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First-hand Stay
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Best air links are Hoedspruit HDS airport followed by a ~45 drive, or KMIA MQP airport followed by a ~3 hrs drive, many guests also fly Federal Air or private charter to the Thornybush airstrip then ~5–10 min game-viewer transfer to the lodge, self-drive from Johannesburg ~5–6 hrs.
All rooms with indoor bath and shower plus outdoor shower, air-conditioning and private deck. Guests often ask for suites closest to the sandy riverbed for the best from-the-bath wildlife watching.
Boma or à la carte dinners and occasional bush banquets, harvest-table lunches on the deck with elephants drifting past, breakfasts after game drive, kitchen led by long-time Head Chef Solly Mangena, signatures include his slow-braised oxtail stew and bright Ottolenghi-style salads, vegan and lighter options handled with ease.
Neutral layers for crisp winter dawns, a light windbreaker, hat and high-SPF, comfortable closed shoes for walks, swimsuit for the pool and spa, and a soft duffel if you are chartering light aircraft.
Ask the team to set a lantern-lit riverbed dinner on a clear night, book one gentle post-brunch bush walk to read tracks along the Monwana, and if you like kitchen stories request Chef Solly’s oxtail stew and an Ottolenghi-style salad pairing one evening.
Your stay supports Thornybush Community projects in nearby villages, from school partnerships and enterprise hubs to Wild Shots Outreach for youth photographers, while the reserve invests in habitat management and anti-poaching. Thornybush is a Long Run member and operates plastic-free with daytime solar at lodges.
