This 13,816-hectare reserve is a collaboration between 12 lodges (the number keeps going up every year), with a focus on high-end comforts and excellent game drives. As with all of the private reserves, it's big on conservation and community projects. All of the lodges can be contacted through the Thornybush website.
Thornybush Private Game Reserve
Kruger National Park
Contact
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve
28.64 MILES
This stunning 260-sq-km reserve centres on the 30km-long Blyde River Canyon, where epic rock formations tower above the forested slopes and eagle-eye…
28.71 MILES
The area's highlight, with a staggering view of these enormous rounds of rock, their pointed, grassy tops resembling giant huts carved into the side of…
9.63 MILES
With four luxury lodges and the Big Five in residence (as well as occasional passing wild dogs and great birding), 13,000-hectare Kapama gets all of the…
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
10.37 MILES
Timbavati abuts Kruger National Park's western boundary and has an excellent mix of wildlife, conservation and good accommodation. Its accommodation…
28.7 MILES
Affords stunning views up the canyon, to the glistening Blydepoort Dam at the far end surrounded by forested slopes. The rocky cones of the Three…
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Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre
12.63 MILES
A few clicks south of Hoedspruit along the R40 and attached to the Kapama Private Game Reserve, the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre was set up to…
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22.29 MILES
This overlooks a section of the Timbavati River that animals often visit to slake their thirst. It's especially good early morning or late afternoon.
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Klaserie Private Nature Reserve
11.84 MILES
A 600-sq-km (or 60,000 hectare) private wildlife reserve in the greater Kruger area, Klaserie has strong conservation credentials.
Nearby Kruger National Park attractions
1. Kapama Private Game Reserve
9.63 MILES
With four luxury lodges and the Big Five in residence (as well as occasional passing wild dogs and great birding), 13,000-hectare Kapama gets all of the…
2. Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
10.37 MILES
Timbavati abuts Kruger National Park's western boundary and has an excellent mix of wildlife, conservation and good accommodation. Its accommodation…
3. Klaserie Private Nature Reserve
11.84 MILES
A 600-sq-km (or 60,000 hectare) private wildlife reserve in the greater Kruger area, Klaserie has strong conservation credentials.
4. Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre
12.63 MILES
A few clicks south of Hoedspruit along the R40 and attached to the Kapama Private Game Reserve, the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre was set up to…
18.62 MILES
During the apartheid era, the 23,000-hectare Manyeleti was the only wildlife reserve that blacks were permitted to visit. Due to its unfenced boundary…
22.29 MILES
This overlooks a section of the Timbavati River that animals often visit to slake their thirst. It's especially good early morning or late afternoon.
7. Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve
28.64 MILES
This stunning 260-sq-km reserve centres on the 30km-long Blyde River Canyon, where epic rock formations tower above the forested slopes and eagle-eye…
28.7 MILES
Affords stunning views up the canyon, to the glistening Blydepoort Dam at the far end surrounded by forested slopes. The rocky cones of the Three…