Frequently Asked Questions

Safaris are definitely an all-year-round activity! Those guests who prefer birds or photography might prefer a summer safari, when some of the summer migrant birds like the beautiful Carmine Bee-eaters, vocal Woodlands Kingfishers or Wahlberg's Eagle have moved Southwards and are resident in Thornybush Game Reserve.  On the other hand, winters are ideal if you prefer cooler temperatures and drier weather (our normal weather patterns mean rain in summertime and dry winters). However, you are sure to have amazing big five wildlife sightings at any time of year at Shimungwe.

Shimungwe is located inside the Thornybush Game Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger, an unfenced wilderness area open to the Kruger National Park. Every day on safari is different, depending on where the animals are moving and what you find while you're out. Typical sightings include the Big Five animals like lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino, as well as hippos and plains game such as zebras, impalas, wildebeest and giraffes. Other species you might come across are hyenas and the endangered African wild dogs. In addition, our rangers will also help you to spot a diversity of birds, reptiles and nocturnal wildlife.

The day starts at sunrise with a 3-4 hour morning safari out on open vehicles, with our expert rangers, following game tracks to find the varied and interesting African wildlife we have. Remember that Thornybush Game Reserve is part of the Greater Kruger, so the fences within the Greater Kruger are down, allowing animals to move freely in a protected area. The morning drive will include a short stop for coffee and refreshments.  The game drive is followed by freshly made breakfast at the lodge after which guests have free time to relax during the day and make use of our lodge facilities, including the pool, lounge and bar. Following a light lunch, the afternoon safari departs for another 3-4 hours, including a stop for drinks and refreshments, arriving back at the lodge after dark. Dinner is typically served around the boma fire or on the central deck, at the dining area.

Two game drives per day are included in your stay at Shimungwe Lodge, weather permitting!  These game drives take place at dawn for 3-4 hours in the morning and again at dusk.  These times are planned because the wildlife tend to be more active then, improving your chance of seeing them in their natural environment, the Greater Kruger.  In the middle of the day, animals often take the opportunity to rest in the shade.

It's possible, but unusual for a game drive to be washed out completely by rain. We will do our best to monitor the weather conditions and try to adjust the game drives around possible rain - but it's unpredictable and sometimes we get caught out in the rain!  We do have ponchos on the vehicle for guests to use in circumstances like this.

Thornybush Game Reserve and Kruger National Park both form part of the Greater Kruger ecosystem in South Africa, meaning there are no fences between them and wildlife moves freely across the region. This allows guests in Thornybush to enjoy the same exceptional Big Five safari experience as in Kruger National Park.

The key difference lies in the type of safari experience.

Kruger National Park is a large public national park, where visitors can self-drive or join guided safaris. It offers an accessible and diverse wildlife experience, but sightings can sometimes be shared with multiple vehicles and access is restricted to public roads only.  There are many more visitors to the Kruger National Park at any point in time.

Thornybush Game Reserve, on the other hand, is a private game reserve. This allows for a more exclusive and immersive safari. At Shimungwe Lodge, experienced guides and trackers can leave the main roads to follow wildlife sightings, providing closer and more personal encounters. Vehicle numbers at sightings are limited, creating a quieter and more intimate experience in the bush.

Staying at a luxury safari lodge in Thornybush Game Reserve also means guests enjoy fully guided game drives, personalised service, and a relaxed pace, without the need to self-navigate. The reserve is well known for its excellent wildlife viewing, including frequent sightings of the Big Five. The expert guides freely share their knowledge with you, enriching your big five safari experience.

In essence, while both destinations offer incredible wildlife, Thornybush provides a more private, guided, and exclusive safari experience, making it an ideal choice for guests seeking a deeper connection with the African bush.
 
 
 
 

Shimungwe Lodge is located in the Thornybush Game Reserve – part of the Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa. This is a globally recognised wilderness conservation area with open borders to the Kruger National Park, where animals are free to roam over more than 20,000 square kilometres of pristine, protected bushveld.

