​User Reviews – Thornybush GR

Sort By: Date Most Helpful Rating 11-19 of 19 Reviews
Valentina Visited: August 2014 Reviewed: Apr 17, 2015

Overall rating
5/5

Plenty of animals in a quite small space

wolltd Visited: August 2010 Reviewed: Jul 13, 2012

This isn't the Bronx Zoo!
Overall rating
5/5

When my wife and I visited Thornybush, we felt like we were part of a small family on an adventure. We were in a lodge with 3 other couples, and the staff made us all feel like visitors in their home. The guide was terrific and we had a blast riding in the jeep looking for and finding many different animals in our short stay. The guide and tracker were very patient, resulting in many great sightings in two days, including lionesses and their kill, and some very young cheetah cubs, as well as the rest of the Big 5. The meals and the food were home made and all excellent. We would return to Thornybush in a heartbeat! It was the trip of a lifetime.

Don   –  
United States US
Visited: August 2010 Reviewed: May 27, 2012

Email Don  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Excellent mix of pamper and excitement
Overall rating
5/5

The team made me feel very welcome and did a great job of encouraging guests to greet one another without being cruise ship pushy. This helped me relax from the beginning.

The "tents" were awesome! I would pick this over the top of the ANA hotel in Tokyo any day of the week. Bed was good, bathroom was crazy nice and the tub was one of these baths that overlooked the scenery. Just like in the movies.

Our guides did a great job of tracking and finding animals in their native environment. During the day, we found the lions sleeping peacefully on the hillside. They looked so cool and you could hear them breathing, you just wanted to rest your head on their bellies and give them a great scratch......and then in the night tour! We caught them in the act of feeding. It was stunning, natural, scary, ALIVE! I caught an awesome video of it all and posted it on YouTube, just search for Thornybush lion kill.

FOOD was good and there was a great variety.

We drove through the forests to Phalaborwa, spent the night and played golf at the Hans Merenski where I was able to play around the giraffes, literally.

But I promise you, take the time to get to Thorneybush. It's a totally different experience.

I would have brought a better coat. It was warm in the day and chilly at night.

I would also have added another day to spend at the lodge.

If I was to improve the experience, I would suggest everyone gets a keepsake, something native and simple to remind them of their visit. Our guide showed me how to weave a rope with the native grass, which was cool, but I forgot to bring it home. The Americans would probably have confiscated it anyway.

Don't try to bring home biltong, they will ask at the airport in the US.

DO try some, it's fabulous.

zboub75   –  
Switzerland CH
Visited: March 2008 Reviewed: May 3, 2012

35-50 years of age

Perfect honey moon destination !
Overall rating
5/5

Awsome trip:
- great wildlife - we saw 3 cheetah eating a baby kudo, we were like at 5 meters from them, we would hear the noise of the bones being crashed...
- our car had an issue - the guide turns that into a safari walk in the middle of the bush... Scary and super exciting !
- the outside bathroom is a must for honeymoon, specially when some impalas are crossing by...
Beware of the noise at night ... It's almost impossible to sleep due to the noise of the wild life and the wind.
But these memories stay long, it was a genuine adventure !

Goodstuff Visited: August 2007 Reviewed: Apr 26, 2012

Overall rating
5/5

Great wildlife. With all the luxury you can think of.

galago1962   –  
Switzerland CH
Visited: December 2008 Reviewed: May 2, 2012

Email galago1962  |  35-50 years of age

Overall rating
4/5

Large variety of birds and animals, pretty scenery, high level of hospitality.

architectkzn   –  
South Africa ZA
Visited: September 2009 Reviewed: Dec 23, 2011

Email architectkzn  |  35-50 years of age

Overall rating
4/5

Fantastic lodge, stayed here on my way to Botswana.
The game drive was fantastic, the guides great, and the wildlife specimens looked in peak condition.

mbd   –  
France FR
Visited: April 2007 Reviewed: Apr 29, 2012

50-65 years of age

The review below is the personal opinion of mbd and not that of SafariBookings.
Overall rating
3/5

Maybe we were very unlucky to have a guide who was determined to show us yet more elephants and completely ignored the leopard I spotted because it was time to get back to camp. We don't like this attitude of rushing people from one big 5to the next as if they were the only worthwhile animals to see

Debra Younghans   –  
Canada CA
Visited: February 2024 Reviewed: Mar 24, 2024

Email Debra Younghans  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

The review below is the personal opinion of Debra Younghans and not that of SafariBookings.
Overall rating
2/5

Wildlife viewing paled in comparison to Timbavati Nature Reserve. The vibe at the lodge was good but not exceptional like Kambaku.

Average User Rating

  • 4.6/5
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star 15
  • 4 star 2
  • 3 star 1
  • 2 star 1
  • 1 star 0
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