Freedom Without Fences

Thornybush Luxury Game Lodge Collection. A name steeped in fame, and arguably one of the country’s finest bush experiences. But, unlike most, Thornybush goes even further, and places conservation and research at the heart of their ethos. Nature conservation is one of their top priorities, and efforts are constantly being made to keep the wilderness as untouched as possible.

Thornybush Luxury Game Lodge Collection was, in 2017, in the midst of a landscape transformation process. The exciting development saw the reserve drop the fences between itself and the Timbavati Reserve, making the private area of land open to the Greater Kruger National Park. More room for animals to roam is always a good thing, and Thornybush’s game viewing has benefited too.

You might think that dropping the fences could have risked the loss of some of its wildlife, but Thornybush Collection were adamant that it would allow for greater freedom of movement for most animal species residing in the park. The first instinct of game reserves, historically, has been to keep their precious resources contained, where dangers in the form of human- animal conflict, poaching, and modern development can be managed. Yet animals do not follow the same migration patterns – they go where the food is, where the water flows and where there are wide open spaces to hunt or graze. Now that the fences have dropped, tourists can enjoy the full-blown diversity of a large reserve such as Kruger, combined with the luxury of the intimate safari experiences offered by Thornybush Luxury Game Lodge Collection.

Thornybush has become a visitor’s paradise and offers guests the privilege of experiencing utterly unspoilt nature. Thornybush Luxury Game Lodge Collection consists of 13 commercial lodges and is even home to South Africa’s second-oldest commercial lodge. The Thornybush Game Lodge, like most lodges in Thornybush, was designed to blend into the surroundings. Pathways, lined by an abundance of diverse trees and manicured gardens, take guests to their luxurious rooms, all of which have panoramic views with the ever-present chance of the occasional animal wondering by. Game rangers are required to walk guests to their rooms at night, just in case a wild animal or two happen to wander through the camp.

A collection as diverse as Thornybush has the benefit of offering something for every type of traveller. Lovers of the bush can look forward to not only spotting the Big Five, but also the stunning diversity of the reserves flora and fauna. All of the rangers on the reserve are trained and knowledgeable on each and every animal species found on the reserve. One of the many benefits of visiting Thornybush is that the land is private, and so what the locals know as bundu bashing(offroading through the land) is totally allowed – meaning that rangers can get guests even closer to the animals.

Personally, I tend to sway towards the less adventurous side of a lodge experience, and I revel in the cuisine and spa elements available at five-star establishments. But even I had to admit, after an exciting gamedrive, my favourite thing to do was climb into my bath tub and settle in for a night of pampering, with the sounds of the bush echoing around me.

For more info, visit www.thornybush.co.za and see what magic awaits you in the heart of the South African wilderness.