Thornybush Game Lodge, Kruger National Park

Thornybush Game Lodge has long been a pioneering force in South Africa's safari industry, playing a crucial role in the rise of the Thornybush Nature Reserve as a globally acclaimed wildlife haven within Greater Kruger Park. Recently, the owners updated the lodge, stylishly blending elements like wood, steel, leather, and rattan with a palette of neutral tones and vibrant greens. Its location in Hoedspruit means you're only a 15-minute drive from Kapama Game Reserve and Thornybush Game Reserve, allowing you to enjoy daily game drives where you may see the Big Five (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffaloes) and other wildlife.

The lodge's air-conditioned rooms have a private furnished balcony and a bathroom with a separate shower and soaking tub. The rooms' decor combines modern sophistication with an authentic safari charm—think neutral colors, plush bedding, and expansive windows that invite the South African landscape inside. For a more refined experience, the Luxurious Suites are decorated stylishly and have incredible views of the riverbed, indoor and outdoor showers, and beautifully designed interiors that include comforters and area rugs in fun patterns and high wooden ceilings. 

When you stay at Thornybush Game Lodge, you can take daily bush drives to see the Big Five. The lodge also offers walking safaris, where you can learn more about the smaller animals and plants that inhabit the bush from a professional field guide. If you're tired from your safari, relax in a lounge chair by the outdoor pool or indulge in treatments at the on-site spa. When you're hungry, sample Chef Solly's legendary oxtail stew and signature Ottolenghi-style salads under the stars in a bush dining environment. If you're bringing kids along, Thornybush plans special activities to keep them entertained, like baking and special kids' safari walks.