Our closest town is Hoedspruit, in the Limpopo Province, within the heart of the Lowveld savanna/bushveld region. We are approximately 450-500km from Johannesburg, which is about a 6-hour drive. Our closest airport is the Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport, and we are an easy 45-minute drive from there, alternatively we can book a transfer for you, on request.

We are located near the town of Hoedspruit in Limpopo Province. Our nearest airport is Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport – which is a 45-minute drive from Shimungwe Lodge. We can arrange an airport transfer for you, on request.

Alternatively, if you drive from Johannesburg, it is roughly 6 hours by vehicle. For self-driven guests, we would strongly recommend that you consult our directions as Google Maps does not take you the best way. These can be downloaded from our website.

In summer, you should pack comfortable, cool clothing and a lightweight rain jacket. For around the lodge, you should bring sandals, swimwear, a hat and something to cover your arms and ankles in the evenings if you are concerned about mosquito bites. One pair of closed shoes is advisable.
In winter, it can be chilly while you're out on the game drives, moving through the cool air so you should add warm layers to put on or take off as the temperature changes.   You should also pack a scarf and gloves as early mornings and evenings can be cold.
Other recommended items to bring along include sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars and cameras.

Yes! Our expert guides are highly trained and will go off-road where it is safe and ethical to do so to ensure you have the best big five game sightings and African safari experience.

In most instances we go off-road for big five sightings where it's needed to get a better view, but we are very conscious of the impact on the animals as well as the soil conditions and our rangers are happy to explain what they can or cannot do.  In addition, we want you to see the animals in a natural setting to observe their normal behaviour. As a result, Thornybush Game Reserve has strict guidelines for how many vehicles can be present at a big five sighting at any point in time to give our guests an enjoyable and uncrowded view, as well as to alleviate the pressure on the big five animals having too many vehicles around them.

Yes! As part of our history, we are owned by a family and so we are definitely a family-friendly lodge in the Greater Kruger offering an all-inclusive family African safari experience. Children often love the time out on game drive as there are so many things to see, smell and experience.  

On request, we can build in some special activities for children both while they're relaxing at the lodge and also while out on game drive. Some families choose to book the entire lodge for a multi-generation family safari experience, often linked to a special celebration.

Note that children aged 6 years and over are welcome on game drives. Unfortunately, we do not have a babysitting service, which means that one adult will need to remain behind if a child is not able to join the game drive. 

Yes! As a small lodge, we have a plated menu to ensure all of our food is fresh and delicious. However, you are more than welcome to advise us of your dietary requirements in advance. Our chef can assist with most requests including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or specific allergies. 

Yes! We have wifi installed in the main lodge and also within each of our guest suites. It is sufficient for web browsing, social media and even live video calling at the main lodge where the signal is strongest. Due to our remote location, there is poor cellphone reception, and we recommend that you make use of WhatsApp for calls.

Thornybush Game Reserve is considered a low-risk malaria area. The risk is lowest during the dry months of winter in the Southern Hemisphere (May - August). We do advise you to consult your healthcare provider for personalised advice regarding medication.

The weather in the Lowveld is defined by two distinct seasons:
Spring/Summer occurs between October and April. Days are typically warm to hot (it can be over 40 degrees at times) with occasional thunderstorms which cools down the temperature.
Autumn/winter occurs from May to September. Days are typically warm and mild (under 30 degrees) and dry. Mornings can be very chilly on the open vehicle during game drives, and some cooler, overcast days should be expected. You should definitely bring warmer layers of clothing for this.

Yes! Shimungwe has mains power year-round. Our suites feature both 3 round pins (type M) found mostly in South Africa and 2 round pins found across much of Europe (type C). We also have a dedicated USB charging point in every suite. You should bring your own adaptors where necessary.

