Monwana Game Lodge
Hoedspruit
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Inside park
Where to stay in and near Thornybush Game Reserve
Exclusive safari experience
Limpopo, South Africa
Big Five
About Thornybush Game Reserve
Thornybush is a Big Five reserve on the western edge of the Greater Kruger near Hoedspruit, unfenced to the Timbavati and through it to Kruger itself. It is lodge-only, with guided drives that can go off-road and after dark, and it offers close sightings of the Greater Kruger's animals, including some well-known leopards, in a reserve small enough to be well covered in a stay. It is inside the malaria area and reached by road from Hoedspruit or flight to the town's airport.
Things to do: Game drives · Safaris · Spa · Guided walk
Where you can stay: Luxury lodges · All-inclusive
Wildlife near Thornybush Game Reserve
What people record most across Limpopo. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across Limpopo, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Stay in & near Thornybush Game Reserve
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
Monwana Villa
Hoedspruit
Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Inside park
When to visit Thornybush Game Reserve
Most of the rain at Thornybush Game Reserve falls from November to February, peaking in January at about 127 mm. The dry season runs from May to August, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 30°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 12°C.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 127 | 30 | 21 |
| February | 95 | 30 | 21 |
| March | 56 | 30 | 20 |
| April | 32 | 27 | 17 |
| May | 10 | 27 | 14 |
| June | 4 | 25 | 12 |
| July | 5 | 24 | 12 |
| August | 6 | 26 | 14 |
| September | 20 | 28 | 16 |
| October | 31 | 28 | 17 |
| November | 67 | 29 | 19 |
| December | 116 | 30 | 20 |
Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 523 m above sea level. Weather data from Open-Meteo.com (opens in a new tab) (ERA5), CC BY 4.0.
Getting there
2 stays we sell in Thornybush Game Reserve. Tap a pin for the listing.
24.4775° S, 31.1563° E800 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Thornybush Game Reserve wild
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
- Built into every booking
- A conservation share
- Where it goes
- Local causes & communities
Thornybush Game Reserve: your questions
Where is Thornybush Game Reserve?
Thornybush Game Reserve is in Limpopo, South Africa.
Does Thornybush Game Reserve have the Big Five?
Yes. Thornybush Game Reserve is a Big Five area, home to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
What wildlife can you see near Thornybush Game Reserve?
In Limpopo, commonly recorded species include animals such as Sharpe's Grysbok, Tsessebe, Roan Antelope, Lichtenstein's Hartebeest and birds including Tropical Boubou, Racket-tailed Roller, Black-fronted Bushshrike, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
When is the rainy season at Thornybush Game Reserve?
Most of the rain at Thornybush Game Reserve falls from November to February, peaking in January at about 127 mm. The dry season runs from May to August, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 30°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 12°C. Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 523 m above sea level.
When is the best time to visit Thornybush Game Reserve?
The best time to visit Thornybush Game Reserve is May-Sep (dry season).
What is there to do at Thornybush Game Reserve?
Popular activities at Thornybush Game Reserve include game drives, safaris, spa, guided walk.
Where can you stay in Thornybush Game Reserve?
Places to stay inside Thornybush Game Reserve include Monwana Game Lodge and Monwana Villa. Request them on Spekboom and pay once your dates are confirmed. Every booking funds conservation.
Parks near Thornybush Game Reserve
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Limpopo, South Africa
Timbavati Private Nature ReservePrivate Game Reserve · 21 km
Private nature reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park, known for its white lions and exceptional game viewing.
Big Five
Manyeleti Game Reserve
Mpumalanga, South Africa
Manyeleti Game ReserveGame Reserve · 42 km
A community-owned Big Five reserve open to Kruger
Big Five
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Mpumalanga, South Africa
Sabi Sand Game ReservePrivate Game Reserve · 52 km
Prestigious private game reserve sharing unfenced borders with Kruger National Park.
Big Five
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Thornybush Game Reserve.
Big Five parks and reservesPrivate game reservesNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in LimpopoAll protected areas
