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Punyabrata
Visited:
December 2006
Reviewed: Apr 18, 2015
The lodge is simply outstanding with the room overlooking a water hole. The sightings of smaller game coming to the waterhole while having a shower is, I suppose "exclusive"....
Got the big five, including the sight of a leopard jumping from one tree to another as well as a baby elephant rubbing its forehead on the side of the open land rover, right where I was sitting!!!!
The meals were great and the price was extremely reasonable. The tracker was exceptional....
The lodge also organizes walks and that is where the tracker explains the differences between the pug marks of a lion and a leopard.
Valentina
Visited:
August 2014
Reviewed: Apr 17, 2015
wolltd
Visited:
August 2010
Reviewed: Jul 13, 2012
This isn't the Bronx Zoo!
When my wife and I visited Thornybush, we felt like we were part of a small family on an adventure. We were in a lodge with 3 other couples, and the staff made us all feel like visitors in their home. The guide was terrific and we had a blast riding in the jeep looking for and finding many different animals in our short stay. The guide and tracker were very patient, resulting in many great sightings in two days, including lionesses and their kill, and some very young cheetah cubs, as well as the rest of the Big 5. The meals and the food were home made and all excellent. We would return to Thornybush in a heartbeat! It was the trip of a lifetime.
Don
US
Visited:
August 2010
Reviewed: May 27, 2012
Email Don | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent mix of pamper and excitement
The "tents" were awesome! I would pick this over the top of the ANA hotel in Tokyo any day of the week. Bed was good, bathroom was crazy nice and the tub was one of these baths that overlooked the scenery. Just like in the movies.
Our guides did a great job of tracking and finding animals in their native environment. During the day, we found the lions sleeping peacefully on the hillside. They looked so cool and you could hear them breathing, you just wanted to rest your head on their bellies and give them a great scratch......and then in the night tour! We caught them in the act of feeding. It was stunning, natural, scary, ALIVE! I caught an awesome video of it all and posted it on YouTube, just search for Thornybush lion kill.
FOOD was good and there was a great
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variety.We drove through the forests to Phalaborwa, spent the night and played golf at the Hans Merenski where I was able to play around the giraffes, literally.
But I promise you, take the time to get to Thorneybush. It's a totally different experience.
I would have brought a better coat. It was warm in the day and chilly at night.
I would also have added another day to spend at the lodge.
If I was to improve the experience, I would suggest everyone gets a keepsake, something native and simple to remind them of their visit. Our guide showed me how to weave a rope with the native grass, which was cool, but I forgot to bring it home. The Americans would probably have confiscated it anyway.
Don't try to bring home biltong, they will ask at the airport in the US.
DO try some, it's fabulous.
zboub75
CH
Visited:
March 2008
Reviewed: May 3, 2012
35-50 years of age
Perfect honey moon destination !
Awsome trip:
- great wildlife - we saw 3 cheetah eating a baby kudo, we were like at 5 meters from them, we would hear the noise of the bones being crashed...
- our car had an issue - the guide turns that into a safari walk in the middle of the bush... Scary and super exciting !
- the outside bathroom is a must for honeymoon, specially when some impalas are crossing by...
Beware of the noise at night ... It's almost impossible to sleep due to the noise of the wild life and the wind.
But these memories stay long, it was a genuine adventure !
Goodstuff
Visited:
August 2007
Reviewed: Apr 26, 2012
Large variety of birds and animals, pretty scenery, high level of hospitality.
architectkzn
ZA
Visited:
September 2009
Reviewed: Dec 23, 2011
Email architectkzn | 35-50 years of age
Fantastic lodge, stayed here on my way to Botswana.
The game drive was fantastic, the guides great, and the wildlife specimens looked in peak condition.
mbd
FR
Visited:
April 2007
Reviewed: Apr 29, 2012
50-65 years of age
Maybe we were very unlucky to have a guide who was determined to show us yet more elephants and completely ignored the leopard I spotted because it was time to get back to camp. We don't like this attitude of rushing people from one big 5to the next as if they were the only worthwhile animals to see
Debra Younghans
CA
Visited:
February 2024
Reviewed: Mar 24, 2024
Email Debra Younghans | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wildlife viewing paled in comparison to Timbavati Nature Reserve. The vibe at the lodge was good but not exceptional like Kambaku.