A small safari lodge offers a more intimate, personal, and immersive safari experience compared to larger lodges. With fewer guests and a more relaxed pace, the focus is on creating meaningful connections — both with the African bush and with the local people hosting you.

At a small luxury safari lodge in Thornybush Game Reserve, such as Shimungwe Lodge, guest numbers are intentionally limited. This allows for a highly personalised experience, where guides, trackers, and staff get to know each guest and can work to tailor the safari to their interests — whether that’s tracking the Big Five, birdwatching, photography, or simply enjoying quiet moments in nature.

Game drives from smaller lodges often feel more exclusive, with fewer vehicles at sightings and a greater sense of space and tranquillity. The atmosphere at the lodge itself is also different, with a warm, welcoming environment that feels more like a private bush home than a hotel.

In contrast, larger safari lodges typically accommodate more guests, which can mean busier shared spaces, less flexibility, and a more structured experience.

For many travellers, especially those visiting the Greater Kruger region, a small safari lodge offers a deeper and more authentic connection to the wilderness — combining the comfort of a luxury safari lodge with the quiet, unhurried rhythm of life in the bush.

The other benefit is that small groups or large families can reserve the entire lodge on an exclusive use basis so that the safari experiences is specifically crafted around the needs and preferences of your group.

Yes, Thornybush Game Reserve is an excellent choice for first-time safari visitors and is widely regarded as one of the best places to experience a luxury safari in the Greater Kruger for the first time.

Being part of the open Greater Kruger ecosystem, Thornybush offers exceptional wildlife viewing, including regular sightings of the Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. For many first-time visitors, the quality and frequency of sightings make it a particularly rewarding introduction to the African bush.

One of the key advantages of staying in a private game reserve like Thornybush is that all safari activities are fully guided. Experienced rangers and trackers lead each game drive, helping guests understand animal behaviour, track wildlife, and make the most of every sighting. This removes the need for self-driving and allows first-time visitors to relax and fully immerse themselves in the experience.

At a small luxury safari lodge in Thornybush Game Reserve, like Shimungwe Lodge, the experience is also more personal and unhurried. Smaller lodges offer a welcoming, intimate atmosphere, which can be especially reassuring for those new to safari travel or those seeking uncrowded big five safari experiences.

In addition, Thornybush is easily accessible from Hoedspruit Airport, making it convenient for international travellers.

For those planning their first safari in South Africa, Thornybush offers the ideal combination of exceptional wildlife, expert guiding, and a comfortable, immersive lodge experience — creating a memorable introduction to life in the African bush.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A luxury safari experience in South Africa offers far more than just accommodation — it is a fully immersive journey into the African bush, combining exceptional wildlife encounters with comfort, service, and attention to detail.

At a luxury safari lodge in Thornybush Game Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger ecosystem, a typical stay includes daily guided game drives led by experienced rangers and trackers. These drives take place in the early morning and late afternoon, when wildlife is most active, and offer the opportunity to see the Big Five and a wide variety of other animals in their natural environment.

Most luxury safari experiences are all-inclusive, meaning that accommodation, meals, and safari activities are included. Guests can expect beautifully prepared cuisine, often enjoyed in scenic outdoor settings, as well as most drinks and refreshments throughout your stay.

In addition to game drives, there's time to relax at the lodge, where wildlife can often be seen passing nearby. The pace is unhurried, allowing guests to fully appreciate both the excitement of wildlife sightings and the tranquillity of the surrounding landscape. Activities like offer guided bush walks and birdwatching are available on request if suitably qualified rangers are available.

A small, intimate lodge like Shimungwe Lodge, offers a highly personal safari experience. With fewer guests, the focus is on service, flexibility, and creating meaningful moments — whether that’s a close-up wildlife encounter, a quiet sunset overlooking the bush, or simply time to unwind in a beautiful natural setting.

In essence, a luxury safari in South Africa combines world-class wildlife viewing, expert guiding, and refined hospitality, creating a unique and unforgettable experience in the heart of the Greater Kruger.