Thornybush Game Reserve is a private game reserve, near Hoedspruit, in the Limpopo province of South Africa. It borders the Kapama Game Reserve and is located close to the Timbavati Game Reserve and the Kruger Park. Thornybush is a small private game reserve sharing an open boundary with Timbavati NR which has open boundaries with the world-famous Kruger Park. Animals can freely move in and out of the reserve, which is part of a very large ecosystem.
As with many private reserves in South Africa, Thornybush is managed as an eco-tourism destination, thus the Reserve is funded by means of a number of up-market private commercial game lodges located within the Reserve.
Wildlife and Game Viewing
Game viewing in Thornybush Game Reserve ranks as some of the best in Southern Africa due to the sheer diversity and abundance of wildlife that call Thornybush home. Not to mention its glorious African Big 5 encounters and sightings.
All of the Big Five are regularly spotted at Thornybush, but wildlife is less abundant than in nearby Timbavati and Sabi Sand Game Reserve. There is a good chance of seeing black and white rhino and cheetah as well. Lions are regularly seen, and wild dogs move in and out of the property.
The abundance of perennial rivers, good groundwater levels, varied ecosystems, multiple landscapes, and distinct vegetation draws an incredible diversity of plains game to Thornybush Game Reserve, which, in turn, attracts a large variety of predators, including the legendary African Big 5.
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Beyond the reserve’s exceptional predator and Big 5 activity, Thornybush Game Reserve is home to an abundant and incredible variety of wildlife species. The remarkable and endangered African wild dog often passes through the reserve, with viewing opportunities being especially good when they choose to den in the reserve.
The Sabie and Sand Rivers, as well as their many tributaries like the Manyaleti River running through the reserve further contributes to Thornybush Game Reserve’s prolific wildlife activity. These prominent water sources are regarded as the lifeblood of the game reserve and attracts a wide array of game all-year round.
Safari Experiences
The Thornybush properties provide game drives and walking safaris. In addition to day safaris and night drive safaris, the Greater Kruger (and thus Thornybush Game Reserve) offers an array of exhilarating wildlife and safari adventures for guests to enjoy. If you’re looking to make your Thornybush birding adventure more exciting, going on a guided walking safari or exhilarating night drive, will undoubtedly add an extra dose of thrill to your bird watching experience.
Another highlight of Thornybush Private Game Reserve is that safaris and game drives are not restricted to daylight hours as they are in the Kruger National Park, and exploring the Greater Kruger wilderness before sunrise and after sunset are not only customary, but a must.
Private game reserves along the western border of the Kruger National Park like Thornybush offer the best game viewing experience. There is no fencing between Kruger and the reserves so that animals can roam freely between them. The main difference between Kruger and the private reserves is that only closed vehicles are permitted in Kruger Park, whereas the private reserves offer open vehicle game drives. The advantage of open vehicles is that you get better views and feel a great deal closer to the bush and the experience.
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Off-road driving is forbidden in the Kruger, and night drives may only be conducted by park rangers in large park vehicles. In contrast, the private reserves offer night drives every evening.
Most South African safari lodges have a ranger and tracker accompanying all game drives. They are well trained and knowledgeable and can offer great insight into the various ecosystems found in the Kruger National Park.
Many game drives are on open vehicles, so you should remember to take sunscreen and a hat during the day (all year round), and in winter, you will need warm clothing in the evenings (May to August).
A handful of lodges offer activities especially for children, including educational walks with rangers, poolside picnics, baking, face painting, and treasure hunts!
Top 5 Lodges in Thornybush Private Game Reserve
Best Time to Visit
Despite being one of the top year-round private game reserves in South Africa, the best time to go to Thornybush Game Reserve is during its dry season (May - September). Rainfall is extremely scarce during the entire winter season in Thornybush Game Reserve.
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During the month of September (marking the end of the dry season), the heat index climbs to an afternoon average of 28°C/82°F and morning temperatures warm up to 14°C/57°F on average. December, January, and February are Thornybush Game Reserve’s wettest and hottest months. Torrential downpours are common during the afternoon, resulting in high humidity. Temperatures cool down during March & April, resulting in almost perfect clear-skied days (minus a few clouds), less rain and lower levels of humidity.
If you visit Thornybush during the wetter months (October to April), you’ll be rewarded with the appearance of baby animals and migrating birds. The landscape, fed by the rain, will also be a rich green and the air nice and clear.
| Month | Temperature | Rainfall | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| May - September | Mild | Scarce | Dry |
| October - April | Hot | Regular downpours | Wet |
| December - February | Hottest | Wettest | Wet |
| March - April | Cooling | Less rain | Transition |
Lodges and Accommodation
This reserve has 12 properties in total, ranging from bush camps to large deluxe lodges. Many of the lodges include a spa!
Getting There
As Thornybush Game Reserve is located close to the Kruger National Park, visitors will need to travel towards the Kruger Park to reach Thornybush.
Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) or O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg is where visitors usually arrive from abroad. From O.R. There are generally 2 scheduled flights daily between Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) and Hoedspruit Airport (HDS) which takes approximately 55 minutes, and 1 daily flight between Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) and Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport, which takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
From Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport as well as Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) (or any airport you are flying to), private road transfers can be arranged on your behalf to transport you to your chosen reserve or lodge. This transfer typically takes approximately 30 - 45 minutes, depending on the location of the Thornybush lodge you are staying at.
One of the most exclusive, hassle-free, and efficient ways to travel to Thornybush Game Reserve is by means of a scheduled private chartered flight. Thornybush has two landing strips on the reserve itself. The bigger of the two landing strips is a 1,2 km tarred runway and is able to accommodate up to a 16-seat aircraft.
Thornybush Game Reserve is very accessible and easy to reach when traveling by road. From Johannesburg, the driving distance to Thornybush Game Reserve is approximately 450km/280mi, which will take you about five hours.
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