Blog - Shimungwe Lodge

The Biggest Mistakes People Make on Their First Safari (And How to Avoid Them)

Emily Whiting — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0200

While every stay is different, there are a handful of common mistakes that can shape how much people get out of their time in the bush. Most of them are simple, and easily avoided with a little insight before you travel.
This isn’t about getting everything “right.” A safari isn’t that kind of experience. It’s about setting realistic expectations, giving yourself the time and space to enjoy it properly, and understanding what really makes it special. In this blog, we look at some of the most common first-time safari mistakes – and a few thoughts on how to avoid them.

1. Not Researching Your Safari Location Properly

One of the most common mistakes first-time safari travellers make is assuming all safari destinations offer a similar experience. In reality, location shapes everything – from the quality of wildlife sightings to how your days unfold. It’s easy to be drawn to beautiful lodge images, but where that lodge sits matters far more. Not all reserves are equal; some fenced reserves don’t host the full Big Five, while others offer very limited chances of seeing certain key species, like lions or leopards. In South Africa, the difference between a national park and a private reserve can also be significant. In places like Thornybush, part of the Greater Kruger, you benefit from guided drives, off-road tracking, and a more intimate experience with fewer vehicles at sightings.

Other factors such as the size of the area, the density and behaviour of wildlife, and the experience of the guiding team all play an important role in what you will see and how you experience it. A well-located lodge, supported by an experienced guide and tracker team, will consistently offer a deeper, more rewarding safari. Prioritise location first, and you set the foundation for everything that follows.

2. Focusing Only on the Big Five

It’s completely understandable. The Big Five are what draw many people to safari in the first place, and seeing them in the wild is something special. The problem comes when the experience becomes centred around ticking them off a list.

When that happens, it’s easy to overlook everything else that makes a safari so rewarding. A family of mongooses grooming and playing while hornbills keep watch can be just as captivating – if not more so – than a pride of sleeping lions. The same goes for watching wild dogs on the move or spending time with giraffes as they browse quietly amongst the trees. Shifting your focus from ticking off animals to taking in the full experience often leads to a far more enjoyable and memorable safari.

3. Expecting a Safari to Be Like a Documentary

For many first-time travellers, their expectations of safari are shaped by documentaries. Lions hunting on cue, leopards perfectly positioned in trees, and constant action from start to finish. What’s easy to forget is that these scenes are often filmed over many months – sometimes even years – to capture those moments.
In reality, a safari unfolds at its own pace. You might spend time tracking an animal before finding it – a thrill in itself – or sit quietly listening and observing behaviour rather than moving from one animal to the next. Some drives are action-packed, others more subtle – allowing your guides to point out the smaller, equally fascinating species that form part of this intricate ecosystem. Never knowing what is around the next corner is part of what makes it so special.

4. Not Allowing Enough Time for Your Safari

One of the most common planning mistakes is trying to fit a safari into too short a timeframe. It’s understandable, especially when combining multiple destinations, but it can leave the experience feeling rushed. A safari builds over time. Each game drive adds to the last, guides begin to piece together animal movements, and you start to settle into being in the bush rather than simply passing through it.

At Shimungwe, you might spend more than half an hour sitting with a herd of elephants as they swim and play in a dam, watching every movement unfold. These are often the moments guests remember most, but they require time and patience. When you only have a night or two, there’s a tendency to move quickly from one sighting to the next, and less opportunity to enjoy the lodge itself. We typically recommend three nights or more to allow you to experience both the wildlife and your surroundings properly, without feeling like you need to rush through it.

5. Packing Incorrectly for Your Safari

Packing for a safari is often simpler than people expect, yet it’s an area where small mistakes can make a noticeable difference to your comfort. Overpacking is common – most lodges, including Shimungwe, offer laundry services, so there’s no need to bring large amounts of clothing. It’s far more important to pack appropriately for the season.

Early mornings and evenings can be surprisingly cool in winter, while summer brings heat and the possibility of rain. Lightweight layers, a warm jacket, and a simple raincoat will cover most situations. A few small items also go a long way: a hat and sunscreen for the sun, binoculars if you have them, and spare camera batteries so you don’t miss a moment.

