Game Reserve South Africa

Thornybush Game Reserve safaris, tours & holiday packages

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Guaranteeing a sighting of the Big Five is risky, but it's safe to say that visiting Thornybush makes it a probability

Thornybush Game Reserve is as wild and adventurous as its adjacent neighbour, the Kruger National Park, with the added benefit of being privately owned. The reserve's sovereignty gives its experienced rangers a freedom that is absent in the national parks. For starters, open safari vehicles are allowed to travel off-road; another bonus is that game drives are not restricted to daylight hours, and exploring before sunrise and after sunset are customary. Through hard-earned trust, notoriously skittish animals such as leopards have grown accustomed to being watched, and allow vehicles to come breathtakingly close to them.

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Lara Thomas says

“Thornybush Game Reserve is a treat by anyone's standards. I consider myself blessed to fall into the small category of people fortunate enough to get this close and intimate with the African bushveld and all its treasures.”

More on Thornybush Game Reserve holidays

Though the presence of the Big Five is worth emphasising, it's equally important to focus on the other wildlife that calls Thornybush home. The reserve's abundance of species never ceases to amaze, from its brilliant lilac-breasted rollers and shy spotted genets to porcupines in their full spiny glory.

The lodges are also diverse, ranging from the rustic yet comfortable Nkelenga Tented Camp to the luxurious five-star Royal Malewane and everything in between. Due to its proximity to Mozambique, Thornybush is the ideal destination to combine with a beach holiday.

If you're after an even wilder bush experience, take a (quite safe) guided walk through the open veld. And for a spot of relaxation and pampering, treat yourself to a full body massage or float in a pool overlooking a riverbed.

Thornybush Game Reserve Map

Thornybush Game Reserve's location on Google Maps

Frequently Asked Questions about Thornybush Game Reserve

Do I need any vaccinations when entering Botswana?

If you’re travelling to Botswana, you will need vaccinations for hepatitis A, typhoid fever, polio as well as medications for travellers diarrhea. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended when you're travelling to the northern part of… go there.

When is the best time to see the Makgadikgadi Zebra Migration?

January to March is the best time to witness the Makgadikgadi zebra migration as well as the wildebeest. go there.

What currency do I use when visiting Botswana?

The currency used in Botswana is Pula (P), which is made up of 100 Thebe. Botswana Banks accepts US Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Euro and South African Rands in cash. Credit and debit cards, including International Visa and MasterCard are… go there.

What types of plugs are used in the Southern and Eastern African countries?

Botswana: Electric plug M 230V and 50Hz Kenya: Electric plug G 240V and 50Hz Malawi: Electrical plug G 230V and 50Hz Mauritius: Electrical plug C & G, 230V and 50Hz Mozambique: Electrical plug C,F,M, 220V and 50Hz Namibia: Electric plug… go there.

When is the best time to visit Chobe?

If you're looking to experience the large elephant herds and the other variety of wildlife on show in Chobe, then a visit during the dry season months of May - November are ideal as the animals will congregate around water sources such as… go there.

When is the best time to visit Thornybush Game Reserve?

The best time to visit the Thornybush Game Reserve is during the dry winter months of May to September in South Africa. The vegetation in the area will thin out and the wildlife will congregate around water sources as this becomes a scarce… go there.

What kinds of animals will I see on safari?

Whether you are in the Southern or East Africa you will generally be able to see the big five. The difference really comes in when considering antelope as they are based on your chosen location. go there.

What vaccinations should I get?

This is all dependant on the countries that you will be visitng and due to the status of certain vaccinations changing at times, please consult our experts before getting vaccines. go there.

Is it okay to drink the water?

In some parts of Southern Africa it is safe to drink the tap water, however it is highly recommended to stick to bottled water (mostly supplied) during your trip as even drinkable African water is completely different in taste and… go there.

Thornybush Game Reserve - Africa Wildlife Safaris

Reviews on our Thornybush Game Reserve safaris

Discover Africa delivered the dream trip! It was a pleasure dealing with Matthys at Discover Africa from start to finish. He made everything as simple and easy as possible. Our trip was tremendous and we would fully recommend anyone planning…

Craig Wood

Thank you for the way you organised the trip for us. It was a pleasure dealing with Discover Africa and Matthys in particular. From start to finish, everything was simple and easy. Our trip has been tremendous and we would fully recommend…

Craig and Sue Wood

Working with Megan from Discover Africa to set up our safari was a breeze. She managed to get us to all of the locations we wanted to get to and the camps we wanted to visit. She was incredibly responsive and helped us with any questions or…

Jon Nafziger

from United States of America

Thank you for arranging such a lovely safari tour of Botswana. We had a great trip and the logistics went very smoothly. I will be recommending you and Botswana to my friends. Thank you again.

Leanne Geale

from Botswana

After shopping around for a couple of months, Discover Africa was the one who had the most diverse options for the price. Megan Warrington always responded quickly and was professional and patient with my endless questions. Discover Africa…

Kelly

from United States of America

My trip last August to Botswana was arranged by Discover Africa and I couldn't have chosen better. Everything was well organised and I didn't have to worry about anything. The safari tour was far beyond expectations; the accommodation was…

Debby

from Spain