We always tell people that choosing the right safari lodge is key to a successful family safari. The lodge needs to not just accept children – it needs to openly welcome them.
We visited Thornybush Game Lodge with kids and wanted to provide a thorough Thornybush Game Lodge review to families considering booking.
There are some things we think you will find helpful to know and this review of Thornybush Game Lodge aims to answer the most important question – ‘Is Thornybush Game Lodge good for families?’
If you aren’t completely sold on Thornybush after reading this review, then please also check here for our recommendations for more family-friendly game reserves in the Kruger area. You might also find our guide to the cost of a family safari helpful and our tips to keep the cost of a family safari down. See also our favorite safari destinations for families.
If you’re planning a trip to South Africa to include Cape Town, the Garden Route and a safari, make sure to check out our itinerary for a family vacation in South Africa.
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Our Thornybush Game Lodge review for families
Before we start our review of Thornybush Game Lodge we just wanted to assure you that these are all our own thoughts. We paid for all of our accommodation ourselves.
We booked our Kruger safari through Go2Africa who are the leading luxury tour operator in Africa. See here for our Go2Africa review.
There are so many game reserves and beautiful safari lodges in South Africa. So why pick Thornybush Game Lodge for your family safari?
Getting to Thornybush Game Lodge
Thornybush Game Lodge is located in the Thornybush Game Reserve which lies adjacent to the Kruger National Park and next to Timbavati Game Reserve.
Thornybush Game Reserve is a large private reserve and shares a 15-mile fenceless border with the Kruger National Park. This means that the animals are free to come and go between the Kruger and Thornybush.
The main entrance to Thornybush Game Reserve is off the Guernsey Road which is a gravel road running almost parallel to the R40 from Hoedspruit.
It should take about 30 minutes to drive from Hoedspruit (closest airport) to Thornybush Game Lodge or 6 hours if you are driving from Johannesburg.
Arrival at Thornybush Game Reserve
If you have arrived at Hoedspruit airport you can arrange a transfer through Thornybush. If you are driving yourself, just be aware that you will need to hand over your booking details to the security guard on arrival at the main gate of the Thornybush Game Reserve.
The drive from the main gate to the lodge will take around 30 minutes and is signposted along the way. Please remember that you are in a game reserve and will come across animals. See here for our safari animal spotting tips.
When you arrive at the main lodge, you will be greeted with a welcome drink and checked in. Check-in is from 2pm.
Family accommodation at Thornybush Game Lodge
There are 16 luxury suites at Thornybush Game Lodge. They each have large sliding doors opening out onto your private viewing deck. The bathroom has a huge window looking out onto the bush.
Families can book Kamara House which is a 2-bedroom villa which comes with its own expert guide, tracker and private open-air safari vehicle, as well as a personal chef and dedicated butler.
- Security: Thornybush Game Lodge is considered an open camp. There are electric fences around camp but these are really to stop larger animals like elephants from entering camp. Leopards and hyena can get in so you do need to keep and eye on the kids. At night, you will be escorted to your room.
- Malaria: There are mosquito nets in the rooms because Thornybush Game Reserve is in a malarial area. Please bear this in mind when speaking to your healthcare professional about travel vaccinations. Thornybush takes preventative measures by spraying their camp at least four times a year and there is mosquito repellant in the rooms.
See here for family-friendly malaria free safari destinations if you decide not to visit a malarial area for your family safari.
Family game drives at Thornybush Game Lodge
Children of all ages are welcome at Thornybush Game Lodge but children under the age of 6 cannot go on game drives.
If you are travelling with young children, there are childcare services available.
Safaris are tailored where possible to suit families. Rangers that enjoy interacting with kids are paired with families.
We had a lovely guide called Sarah who would stop the jeep and jump out enthusiastically to pick up small insects to talk to the kids about.
These are the things our kids love about a safari because they prefer a bit of variety and interaction from a game drive. It’s not all about the Big 5!
We did see the Big 5 though and we saw a huge array of birdlife and our first ever (and normally very elusive) honey badger.
Game drives took place in the early morning and mid afternoon and each one lasted around 3 hours.
Activities for kids at Thornybush Game Lodge
When you’re not on safari with the kids, there are other activities back at the lodge to keep them entertained.
Quite honestly though, we usually try to get them to take a nap at some point during the day because a safari holiday can be exhausting!
When you’re not napping, here are some other things to do at Thornybush Game Lodge.
- Kids receive a ‘Ranger in Training’ welcome backpack on arrival which contains safari related goodies and activities for them to complete on game drives or at the lodge.
- Bush walks are available for kids under 16 to learn bush skills.
- Kids will love experiences such as a demonstration by the K-9 anti poacher team.
- Activities such as baking, beading, bug walks and treasure hunts are available upon request.
- Hang out by the pool.
- Visit Nourish Eco Village and learn how Thornybush helps the local communities.
Whilst it doesn’t have the amazing kids’ club that you can find at the nearby Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge – we still think Thornybush Game Lodge is family-friendly.
Thornybush Game Lodge food for kids
The food at Thornybush Game Lodge was excellent. At the start of our stay we were introduced to Chef Solly who has been with Thornybush since 2004.
He, together with his team, create the most amazing Ottolenghi style salads that we looked forward to every lunch. Of course, there was always something a little less exciting for the kids if they preferred!
Breakfast and lunch are buffet style and dinner is a la carte.
Meals are usually served on the large deck overlooking the dry riverbed where you occasionally spot animals wandering by.
You can also request to have dinner by candlelight on your own private deck and there are bush dinners on offer when the weather permits.
What to pack for a stay at Thornybush Game Lodge
Knowing what to pack for a family safari can be tricky. Obviously you need the safari clothing to ensure you keep comfortable and safe on safari. But what do you were back at the lodge between game drives?
Well, each to their own but what we will say is that over the years we have been on safari, we have never dressed up for meals.
We have stayed in very luxurious safari lodges and even then, dress code is very casual.
Sometimes we have come straight from a game drive, washed hands and sat down to dinner. There are times when you get so caught up with a sighting on the afternoon game drive that you arrive back to camp a little late and there’s no time to dress for dinner, especially when the kids need to eat and go to bed.
There is absolutely no obligation to get dressed up at all.
If you are going on safari with kids, you might find this packing list for a safari with kids helpful. And here’s a guide for safari clothing for kids.
Is Thornybush Game Lodge family-friendly?
Our final thoughts on Thornybush Game Lodge for families? Well, we absolutely loved our stay. Our accommodation was perfect for a family of 4.
Our kids were old enough to go on game drives (they were 8 and 9 at the time). They were kept engaged by our lovely guide and they loved the safari kit they received.
We felt very comfortable and were welcomed by all of the staff at Thornybush Game Lodge. The lodge is luxurious but relaxed at the same time.
We hope you found our Thornybush Game Lodge review for families helpful. If you have any questions, please get in touch!
Very good