6. Not Asking the Right Questions Before You Book

It’s easy to focus on photos and price when choosing a safari lodge, but the finer details often have the biggest impact on your experience. Not all lodges operate in the same way, and asking the right questions beforehand can make a significant difference to what your time in the bush actually feels like.

Things like the experience of the guides, whether there is a dedicated tracker on each vehicle, the size of the traverse, and how many vehicles are allowed at a sighting all shape the quality of a safari. Smaller lodges with fewer guests often offer a more personal, flexible experience, while larger operations can feel busier and more structured. Taking the time to look a little deeper helps ensure that what you book matches the kind of safari you’re hoping for.

7. Trying to Cut Costs in the Wrong Places

A safari is a significant investment, so it’s natural to look for ways to manage costs. The key is understanding where savings are worthwhile, and where they can change the experience more than expected. One of the biggest trade-offs is between staying inside a reserve on a fully guided safari and choosing more budget-friendly options such as self-driving, or staying outside and booking a day trip in.

While these can reduce costs, they come with compromises. Guides are not simply drivers – they’re there to impart years of knowledge and expertise, and often know the best places to look. When staying outside the reserve, you also miss the experience of being fully immersed in the bush – hearing lions at night or watching wildlife move through camp – whilst travelling in and out cuts into the early morning and late afternoon hours when animals are most active. In contrast, a guided stay within a reserve allows you to make the most of these key periods and enjoy a far more complete safari experience.

8. Underestimating Travel Distances in South Africa

South Africa is a large country, and distances between key destinations are often underestimated. The journey from Johannesburg to the Kruger region is roughly a six-hour drive, while a domestic flight takes only 45 minutes. Choosing the right option can make a significant difference to how much time you actually spend on safari. For many people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so it’s worth planning carefully. Minimising travel time where possible allows you to spend more time in the bush, making the most of every game drive and every moment of the experience.

A first safari is something people remember for the rest of their lives, and a little preparation goes a long way in shaping that experience. Most of these mistakes come down to expectations – trying to do too much, too quickly, or not fully understanding how a safari works. With the right approach, enough time, and a well-chosen location, what begins as a trip quickly becomes something far more memorable.

What Does Shimungwe Mean? | The Story Behind Our Lodge's Name | Shimungwe Lodge

Grant — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0200

In Africa, names are rarely accidental. A river is named for the sound it makes in flood. A mountain carries the word the local people used to describe its shadow at dusk. A place, if it is named well, tells you something true about itself before you have even arrived. Shimungwe Lodge is no different. Behind its name lies a story — one that began not in a boardroom or a branding meeting, but on a game drive in the Thornybush Game Reserve, with a question asked of a ranger who had spent his life reading this particular stretch of bush.

The Story Behind the Name Shimungwe

When my wife, Shirley, and I began to design and build what would become Shimungwe Lodge, the question of a name was one we returned to again and again across multiple site visits. It mattered to us. A name, we felt, should be earned by a place — rooted in its landscape, its language, its particular character.

Personally, I was drawn instinctively toward the indigenous. I wanted a name emanating from the local languages of the land itself — words like Shumba (meaning lion), Ingwe (meaning leopard) or Ndlovu (meaning elephant), each one carrying the rhythm of the African bush. Shirley's instincts led her somewhere different. She was captivated by the birds — the turacos moving like jewels through the canopy, the hornbills with their improbable silhouettes, the sunbirds catching the light on a still morning. Between us, we had an ongoing conversation that many couples planning something meaningful will recognise: two clear visions, each searching for the point at which they might meet.

The answer came, as the best answers in the bush often do, without warning.

On a game drive one afternoon, a Bateleur eagle crossed the sky above us — that unmistakable shape, the absurdly short tail, the rocking, tilting flight that seems to defy the usual logic of birds in motion. I turned to our ranger, Lucan, — the same Lucan who still guides at Shimungwe today, with over twenty years of knowledge of this reserve woven into everything he does — and asked him: what do the Shangaan people call this bird?

Lucan answered without hesitation. *Shimungwe.*

In that single word, both visions found each other. An indigenous name, rooted in the language of the people who have lived alongside this landscape for generations. And a bird — vivid, distinctive, majestic and utterly of this place.

The lodge had its name.

What Does "Shimungwe" Mean?

