March 30, 2024 – Thornybush Game Reserve

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We left our hotel, La Residence, early for a flight to Hoedspruit and the Thornybush Game Reserve. Our stay here is for 3 nights at the Royal Malewane.

We landed at a small airport that looked like it had been carved out of the bush. After picking up our luggage we were driven to the lodge within the Thornybush Game park. This is a 14,000 acre private reserve with a fenceless border with Kruger National Park. Our suite was a beautiful room with a private little pool. We were told the Elephants may come up and drink from it, just don’t panic. We had lunch by in the open area where we could see the Kudu, monkeys and elephants walking by. There was also a Hipo in the water that would open its mouth every once in a while, for a yuan.

After lunch we prepared for our first drive through the bush. Ishmael is our guide for our stay here. We had a two and a half hour drive. Our first unexpected stop was to see three Giraffes. We continued on, saw some deer like animals, don’t recall the name. We drove by a watering hole/ lake where some hippos were bathing. They did not raise up so just could get their snouts. Then we passed some elephants. Ishmael at first said the big one was a female, but I could tell by the obvious that this was a male. 

We did not linger at the watering hole as Ishmeal had heard of a lion pride that had killed a water buffalo not far away. We stopped to watch this pride consisting of two males, several female lions and a couple of cubs while they devoured the water buffalo.

4 thoughts on “March 30, 2024 – Thornybush Game Reserve”

  4. Elaine

    As always. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing journey. The photos are incredible!

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