Thornybush Premium Safari
Six days in a classic private reserve known for leopard and wild dog sightings.
Duration
5 nights / 6 days
Group size
2–6 guests
Best months
April – October
Why you'll love it
Safari highlights
Off-road tracking of leopard, lion and wild dog
Suites with private decks overlooking a busy waterhole
Optional half-day Panorama Route excursion to Blyde River Canyon
Small vehicles that seat a maximum of six guests
Photographers and returning safari-goers who want off-road tracking and excellent leopard sightings.
6 days in detail
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Fly into Hoedspruit (Eastgate) and transfer about 30 minutes to Thornybush Game Lodge. After lunch and a briefing, set out on your first afternoon drive. Thornybush allows off-road driving, so your ranger can follow a leopard into the thickets instead of watching from the road.
Morning and afternoon drives focus on the reserve's resident leopards and lion prides. Between drives, relax by the pool overlooking the waterhole, where elephant and nyala come to drink during the heat of the day. Dinner is served on the deck or in the boma, depending on the weather.
After an early breakfast, you can join a guided day trip to Blyde River Canyon, God's Window and the Three Rondavels, among the most striking viewpoints in Southern Africa. Guests who prefer to stay on safari continue with the regular drive schedule. Everyone is back in time for the evening drive and a night under the stars.
Head out on foot with your tracker to read the morning's stories in the sand: the overnight path of a hyena, a leopard's drag mark, the circular scrape of a rhino midden. The afternoon drive looks for wild dog, which den in the area during the winter months. Dinner is followed by stargazing with a laser pointer and your guide.
Your last full day is spent on game drives and slow afternoons at the lodge. Ask your ranger to set up a bush breakfast, or spend an hour in the photographic hide by the waterhole. The farewell evening ends with sundowners on an open plain and a private dinner on your deck.
Enjoy a final dawn game drive and a hearty breakfast before your transfer back to Hoedspruit. Flights connect easily to Johannesburg, Cape Town or Victoria Falls.
Where you'll be
Your Safari Route
Thornybush Nature Reserve, Greater Kruger
Where you'll stay
Your Lodge
Thornybush Game Lodge
Thornybush Nature Reserve, Greater Kruger
The fine print
What's Included
Included
5 nights in a luxury suite
All meals, soft drinks, local spirits, beers and wines
Two shared game drives daily (maximum six guests per vehicle)
Guided walking safari
Road transfers from Hoedspruit Airport
Reserve conservation levies
Not included
Flights
Panorama Route excursion (priced on request)
Premium cellar wines and champagne
Spa treatments
Gratuities and travel insurance
From USD
$3,200
per person · all-inclusive
Duration
5 nights / 6 days
Group size
2–6 guests
Best months
April – October
What's included
5 nights in a luxury suite
All meals, soft drinks, local spirits, beers and wines
Two shared game drives daily (maximum six guests per vehicle)
No payment required · Our specialists will contact you within 24 hours
Flexible private departures
Check availability for your dates below
Plan your dates
Check Availability & Select Dates
Available
Limited spaces
Full
Your journey starts here
Ready for your African adventure?
Speak to a dedicated safari specialist who will tailor the Thornybush Premium Safari around your dates, pace and budget. No commitment, no payment upfront.
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