• The Reserve
    The Reserve

Thornybush Nature Reserve

Waterbuck Lodge boasts a prime location close to the seasonal Timbavati River in the Thornybush Nature Reserve, part of the world-renowned Greater Kruger.

Formed in 1955, the present-day reserve encompasses 14,000 hectares of pristine African savanna. In 2017, Thornybush dropped its fences with neighbouring reserves in the Greater Kruger and Kruger National Park, adding to a dedicated and protected wilderness of two million hectares, or roughly 20,000 square kilometres. Over this vast area, wildlife can roam completely wild and free. From the iconic ‘Big Five’ of lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino to African wild dogs, giraffes, hippos, an array of antelope and 364 species of birds – Thornybush is a haven for African wildlife. At Waterbuck Lodge, we are proudly committed to the protection of this exceptional wilderness.