Save

The River Lodge at Thornybush

5.0 star property
Luxury lodge with free breakfast and free valet parking

Choose dates to view prices

your current months are April, 2024 and May, 2024.
April 2024
May 2024

The River Lodge at Thornybush

Photo gallery for The River Lodge at Thornybush

Interior
Honeymoon Suite
Honeymoon Suite
Free daily full breakfast
Honeymoon Suite | Bathroom

Overview of The River Lodge at Thornybush

Reviews
9.8

Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast included
  • Pool
  • Parking included
  • Laundry
  • Housekeeping
  • Room service

Check out the area

Road D1771, Orpen Road, Thornybush Game Reserve, Hoedspruit, Limpopo, 1380
  • Popular LocationGreater Kruger National Park1 min walk
  • Popular LocationMafunyani Cultural Village28 min drive
  • AirportHoedspruit (HDS)86 min drive
  • AirportUlusaba (ULX)94 min drive
Mod logo
Sign in to view eligible discounts and perks. More rewards for more adventures!

Room options

Similar properties

About the area

Thornybush Game Reserve

The River Lodge at Thornybush is located in Thornybush Game Reserve. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Greater Kruger National Park and Andover Nature Reserve, while Mafunyani Cultural Village and Nyani Cultural Village are cultural highlights. Discover the area's wildlife on a nearby safari, or try your luck with game drives and game viewing.

What's nearby

  • Mafunyani Cultural Village - 28 min drive
  • Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre - 39 min drive
  • Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre - 52 min drive
  • Orpen Gate - 52 min drive
  • Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate - 58 min drive

Getting around

  • Hoedspruit (HDS) - 86 min drive

About this property

The River Lodge at Thornybush

Luxury lodge
At The River Lodge at Thornybush, you can look forward to free full breakfast, a terrace, and a garden. The onsite restaurant, The River Lodge Kitchen, features garden views. In addition to a library and dry cleaning/laundry services, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
You'll also find perks like:
  • An outdoor pool
  • Free self parking and valet parking
  • A roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge), a TV in the lobby, and wedding services
  • Barbecue grills, a 24-hour front desk, and concierge services
Room features
All guestrooms are individually furnished, and boast comforts such as private plunge pools and fireplaces, as well as thoughtful touches like premium bedding and laptop-friendly workspaces.
Extra conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Rainfall showers, designer toiletries, and deep soaking tubs
  • Decks/patios, wardrobes/closets, and separate sitting areas

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge) from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on request
  • Free self parking on site
  • Free valet parking on site

Food and drink

  • Free full breakfast available daily 7:00 AM–11:00 AM
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant
  • Snack bar/deli

Restaurants on site

  • The River Lodge Kitchen

Things to do

  • Library
  • Outdoor pool
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • In-room refrigerator
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Private in-room plunge pool
  • Snack bar/deli

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Laundry facilities

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Turndown service
  • Wedding services

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • No elevator

More

  • 1 floor
  • 8 buildings
  • Built in 2006
  • Colonial architecture
  • Designated smoking areas

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Egyptian-cotton sheets

Bathroom

  • Bathrobes
  • Deep soaking bathtub
  • Designer toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Separate bathtub and shower
  • Slippers
  • Towels

Entertainment

  • Private plunge pool

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Free stocked minibar
  • Refrigerator
  • Room service

Outdoor space

  • Deck/patio

More

  • Access via exterior corridors
  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Fireplace
  • Heating
  • Individual decor
  • Individual furnishings
  • Laptop workspace
  • Phone
  • Safe
  • Separate sitting area

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 8:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
For more details, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • Destination fee: ZAR 495 per person, per night

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

This property's mandatory destination/conservation and tourism fees are collected in advance of arrival to ensure access to the property.

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: ZAR 600 per person (one-way)
  • Airport shuttle fee per child: ZAR 600 (one-way), (from 1 to 8 years old)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property

National rating

Quality Graded by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) – South Africa's official quality assurance organization.

Property is also known as

River Lodge Thornybush
River Lodge Thornybush Hoedspruit
River Thornybush
River Thornybush Hoedspruit
Thornybush River Lodge
The River At Thornybush
The River Lodge at Thornybush Lodge
The River Lodge at Thornybush Hoedspruit
The River Lodge at Thornybush Lodge Hoedspruit

Frequently asked questions

Does The River Lodge at Thornybush have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is The River Lodge at Thornybush pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at The River Lodge at Thornybush?

Self parking and valet parking are free at this property.

What time is check-in at The River Lodge at Thornybush?

Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 8:00 PM. After-hours check-in is not available.

What time is check-out at The River Lodge at Thornybush?

Check-out is at 10 AM.

Does The River Lodge at Thornybush provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs 10 AM–3 PM on request. A fee of ZAR 600 per person applies.

Where is The River Lodge at Thornybush located?

Situated in Thornybush Game Reserve, this luxury lodge is 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Greater Kruger National Park and within 12 mi (20 km) of Mafunyani Cultural Village and Andover Nature Reserve. Kruger National Park and Nyani Cultural Village are also within 25 mi (40 km).