Shimungwe is a Shangaan word — the language of the communities local to the Thornybush and Greater Kruger region of South Africa — and it means Bateleur eagle.

The traditional Shangaan spelling is *Ximungwe*, but Lucan, Shirley and I chose to spell it *Shimungwe* to help guests with its pronunciation. It is spoken as it looks: *Shi-mun-gwe* — three syllables, unhurried, with the authenticity of something that belongs to the land.

The Bateleur Eagle: A Bird of Character

To understand the name Shimungwe is to spend a moment with the bird itself — because the Bateleur is not easily forgotten.

It is, first of all, a bird of extraordinary appearance. Adults wear a striking combination of jet black, rich chestnut and vivid scarlet — the face and feet burning bright against darker plumage, the contrast sharp enough to identify at considerable distance. The tail is so short it seems almost an afterthought, giving the bird a silhouette unlike any other raptor in the African sky. Juveniles are a study in patience — born brown, with longer tails, they spend years slowly transforming into the colours of the adult, a process that takes the better part of a decade.

But it is the flight that truly sets the Bateleur apart. Where other birds of prey command the sky with steady, purposeful soaring, the Bateleur rocks and tilts as it travels — a constant, fluid balancing act that gives it the look of something between mastery and improvisation. It is this motion that gave the bird its French name: *Bateleur*, meaning tightrope walker. To watch one banking low over the savanna, wings outstretched, body swaying gently with the invisible currents of warm air, is to understand entirely why the Shangaan people gave it a name worth remembering.

The Bateleur ranges widely across sub-Saharan Africa and is a regular and welcome presence in the skies above Thornybush Game Reserve and the Greater Kruger. Guests on game drives at Shimungwe still see it today — which means the name of the lodge is not simply a nod to history, but a living connection, renewed each time that distinctive silhouette passes overhead.

A Name Rooted in Thornybush

Shimungwe Lodge sits within the Thornybush Game Reserve, one of the most celebrated private game reserves in the Greater Kruger National Park region of South Africa. It is a landscape of riverine woodland and open savanna, home to the Big Five and to an extraordinary diversity of birdlife that has made the reserve an outstanding destination for wildlife enthusiasts.

The lodge occupies an elevated position above the often dry Timbavati riverbed — a vantage point we chose for its views, its seclusion and its sense of being genuinely held by the trees. With just four luxury safari suites, Shimungwe offers an intimate experience that feels closer to a privately owned home than a conventional hotel. The team — including Lucan, the ranger whose single word gave the lodge its name — brings a depth of local knowledge and personal connection to every stay.

To book accommodation at Shimungwe is, in a sense, to become part of that story: guests of a place whose name was given to it by the language of the people who know it best.

More Than a Name

There is a particular kind of place that earns its name rather than being assigned one. The result is something you feel as much as understand. Shimungwe is that kind of place. Named on a game drive in a language that has described this landscape for generations, for a bird that still crosses these skies today.

If you would like to experience Shimungwe for yourself, we would love to welcome you. Come and see if the Bateleur obliges.

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Written by Grant, owner of Shimungwe Lodge in Thornybush Game Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger ecosystem. Guests staying at Shimungwe Lodge enjoy game drives at dawn and dusk each day, where we enjoy frequent sightings of the Big Five African safari wildlife.

If you are planning a specialist safari and would like to talk through how Shimungwe could bring your vision to life, we would love to help you to plan your trip.

Gather Them in the Wild: Planning an Unforgettable Multi-Generational Family Celebration at a Luxury Safari Lodge in South Africa

Grant — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Imagine this: it's late afternoon in the Thornybush Game Reserve, and a game drive vehicle pulls to a gentle stop on a sandy road. The light is turning golden. A family — grandparents, grown-up children and grandchildren — climb down into the warm evening air. They produce a set of boule, and there, in the middle of the African wilderness, three generations spend an hour laughing, competing, and being entirely, wonderfully together.

This is how Pam celebrated her 80th birthday. Her family had travelled from cities across the country to mark the occasion at Shimungwe Lodge — and what unfolded over the course of their stay was less a holiday than a series of moments none of them will forget. Children crouched beside ranger tracks in the dust, pressing plaster moulds of lion prints to take home. Afternoons were spent in the lodge kitchen, small hands floury from baking, the smell of pizza drifting out across the deck. And on the game drives themselves, the ranger and tracker team turned the bush into a living classroom — teaching the youngest guests how to read the landscape, identify what had passed in the night, and understand the quiet intelligence of the wild.

