arranged on request. Standard policy: children under 6 are not permitted on game drives unless a private vehicle is booked (R17,500/day in 2026; R18,900/day under the Early Eagle Deal), bookable 24–48 hours prior. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult on drives. Walking safaris remain 16+. Triples are available on request (subject to availability) for families with children under 12. Note: the Early Eagle Deal specifies "No Child rates post 30 days".
Walking safari
Built for walking.
Documented walking safari options at Thornybush Game Lodge. Distinguishes short bush walks from dedicated walking trails and overnight wilderness journeys.
Short walk
Immersive Bush Walk
A guided immersive bush walk offered on Day 3 of the Thornybush Impact Safari itinerary, taking place in the morning as part of a structured multi-day experiential programme at Thornybush Game Lodge.
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.
Cultural
Beyond the game drive.
Community visits, cultural walks, and dining experiences documented at Thornybush Game Lodge.
Village visit
Shangaan Community Cultural Immersion
Guests meet members of the local Shangaan community, share meals together, and listen to their stories — a structured cultural encounter forming part of the Thornybush Impact Safari itinerary.
Included in Days 1–3 of the Impact Safari programme at Thornybush Game Lodge. Saseka Tented Camp. Described alongside a community induction as part of a multi-day structured itinerary.
- Availability
- Subject to Impact Safari programme booking
Cultural experience
Community Induction & Choir Performance
On arrival at Thornybush Game Lodge or Saseka Tented Camp, guests receive a community induction and are treated to a live choir performance by community members — a structured cultural welcome forming part of the Impact Safari itinerary.
Scheduled on Days 1–3 of the Impact Safari programme. Includes community induction and choir performance alongside game drives, bush breakfast, helicopter patrol, and K9 demonstration.
- Availability
- Subject to Impact Safari programme booking
Community project visit
Community Gardening Project
Guests visit the local community gardens where they can pick herbs and participate in planting — a hands-on community project experience included in the Thornybush Impact Safari programme.
Scheduled on Days 4–5 of the Impact Safari (at Simbambili Game Lodge, Sabi Sands leg). Involves active participation — picking herbs and planting in community gardens.
- Availability
- Subject to Impact Safari programme booking
Community project visit
Nourish Eco Village Visit
A visit to the Nourish Eco Village, included as a structured excursion on Days 4–5 of the Thornybush Impact Safari itinerary, alongside village immersion and conservation activities.
Scheduled on Days 4–5 of the Impact Safari programme (Simbambili Game Lodge, Sabi Sands leg). Listed alongside community gardening, an Endangered Wildlife Trust talk, and village immersion.
- Availability
- Subject to Impact Safari programme booking
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.
Imagery
A closer look.
23 photographs · click any image to expand
Speak to a safari specialist
Plan your dream safari at Thornybush Game Lodge.
From your first enquiry to the day you come home, one named safari specialist looks after every detail. We can handle the whole trip, not just the stay at Thornybush Game Lodge: multi-country itineraries, internal flights, road transfers, tipping guidance, travel insurance, the lot. A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours.
Ready when you are
Let's design your stay.
Your specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours with availability, exact pricing, and suggestions for what to combine it with.