Monwana Game Lodge
A small, homely Thornybush lodge on the Monwana River, ideal for families with children over ten.
Overview
Monwana is a small, homely lodge in the Thornybush Nature Reserve, which shares an unfenced border with the Greater Kruger. It sits on the Monwana River, with a waterhole in front of the lodge, so game often comes past while you’re at the pool or on your deck. With six suites and a private villa, it never feels busy. Guiding is strong: drives carry no more than six guests, each with an FGASA-accredited guide and a tracker. It’s an easy first stop on a safari, about 45 minutes from Hoedspruit Airport, and one of the better Greater Kruger options for families with children over ten.
At a Glance
Type: Luxury safari lodge
Location: Thornybush Nature Reserve, Greater Kruger
Rooms: 6 suites (including family suites) plus the private Monwana Villa, which sleeps 4
Suite features: Private deck, plunge pool, outdoor shower, air-conditioning
Children: 10 and older in the suites; any age in the Villa. Bush walks are 16+
Family suites: Sleep up to 2 adults and 3 children aged 10+
Transfer: About 45 minutes from Hoedspruit Airport
Malaria: Low-risk area. Speak to your doctor before travelling
Wi-Fi: All rooms and common areas
Best for: Families with older children, couples, and groups who want sole use
Activities & Dining
Game drives run at dawn and late afternoon, two to three hours each in open vehicles, with a coffee stop in the morning and sundowners in the evening. Thornybush is known for good leopard sightings, alongside the rest of the Big Five, wild dog and over 350 bird species. Guests 16 and older can also do a guided bush walk.
Between drives there’s the main pool, massages and a gym. Meals are fresh and generous, and on some evenings dinner moves out to the riverbed. A surprise morning bush stop with gresh crumpets and mimosas is a highlight!
Getting There
By air (recommended): Daily scheduled flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Hoedspruit Airport, then a 45-minute transfer to the lodge (included).
Between reserves: Federal Air runs shuttle flights from other Greater Kruger lodges.
By road: Self-drive via Hoedspruit and the Thornybush gate. We can arrange a private transfer.
Insider Tips
Ask for a personal wine tasting in the underground cellar - a collection of some of the top wines in South Africa!
Travelling with children under 10? Book the Villa: all ages are welcome and you get your own vehicle and guide.
Book 6–12 months ahead for July–October and the December holidays, especially for the Villa.
Thornybush is low-risk for malaria and close to the airport, so it works well as your first or last safari stop.
Come in winter (May–September) for clearer game viewing, or summer for green landscapes and birding.
Ask for the sustainability tour. The lodge runs almost entirely off-grid on solar power.