Located in the Thornybush Game Reserve, on the border with the Kruger National Park in Limpopo province, the Shumbalala Game Reserve is as close to nature as you can imagine. It is a no-fence preserve where guests have an unbeatable forest lodge experience and where animals can roam freely through the seemingly endless African landscape. This gives guests the opportunity to see the Big 5 of Africa in their natural habitat.
Thornybush Game Reserve is the perfect destination for a safari vacation. During your stay at one of the lodges, you can enjoy an exciting variety of outdoor activities including morning and late afternoon safaris where experienced rangers take guests in open 4×4 safari vehicles. Guests can experience the Big 5 of Africa as well as smaller games such as the elusive cheetah and the African wild dog.
If you’re feeling daring and up to the challenge, a bush hike is an exciting and unforgettable experience. The search for animal tracks may perhaps lead to a face-to-face encounter with one of the Big Five. Expert guides also inform participants about the wildlife and plant life that occupies the savanna, rivers, and forested environments.
The exciting night tours provide visitors with the opportunity to experience the awakening of the African rainforest at night. Dozens of extraordinary creatures are activated after dark and the diverse sights and sounds that come from the African bush at night is an experience not to be missed.
Guests can also take a trip to Hoedspruit, a small town close to the Thornybush Game Reserve. Hoedspruit is a friendly little town that has retained its rural charm over the years. Very close to Hoedspruit is the well-known Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. This center has assisted large numbers of injured and poisoned animals in need of medical assistance, and is making a vital contribution to the treatment and conservation of endangered wildlife.
There are several accommodation options in Thornybush Game Reserve, most are high-end luxury lodges. A lodge that is highly recommended is Shumbalala Game Lodge. Here guests stay in luxurious suites that are enhanced with natural African décor to create a stunning living space. All suites have a private gazebo overlooking the spectacular African bush and a bathroom with a panoramic window and an outdoor shower, all designed to give guests an African experience that is as close to nature as possible.
Guests can enjoy extravagant cuisine on the lodge decks, positioned to ensure picturesque views of the river. Alternatively, guests can dine in a more formal setting in the candlelit dining room, which always has a cozy fireplace lit in winter.
After a visit to Shumbalala, you’ll be able to reflect on close encounters with the Big 5, dazzling sunsets, tempting meals, and luxurious accommodations. Guests take back the memories of their experience and are sure to stay with them for a lifetime.