KwaMbili Game Lodge

KwaMbili Game Lodge is a small, family-friendly lodge in the Thornybush Private Game Reserve near Hoedspruit, a roughly 14,500-hectare private reserve entered via the Thornybush Gate and adjoining the Greater Kruger. The lodge is unfenced, so wildlife moves freely through the grounds, and it has its own dam and a hide overlooking a small waterhole.

Accommodation is in Meru-style safari tents and thatched chalets with en-suite bathrooms, mosquito nets, patios and tea and coffee facilities; chalets have air-conditioning while the tents have fans and open-air showers. There is a swimming pool with deck chairs overlooking the waterhole, a bar, a terrace and an observation platform.

Safari activities are open-vehicle game drives at dawn and dusk, with sundowners, night drives and guided bush walks, with two shared activities included daily; leopard and lion sightings are a highlight of the reserve. Meals are traditional bush cuisine with dinner in the boma around a campfire, and day trips to the Kruger and the Blyde River Canyon area can be arranged. Room count and children's age policies vary between sources, so confirm both directly with the lodge.