Thornybush Saseka Tented Camp

Thornybush is one of the original nature reserves in the Greater Kruger National Park, with the first lodge opening its doors in 1961. Since then, the Thornybush group now operates lodges in both the Thornybush and Sabi Sand Private Nature Reserves.

Thornybush is a 14,000-hectare private nature reserve that shares a fenceless border with the famous Kruger National Park in South Africa. Big 5 encounters are the standout experiences for our guests, with visitors particularly impressed with the lion and leopard sightings. It is the vast diversity of wildlife, however, that has seen Thornybush emerge as a leading safari destination.

With our passionate and expert guide-and-tracker teams leading the way, our guests leave with a genuine understanding of our entire ecosystem and the enthralling cast of animals.

Saseka, the Tsonga word for beautiful, feels very much like a shining jewel in our Thornybush crown. Silvio Rech & Lesley Carstens Architecture and Design, who have been designing bush lodges for over 32 years and are leaders in their field, were the visionaries who brought the dream of Saseka into reality, a lodge that has a strikingly unique layout and finds a superb balance between cutting-edge design, classical style and feeling connected to the outside environment.

A distinct curve in the river was a natural catalyst for the site of the main area, a large, tiered deck with a broad view of the riverbed and a cleverly designed roof that mimics the dappled light of a tree canopy. This is where we love to meet with our guests for a drink or a meal, share stories and listen to the afternoon breeze bringing the surrounding trees to life.

The tented suites allow the sounds of nature and the bush to filter in to give the guests a truly immersed safari experience. Each tented suite has its own private pool, outdoor shower, sundeck and is air conditioned.