The celebration wasn't built around a single grand gesture. It was woven into everything.

The Challenge of Getting Everyone Together

There comes a point in every family's life when the usual celebrations no longer feel quite enough. A significant birthday. A golden anniversary. A reunion of people who have grown up, moved apart, built their own lives in different cities — sometimes different countries. The desire is simple: to gather everyone in one place, to mark the occasion with something meaningful, and to create memories that will be talked about for years to come.

The difficulty, of course, is finding somewhere that genuinely works for everyone. Grandparents want comfort and calm. Parents want to relax without logistics consuming every moment. Teenagers need stimulation. Young children need wonder — and a little magic. The perfect setting doesn't just accommodate all of these needs, it actively delights in meeting them.

The African bush, it turns out, is one of the few places on earth that does exactly that.

A Setting That Works for Every Generation

There is something about wildlife and wilderness that transcends age entirely. When a leopard materialises silently from the long grass, or an elephant herd moves in slow procession along the road ahead, it's so engaging that no one worries about the age gap between the six-year-old on one side of the vehicle and the grandfather on the other. Everyone is simply present — wide-eyed, hushed, united in the same moment of wonder.

The natural rhythm of a safari day also lends itself beautifully to multi-generational travel. Early morning game drives, when the air is sharp and the animals are most active, give way to a leisurely breakfast and the long, warm hours of the African afternoon. Older guests can rest. Children can explore. Come late afternoon, the whole group gathers again for another game drive to explore what’s out there, enjoying sundowners as the light does what only African light can do. It is a structure that asks very little of anyone, and gives a great deal back.

For families seeking the best family friendly lodges in the Greater Kruger, this combination of shared experience and natural pace is a powerful draw. But the choice of lodge matters enormously — and this is where Shimungwe comes into its own.

A Home, Not a Hotel

Shimungwe Lodge was, for many years before it welcomed its first guests, a family home. It was lived in, loved and shaped by the generations who gathered within its walls and on its wide, shaded decks. That history is still present in the way the lodge feels — warm and personal, intimate rather than grand, with the easy comfort of a place that has known laughter and long meals and the particular contentment of being somewhere you truly belong.

With only four luxury guest suites, Shimungwe is ideally suited to exclusive use bookings and for family groups celebrating a milestone together, this makes all the difference. When the lodge is yours entirely, there are no other guests to work around. Game drives depart when your family is ready. Meals are served when and how you prefer. The pace, the priorities, the shape of each day — all of it is tailored for the people who matter most.

The team at Shimungwe genuinely relishes this. They are not simply hosts; they are collaborators, delighted to work with families in advance to understand what they are hoping for and to help craft an experience that feels entirely their own.

Every Celebration is Different — and That is the Point

No two groups celebrate in quite the same way — and nor should they. When Nigel marked his 70th birthday at Shimungwe, he brought his wife and three couples — close friends who had shared decades of life together. Again, exclusive use of the lodge meant the experience was entirely their own.

On one evening, the group was driven out to Flat Rock — a remarkable spot in the heart of the reserve, where the African sky opens wide above a sweep of ancient stone. There, around a campfire in the wilderness, they did something wonderfully unexpected: they wrote and performed their own songs, voices rising into the night air, laughter carrying out across the dark bush. It was spontaneous, personal, and entirely unforgettable. The kind of evening that only happens when a place is yours, and the people around you know you well enough to wallow in the joy of being together.

The Memories That Last

Planning an all-inclusive family African safari for a group is, at its heart, an act of love. It takes thought, care, and the trust that the place you choose will rise to meet the occasion. At Shimungwe — a family safari lodge in Thornybush that began as a family home — that trust is well placed.

The bush has a way of bringing people together in ways that a dinner table or a hotel ballroom simply cannot. It strips away distraction. It offers shared wonder. It creates the conditions for the kind of conversation, and the kind of quiet togetherness, that families travel the world hoping to find.

If you are beginning to plan a milestone celebration and would like to talk through how Shimungwe could make it extraordinary, we would love to hear from you. #CreatingMemories!

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What is a Big Five safari?

