Thornybush Private Game Reserve

Kruger National Park


This 13,816-hectare reserve is a collaboration between 12 lodges (the number keeps going up every year), with a focus on high-end comforts and excellent game drives. As with all of the private reserves, it's big on conservation and community projects. All of the lodges can be contacted through the Thornybush website.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Kruger National Park attractions

1. Kapama Private Game Reserve

9.63 MILES

With four luxury lodges and the Big Five in residence (as well as occasional passing wild dogs and great birding), 13,000-hectare Kapama gets all of the…

2. Timbavati Private Nature Reserve

10.37 MILES

Timbavati abuts Kruger National Park's western boundary and has an excellent mix of wildlife, conservation and good accommodation. Its accommodation…

3. Klaserie Private Nature Reserve

11.84 MILES

A 600-sq-km (or 60,000 hectare) private wildlife reserve in the greater Kruger area, Klaserie has strong conservation credentials.

4. Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre

12.63 MILES

A few clicks south of Hoedspruit along the R40 and attached to the Kapama Private Game Reserve, the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre was set up to…

5. Manyeleti Game Reserve

18.62 MILES

During the apartheid era, the 23,000-hectare Manyeleti was the only wildlife reserve that blacks were permitted to visit. Due to its unfenced boundary…

6. Bobbejaankrans

22.29 MILES

This overlooks a section of the Timbavati River that animals often visit to slake their thirst. It's especially good early morning or late afternoon.

7. Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

28.64 MILES

This stunning 260-sq-km reserve centres on the 30km-long Blyde River Canyon, where epic rock formations tower above the forested slopes and eagle-eye…

8. Lowveld Viewpoint

28.7 MILES

Affords stunning views up the canyon, to the glistening Blydepoort Dam at the far end surrounded by forested slopes. The rocky cones of the Three…

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