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The River Lodge at Thornybush

5.0 star property
Unwind by the pool or take in breathtaking views from The River Lodge Kitchen’s garden setting. Discover your perfect escape with luxurious amenities.

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Escape to The River Lodge at Thornybush, where luxury and nature blend seamlessly. Enjoy a full breakfast, unwind by the outdoor pool or explore the garden and library. With in-room WiFi, dry cleaning services, barbecue grills, a 24-hour front desk and valet parking available.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant
  • Air-conditioning

About the area

Thornybush Game Reserve is home to The River Lodge at Thornybush. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve and Selati 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. Visit our Thornybush Game Reserve travel guide
View more Lodges in Thornybush Game Reserve
Map
Road D1771, Orpen Road, Thornybush Game Reserve, Hoedspruit, Limpopo, 1380

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 on-site restaurant, The River Lodge Kitchen, offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and 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 such as:
  • An outdoor pool
  • Free self-parking and valet parking
  • A round-trip airport shuttle (surcharge), tour/ticket information and barbecues
  • Wedding services, a TV in reception and concierge services
Room features
All guest rooms are individually furnished, and offer comforts, such as private plunge pools and fireplaces, as well as thoughtful touches, such as premium bedding and laptop-friendly workspaces.
Extra conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Rainfall showers, designer toiletries and deep-soaking baths
  • Decks/patios, wardrobes/cupboards and separate sitting areas

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Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transport

  • Return airport shuttle (surcharge) from 10 AM to 3 PM on request
  • Free self parking on site
  • Free valet parking on site
  • Limited on-site valet and self parking

Food and drink

  • Free full breakfast available daily 7 AM to 11 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 plunge pool
  • Snack bar/deli

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Laundry facilities

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Turndown service
  • Wedding services

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • No lift

More

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

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Egyptian cotton sheets

Bathroom

  • Deep soaking bathtub
  • Designer toiletries
  • Dressing gowns
  • Hair dryer
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Separate bathtub and shower
  • Slippers
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Private plunge pool

Food and drink

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

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 and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Contactless check-out

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; your host will greet you
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 any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Cots (infant beds) are not available

Payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • 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 any lifts
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 organisation.

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?

Checkout 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 within 9 miles (15 km) of Mafunyani Cultural Village, Ehlanzeni Collage and Tintswalo Hospital. Acornhoek Plaza and Timbavati Private Nature Reserve are also within 12 miles (20 km).

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Reviews

The River Lodge at Thornybush Reviews

10

Exceptional

9.6

Cleanliness

8.8

Location

10

Staff & service

10

Property conditions & facilities
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

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

corey

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

Verified traveller

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

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 !!!

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.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2017

8/10 Good

I + R

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

Chong

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.

10/10 Excellent

Karen

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

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

Ruth

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

Versteckter Juwel

Die Lodge, wenn auch sehr schwierig zu finden, ist ein Traum. Alles perfekt! Das Team vor Ort ist sehr aufmerksam und zuvorkommend. Die angebotenen Safaris waren perfekt organisiert und mit viel Liebe zum Tier und der Natur aufbereitet. Zum Sonnenuntergang gabs eine kleine Pause mit Wein und Snack. Unser Guide war sehr aufmerksam und schaffte es dass wir schon am ersten Abend drei der "big 5" aus nächster Nähe und in aller Ruhe beobachten, den restlichen 2 begegneten wir in der Morgensafari und natürlich viele, viele mehr. Erholung pur nach den Safaris im eigenem Pool und mit Blick auf vorbeiziehende Elefanten. Gnus, Affen und Impalas sind ständige Gäste an der Lodge. Das Essen, vor allem das Frühstück war abwechslungsreich und sehr landestypisch-lecker. Schade, 2 Tage waren einfach zu kurz

10/10 Excellent

Alex

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.

10/10 Excellent

Sandra

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