Emily Whiting — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0200

So, let’s dive in.

A Big Five safari simply refers to a safari that takes place in an area home to all five of Africa’s iconic animals: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. What it doesn’t mean, however, is a guarantee that you’ll see all of them. In fact, the only places that can truly “guarantee” sightings of the Big Five are small, fenced enclosures. In the wild, animals move freely - and leopards, in particular, are masters of disappearing into the shadows.

At Shimungwe, we’re fortunate to be located in Thornybush Game Reserve - part of the Greater Kruger and one of the best destinations in the world for an authentic Big Five safari. Our guide and tracker team draw on decades of experience, reading subtle signs in the bush as they search for lions, leopards and rhinos on the move. Because the wildlife here lives completely wild and free, no two game drives are ever the same. That said, the vast majority of our guests leave having seen the entire Big Five in their natural habitat - sometimes more than once.

So why are the Big Five so popular?

The answer lies in history. In the late 19th century, colonial big-game hunters coined the term “Big Five” to describe the five animals they considered the most dangerous to hunt on foot. Successfully hunting them was seen as a major accolade. Over time, as attitudes shifted and conservation took centre stage, the meaning evolved from hunting to photographing, or simply witnessing these animals in the wild.

In that sense, the idea of “seeing the Big Five” can feel a little arbitrary - even like a marketing gimmick. And yet, there’s something undeniably powerful about coming face to face with such extraordinary animals. Sitting just metres from a wild lion, close enough to feel its presence yet barely acknowledged by it, is an experience that’s hard to put into words. For many safari-goers, moments like these are the stuff of lifelong dreams.

Where the term Big Five truly falls short, though, is in capturing the sheer richness of the African wilderness. There is so much more to a safari than five animals. The frantic energy of a pack of African wild dogs on the move, the quiet awe of standing beneath a towering giraffe - the tallest animal on Earth - or the simple joy of watching zebra and warthogs grazing peacefully among the trees.

From curious hyenas and playful monkeys to colourful birds and camouflaged chameleons, the bush is alive with detail, movement and surprise. Often, it’s these smaller, unexpected moments that linger longest in the memory.

Words and photos by Emily Whiting

Guests staying at Shimungwe Lodge in Thornybush Game Reserve enjoy game drives twice daily at dawn and dusk, where sightings of the Big Five are common.

Discover Thornybush Game Reserve: A Wilderness Gem in Greater Kruger Park

Emily Whiting — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Thornybush has a story stretching back to the 1950s, when it became one of the first private reserves in the Greater Kruger. Over the years, it has played a pioneering role in conservation, from bold elephant relocations to today’s innovative rhino protection and wildlife research projects. From the moment you arrive, you walk through decades of dedication to protecting Africa’s wild heart.

Since the fences between Thornybush Game Reserve and Kruger National Park came down in 2017, the reserve has become truly boundless. Now forming part of an unfenced wilderness surpassing two million hectares, this move restored ancient migration routes and allowed animals to roam freely - meaning that at any moment you might encounter one of the Big Five or even wild dogs trotting along in perfect formation. In Summer, it’s not unusual to see a tusker elephant wandering in from Kruger to feast on our fruiting marula trees and, in winter, huge herds of up to 200 buffalo huddled together at dwindling waterholes.

Wildlife in Every Direction

Life in Thornybush Game Reserve bursts from every corner. Home to more than 300 bird species, both black and white rhino, and a thriving population of predators and plains game, wildlife sightings are both spectacular and plentiful. Thanks to our highly experienced team of guides and trackers, you could begin your day watching lions lazing in the morning sun and end it with a leopard curled around the branches of a jackalberry tree. And then, there are the quiet moments in between – zebras trotting through the dust, giraffes browsing on acacia leaves or the sight of elephants drinking silently at sunset. Intimate encounters in the wild that stay with you long after you’ve left.

The Magic of the South

So, where does Shimungwe fit in? Our lodge is tucked away in the deep south of Thornybush Game Reserve, where it’s quieter, more secluded, and utterly enchanting. Here, the landscape is shaped by leafy drainage lines alive with birdlife, the tranquil glow of Sunset Dam framed by the distant Drakensberg Mountains and the winding Timbavati River that has sparked countless stories and legends of Kruger.

