Thornybush Collection hotels in Balule Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park

"Super welcoming, friendly and safe. Very attentive to details. "

"We had the most incredible experience at Pondoro Game Lodge. From the moment we arrived, everything was absolutely phenomenal. The staff made us feel so welcome and cared for, going above and beyond to make every detail perfect. Our suite was stunning—luxurious, private, and designed with so much attention to comfort and beauty. The game drives were unforgettable. Our guide (Dewalt) and tracker (Andrès) were incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, and thanks to them we were able to witness breathtaking wildlife moments that we’ll never forget. The food was exceptional—every meal was a treat, beautifully prepared and served with warmth. What truly stood out was the atmosphere of the lodge: intimate, peaceful, and filled with genuine hospitality. Pondoro exceeded our expectations in every way, and we left with memories we’ll treasure for a lifetime. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience."

"Great place with game drives "

"I stayed in the hotel only so I am not sure about area around the property. All the staff are friendly and hotel facilities are great. Only one thing is my room was too far from the main lobby. As a solo traveler, I felt a little nervous of walking in the morning and at night before and after safari trips."

"I cannot express how amazing this place was. I've been all over the world, and every aspect of the AM Lodge is by far the most superior. The unique daily game drives had our Bush Bar (best bar in South Africa, thanks to Benjamin and Penwey) interrupted by a Nyala being chased by a wild dog. Literally chasing Lions led to our fantastic guides helping another group get out of a ditch. Even seeing zebras and wild buffalo ended up being so hilarious, it brought tears to our eyes! For the millennials reading this, imagine the perfect mix between Steve Irwin and Wild Boyz. Shepherd is the definition of what a proper host looks like. We had a strange request of being shuttled to a nearby tattoo shop, and they happily obliged. Our chefs made amazing food, with our only request being to show us the local cuisine. That kota sandwich and African buffet was exactly what we were talking about! Way to deliver! At no point did I ever think I was anything less than royalty thanks to the amazing staff, treatment, and accomodations. I don't know how they managed to do it, but they also made it seem like me and my father were the only ones there! As if the entire safari grounds were just for us (even though, they obviously had other guests). I hope to have the chance to visit again. If any guest is considering a safari, the search ends here. "

"The room here was beautifully appointed, and the bed was very comfy. The property was really quiet and it had a lovely pool. It was unfortunately too cold to take a dip in winter. There was wifi available everywhere, but its speed could vary depending on where you were. It would have been nice to have some bathrobes available in the room. The views from the property were lovely, especially when you are on the observation deck and can see the Drakensbergs in the distance. The breakfast and dinner was enjoyable and generally varied each day. The service was also lovely and friendly. I stayed in the Mbali villa so it was about a 5 minute walk down the road back to the main building for meals. In the evenings, they can organise a shuttle to collect you and bring you back as it gets very dark outside. "

"Essa foi a pior hospedagem olhando custo benefício das nossas vidas. O custo foi em torno de 1000 dólares a diária, esperávamos algo incrível! Uma pena…. O all inclusive é igual a uma pensão completa, o quarto super antigo, nosso game driver terminou 30 minutos antes. Nos deram um papel com horários e uma mensagem no WhatsApp, nenhum tinha a mesma informação, o que nos fez perder o café. Estamos 100% descontentes e insatisfeitos com oque recebemos pelo o que foi pago."

"This was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. A graduation trip including myself, my husband, and our 3 teenage daughters. I highly recommend the Ezulwini River Lodge for a safari vacation. The staff was fabulous, food and accommodations were 5 star, and the safari drives and animal encounters were amazing. I am recommending this trip for anyone interested in a South African safari. Planning was seamless and every want or need was met. The entire stay surpassed my expectations in every way."

"The premises is very nice, very clean and comfortable. The self catering unit was well equipped with everything you may need for self catering. The place is beautiful and peaceful. Loved the communication and flexibility I got when still planning the trip and the efforts made to make our birthday special. The only thing I didn’t not like was the rudeness from the lady that woke us up for breakfast on our last morning, she was very rude about how we must be at breakfast by 08:00 ( which o think of breakfast is between 08:00 and 10:00 then guests should have the flexibility between those times). The girl banged the door and rudely communicated how we need to be there at 08:00. She needs general customer service communication training as all my encounters with her were not pleasant. The rest of the staff was amazing. "