​Overview – Thornybush GR

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip lives in South Africa and has authored many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

Philip lives in South Africa and has authored many Africa guidebooks, including the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

Philip is the author of many Africa guidebooks, including the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

Philip is author of the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

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. Wildlife viewing is generally very good, but the thick bush makes off-road driving more limited than in the neighboring private reserves.

 
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Best Time to Go May to September (Dry season)
High Season October to March (It is rarely busy)
Size 140km² / 54mi²
Altitude 445-579m / 1,460-1,900ft
+18 Photos

Pros & Cons

  • Good wildlife viewing with all of the Big Five present
  • Day and night drives and walking safaris available
  • Off-road driving in open vehicles
  • Lodges catering to different budgets
  • Wildlife less abundant compared to Sabi Sands and Timbavati
  • High density of camps, so less exclusive
  • Emphasis on checking off the Big Five species

Thornybush GR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Wildlife

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. Giraffe and a good variety of antelope are present as well.

Scenery

The terrain consists of mixed woodland and open savannah with patches of tangled thickets and thorny bush, hence the name. The reserve is bisected by several dry riverbeds.

Weather & Climate

The summer’s Wet season (October to April) sees regular downpours and high temperatures. The heat starts to back off in March, signaling that the milder months of the winter’s Dry season (May to September) are near. The humidity and rainfall pretty much disappear in the drier months.

Best Time to Visit

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. But the heat is a burden, and the wildlife, in general, will be slightly easier to spot when the vegetation recedes in the Dry season (May to September).

Want to Visit Thornybush GR?

Thornybush GR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Stephen Cunliffe  –  
South Africa ZA

Stephen is a travel writer and avid conservationist whose work appears in prestigious magazines such as Africa Geographic and Travel Africa.

Wildlife without the Wilderness
3/5

Thornybush, situated within the Timbivati region of the Lowveld, boasts some high quality Big Five and cheetah viewing; but, this 19,000ha private reserve has one major drawback: I dislike that it is separated from the rest of the Timbivati...

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Latest User Review
Ulrik  –  
Netherlands NL
Reviewed: May 8, 2022
Perfect days with wonderful staff, superb food and great viewings
5/5

What a wonderful stay at Thornybush Game Lodge. We had very good game sightings (and superb food, not least the lunches) but what made the stay truly special was how kind and attentive the staff was. Daniel, our field guide, and John, our...

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