This part of the reserve feels wonderfully unhurried, where the wilderness seems to stretch out just for you. It’s the perfect setting for an intimate lodge like Shimungwe, where evenings end with stories around the fire and mornings begin with elephants gently meandering through the drainage line below your suite.

Why Thornybush Steals the Heart

What is it, then, that makes Thornybush Game Reserve so special? To spend time here is to be reminded of nature’s resilience, beauty, and mystery. It’s a place where conservation is lived daily, where wildlife thrives, and where guests can witness Africa’s most iconic creatures living life unmistakably wild and unfiltered.
At Shimungwe, we are proud to call this corner of Thornybush Game Reserve home. For us, every safari is about more than sightings - it’s about creating memories that will stay with you forever. Whether it’s the thrill of hearing lions roar at dusk or simply soaking in the stillness of the bush, Thornybush has a way of leaving its mark on your soul.

Quick Facts

How big is Thornybush Game Reserve? 14,000 hectares
Where is Thornybush Game Reserve? Thornybush Game Reserve is located in Limpopo, South Africa, as part of the Greater Kruger, adjoining the Kruger National Park.
What wildlife can I see in Thornybush Game Reserve? In addition to the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo), you can also see hyenas, wild dogs, hippos, giraffes, crocodiles, zebras, and other wildlife.
How is Thornybush Game Reserve different from Kruger National Park? As a private reserve, there are fewer vehicles, more flexible safari times and the chance to off-road or even take a bush walk with our professional guides and trackers.

Guests staying at Shimungwe Lodge in Thornybush Game Reserve enjoy game drives twice daily at dawn and dusk, where sightings of the Big Five are common.

Curious Cubs: Lions at Shimungwe

Emily Whiting — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0200

As the sun dipped low over the African wilderness, painting the sky in warm golds and pinks, three lion cubs from the Guernsey pride began to stir. Their mother lay sleeping in the dry grass, unfazed by their gentle prods and tail tugs. With no luck rousing her, the curious cubs turned their attention elsewhere - mischief.

A shallow dent in the earth became a battlefield. One cub crouched low behind it, tail twitching, amber eyes locked on her unsuspecting sibling. She inched forward with all the focus of a seasoned huntress - despite being just a couple of months old. Of course, she wasn’t stalking dinner. She was preparing for something far more important: a surprise attack in the ultimate game of tag.

With a clumsy pounce, she launched herself at her brother and the chase was on - darting circles around the wheels of our vehicle in a whirlwind of dust and flailing paws. Their mother, stirred by the commotion, lifted her head and rose to join them, settling a little closer to keep a watchful eye on her spirited offspring.

Now all three cubs clambered onto a nearby fallen tree, teetering on its sun-bleached branches, each one determined to be the first to reach the top. This wasn’t just play - it was practice. In every tumble and leap, they were learning the skills they’d one day need to survive and thrive in the wild.

As the last light faded and dusk cloaked the bush, our guide Lucan slowly eased the vehicle away, giving the pride the space to melt into the night.

We’re incredibly fortunate at Shimungwe when it comes to lion sightings. The Thornybush Nature Reserve is home to three well-established prides - Avoca, Guernsey, and Monwana – as well as four formidable kings: the Black Dam males.

Since their dramatic arrival in 2023, when they overthrew the legendary Mapoza male, these powerful lions have claimed dominion over the area, laying the foundation for a new generation. And now, more than a year later, that dynasty is blossoming. A cub explosion is underway, with at least five litters counted so far - three of them born to the Avoca pride, who are often seen just a stone’s throw from our lodge.

Every morning and evening, we venture out into this wild, beating heart of Africa. And every drive brings new possibility. Whether it's the quiet thrill of watching cubs at play, the echoing roars of a territorial male, or the raw energy of a pride on the hunt, sharing these wild moments with our guests is one of our greatest joys.

Here at Shimungwe, safari is more than sightseeing - it’s a brief window into a whole other world. Because sometimes, watching a lion cub pounce in a patch of golden light is all it takes to remind us just how extraordinary the natural world truly is.

Words and Photos by Emily Whiting

Guests staying at Shimungwe Lodge in Thornybush Game Reserve enjoy game drives twice daily at dawn and dusk, where sightings of the Big Five are common.