Thornybush and Sabi Sand share a fenceless border with the Kruger National Park, allowing a steady stream of free-roaming Big 5 wildlife. The consistent sightings of Africa’s iconic animals are a key factor in the success of our lodges. Guests will see much more than just elephants and lions, because Thornybush is well known for the vast diversity of wildlife, indigenous to this area. All this is brought to life by our expert guide-and-tracker teams who have a deep understanding of the African bush with an inherent knack for finding the action.
Beautiful Lodges
Spectacular Sightings
Expert Guides
Passionate People
Community Engagement
Private sightings
Game Drives
Our guests go on game drives twice a day, at sunrise and sunset – enjoying exclusive access to wildlife sightings. There are never more than three vehicles on a sighting, which means no jostling for position. You’ll also get exceptionally close to that leopard in a tree or elephants in a riverbed as our vehicles can go off-road, so you’ll never miss a moment.
Bush Walks
Few things are as thrilling as setting off on foot in the African bush, as you feel a closer connection to the landscape and wildlife. We love showing our guests the smaller things up close and in a different way, while also knowing that the chance of a Big 5 encounter is always there.
Big Five Safaris Experiences
A wildlife wonderland
Incredible density of game
Through a combination of good rivers, vegetation and terrain, wildlife are drawn to the Thornybush and Sabi Sand reserves. The large numbers of plains game attract predators, which sets the scene for one of nature’s most fascinating battles. As our guides and trackers like to say, ‘There’s always something happening out there’.
World-class guides and trackers
Our guides and trackers are among the best in the business – their ability to read the signs of nature and predict where the animals will be always astounds our guests. They also understand that the more our guests know, the better it gets for them and love to explain how everything in the ecosystem is connected.
TrianaTeresa · FollowAt Thornybush, you will approach every animal sighting with respect. There will never be more than two land rovers at any sighting. You will go for long periods of time without seeing any other signs of human life. It’s so beautiful, varied, and spectacular. Seven game drives and we saw different animals and behaviors each time. I thought a safari might be like a glorified zoo visit – but it’s nothing like that. We truly are just guests in their home. In a three hour drive, you’ll see virtually the entire cycle of life – mating, playing, eating, hunting. It’s truly life changing.