The River Lodge at Thornybush Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 10 out of 11 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 11 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 11 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 11 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 11 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

9.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Business traveller, Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We stayed at River Lodge in May 2019 ( Royal suite). Very comfortable spacious accommodations with mix of XIX century and modern styles. Staff is professional: respectful of the guests privacy and available to assist when needed. There are only 6 suits and, therefore, just a few guests around; so you’d get to enjoy the nature unaffected by human noise. Chefs: Anna and Nomi were excellent and their cooking was very enjoyable. Ranger team ( Darryn and Abed) were always able to find an exciting scene for us. We had two games every day and they were never old or repetitive. Saw all big 5 within 2 days. There is no 24h room service; so if you think you might need something at night( we were quite affected by the jet lag), make sure to ask in advance. In the evening Anna always left us an early (4am) snack for us to enjoy before 6am game. Mornings are chilly in May ; so bring a warm hat:) there was a pool , but we were way more excited to see an elegant drinking from it than swim ourselves. How to get there: Lodge will pick you up from Hoedspruit airport( about40min drive). Highly recommend. Lovely place.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Sheila, Charlotte

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
There are no words....
...that do this "experience" justice! I love to travel and have been blessed to be able to do so, but this, BY FAR was the most treasured experience of my 54 year old life! The Service was impeccable starting off with their beautiful greeting, the tour of the accommodations all the way to your warm loving send off- Truly people who love what they do and are anxious to share their love for Kruger Natational Park and South Africa. The culinary master pieces Thulani and Anna delivered were something to look forward to every day. We started asking for our favorites and they eagerly wanted to deliver excellence on anything we asked for. The Malva Pudding was my personal favorite but everything I had at The River Lodge @ Thornybush was Top Shelf! Safaris w/ Roux and Jeremy will be treasured forever. What I found amazingly different about this daily activity is that even though we did this up to twice a day I looked forward to it as if it were the first time-they worked hard and made sure each outing stood on its own to be unique with a touch of the divine.
Lovely people
Yes we were that close!
Chow time!
Wrinkles are beautiful!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2017

10/10 Excellent

corey, ogunquit, me

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Outstanding hotel and staff. Safari+++
The staff and accommodation a were great! Huge private villa with your own deep patio pool. 2 game drives per day that were top notch. It was pricier than other options, but we were extremely happy that we chose this option.

10/10 Excellent

Karen, Hong kong

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great staff, location and game drives
Fantastic rooms, warm pool and beautiful outlook

10/10 Excellent

Nicky, Auckland, NZ

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Safari experience deluxe
We were blown away by the safari adventure, food, scenery and friendly knowledgeable staff at the River Lodge @ Thornybush. We saw most of the big 5 in our first game drive! This cosy and personal lodge will not disappoint

10/10 Excellent

Alex, Kansas City, MO, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Amazing experience in a super-friendly atmosphere
We had an amazing time at the Riverlodge. The accomodation was very clean and well-maintained, the rooms were luxurious and elegant and the overall atmosphere verycomforting and relaxing. The game drives very well-organized and diverse - we saw all big 5 animals on our 4 excursions, but we also spend time looking at and learning about the smaller things: insects, birds, vegatation, which was very interesting. My favorite thing were the meals, though: we sat together with our hosts and shared stories about the park, the animals and also South Africa in general. It was very much like a family setting, very comfortable, inviting and also fun. I definitely recommend this place and already want to go back. One thing to note: we called in advance about airport pick-up from Hoedspruit airport and must have reached a wrong number via our expedia booking confirmation. We were told that there is no pick-up and we had to rent a rental car from the airport, which is not true: the lodge can offer pick-up and I recommend contacting the correct number on their website to arrange it.
Lodge with pool. Park right in the backyard

10/10 Excellent

Isabela

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Exelente !!!!
gostaria de dizer sobre a minha excelente estadia no hotel, foi tudo maravilhoso , muito melhor do que eu poderia imaginar ! Hotel lindo com uma linda vista , nosso quarto era excelente , grande e com tudo que precisávamos para uma excelente estadia , com muitos animais, inclusive elefantes passando na frente para nos fazer uma visita ! Gostaríamos de agradecer ao excelente atendimento de todos do hotel , toda equipe foi oque fez nossa estadia ser ainda melhor . Os safáris foram muito bom Com nosso Rager Stanley nos explicando e tirando todas as dúvidas que tínhamos ! Obrigada a todos por tornar nossa lua de mel ainda mais inesquecível !!!

8/10 Good

I + R, Österreich

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Direkt im Park mit viel Komfort uv
Die Anfahrt muss neu erklärt werden, sonst kein Ankommen möglich; Bungalows riesig, aber nicht besonders sauber, Christin kocht für alle (Max. 8 Gäste) täglich frisch, aber nicht abwechslungsreich, gemütliches Beisammensein nach den Drives an einem gemeinsamen Tisch, super! Wasser kommt aus dem nahe gelegenen Fluss direkt aus dem Grundwasser (Achtung, darauf weist niemand hin).

10/10 Excellent

Sandra

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

10/10 Excellent

Chong, Voorburg

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Place to go for game drives in private setting
With only 4 rooms max 8 people this private game resort is the place to go if you really want to enjoy luxury at your own pace and to your own like. The setting of this lodge is perfect, you really enjoy safari as it should be with almost all the animals passing through right at your door step! With their highly dedicated serviced minded friendly staff making your stay to something you will never forget. Game drives are perfectly tuned to your wishes and everything possibly is done to make your wishes come through by their highly professional and passioned rangers.