Stargazing in Thornybush Game Reserve

Stargazing during a luxury safari holiday, Greater Kruger National Park

With almost no light pollution, the night skies of the southern hemisphere above Shimungwe are breathtaking.

With very little artificial light, clear nights at Shimungwe offer beautiful views of the Southern Hemisphere sky.

Guests can enjoy informal stargazing from the lodge or during the return from an evening game drive. Our guides can point out prominent constellations and share basic stories about the night sky. Depending on the season, weather and planetary positions, the Milky Way and bright planets may be visible to the naked eye.

Stargazing is included as an informal part of the Shimungwe experience. The lodge does not offer a telescope or a formal guided astronomy programme.

Reviews

Absolutely Perfect

An environment with attention to the smallest details, immersed in the green of the vegetation, overlooking a river where animals come to drink, so you can see them while already in your room. Excellent welcome, cuisine, and safari outings. Everything very intimate and, at the same time, expertly organized. A special thanks to Karlien who guided us step by step on the route to arrive. Highly recommended!

hallie_Lazio, September 2026

Rome, Italy

Shimungwe is my favourite

We stayed at three lodges over our two week stay, and Shimungwe is my favourite. It felt like my home away from home. The suites are spacious and clean, the food is delicious: the chef is one in a million! Everything he cooked and baked was to die for! I have a few food restrictions, and he made sure those ingredients were not added in mine. The game drives... Read this review

SranPete, August 2026

A Safari Dream!

The Shimungwe Team treated us to a safari experience we will never forget! The lodge is intimate and filled with all the comforts we needed. It overlooks a riverbed where elephants and giraffes graze. The food was delicious and the service was even better; thanks to Tshepo, Gift, Khensani and Mavis! Lucan and Daniel were relentlessly in finding us the Big 5 and so many other animals. We appreciate... Read this review

Roam790486, July 2026

Pasadena, Maryland, USA

The family atmosphere is what sets this lodge apart

We recently had the pleasure of spending four nights at Shimungwe, and what an extraordinary experience it was! Nataly, Gerhard and the entire team ensured that every moment of our stay was truly unforgettable. The accommodation was superb, the food boundless, the staff were some of the friendliest we've ever encountered, and the game drives were exceptional, with a huge range of animals seen on every drive .We have... Read this review

John Bennett, May 2026