Situated adjacent to the Kruger National Park, within the Thornybush Nature Reserve, Thornybush Game Lodge offers guests utter seclusion and sophistication.
There are game lodges, and then there are game lodges. Thornybush Game Lodge, part of the Thornybush Luxury Game Lodge Collection, is one of the few lodges that leaves guests begging for more. With their focus on attention to detail, the lodge epitomises style, elegance and luxury set in one of Southern Africa’s most untouched nature reserves.
From the unrivalled game viewing opportunities on the morning and afternoon drives to the peaceful bath-time experiences overlooking the vast reserve, Thornybush Game Lodge has something for everyone.
The 5-star retreat includes 20 luxury suites, each with their own private indoor/outdoor showers and viewing deck. The suites have all been designed with the highest-quality furnishings in mind. Think natural hues of white and beige and tones of grey for a more modern approach. The bathrooms are beautifully decorated and each feature an oversized bathtub, his and her basins and an open shower, along with marble tiled ooring and cement-style walls that give off a smooth, satin, suede-like finish.
Towards the main dining area is a large pool with sun loungers for those lazy summer days as well as a relaxing spa that includes 5-star treatments for men and women. Guests can enjoy the sweet sounds of nature as they indulge in sublime world-class cuisine at Thornybush Game Lodge. In fact, no matter the time of day, the amazing chefs will make sure guests are never short of food as they are always preparing fresh, homemade treats.
Thornybush is also home to the best night skies in South Africa. With very little light pollution, many more elements of the Milky Way galaxy are visible at any part of the reserve. The Southern Cross, Southern Triangle, and the brightest stars of all, Sirius, Canopus and Alpha Centauri are all easy to spot even with the naked eye. What could be better than lounging in a bubble bath by candlelight with the night skies visible through the large windows? Or glancing up from your outdoor shower to see the brilliant display above?
What sets Thornybush apart from other reserves is their unwavering need to give back to the community. The Thornybush collection has been involved in local community projects for over a decade. In 2006, they established a community garden in the grounds of the Manyangana High School, which first saw the employment of four women from the community and now employs a total of nine women. They also established their second garden in 2010 to help feed the children at Hananani Primary School in Dixie. They have since grown thousands of different herbs and vegetables, which are often sold to local supermarkets in Hoedspruit and to nearby game lodges.
As for the wildlife? Since Thornybush Nature Reserve dropped their boundary fence this year, between their reserve and the Timbavati Reserve, they have opened the corridor and given the animals freedom of movement. This move has proven to be favourable for the reserve, and for visitors, as Thornybush has received an influx of animals from the Greater Kruger National Park, most of which are there to stay.
So if it’s a weekend escape that you’re after, Thornybush Game Lodge is certainly the perfect place to restore your soul.
Check out their website www.thornybush.co.za for more information.
