Best Getaways 
Buffalo Thorn Lodge
Buffalo Thorn Lodge is nestled within the Black Rhino Game Reserve, part of the renowned Pilanesberg National Park. Located just 30 km from Sun City and around a 3-hour drive from Johannesburg, the lodge is situated in South Africa’s North West Province, in a malaria-free area ideal for family getaways. This exclusive-use lodge offers the perfect retreat from everyday life. With five luxurious, self-catering thatched chalets, the lodge accommodates up to 10 guests (including children), ensuring complete privacy and uninterrupted relaxation in the heart of the bush. The central lodge area features a fully equipped kitchen, a dining space, a TV lounge, a reading nook, and a games area. Outdoors, the traditional boma invites you to gather around a crackling fire under the stars, enjoy stories from your knowledgeable game ranger, or simply take in the night sounds of the African bush. You can also dine alfresco while soaking in the distinct scents and atmosphere of the surrounding wilderness. Twice daily game drives in an open safari vehicle offer the chance to spot everything from the Big Five to smaller creatures of the veld. Or, enjoy wildlife viewing from the comfort of the poolside loungers or jacuzzi, where elephants and antelope often pass by just beyond the safety of the electric fence. At Buffalo Thorn Lodge, we’re dedicated to providing a private, unforgettable self-catering safari experience in one of South Africa’s most beautiful wilderness areas.
Area Info
The final goal is to incorporate farms between PNP and Madikwe Game Reserve in order to form a “Heritage Park” that will include about 300,000 hectares.
From Buffalo Thorn Lodge, we can traverse the entire park of 57,000 hectares in open game-drive vehicles, for close-up viewing of the big 5 (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, and Buffalo) as well as numerous endangered species such as Cheetah, African Wild Dog, Sable, and Tsessebe Antelope.
The Black Rhino Game Reserve’s vegetation is predominantly sweetveld, and it complements the sour and mixed veld of the PNP. The reserve is characterised by large numbers of Tamboti trees and, therefore, regular sightings of the bad-tempered Black Rhino are quite probable.
Black Rhino Game Reserve is a natural ecosystem that has developed over thousands of years. In this unique reserve, the different vegetation exists within the transition zone between the dry Kalahari and wetter Lowveld, commonly known as bushveld.
As a result of the range of habitats and vegetation found in the Black Rhino Game Reserve and Pilanesberg National Park, there is a wide diversity of animal species, from the “Big Five” to 50 other mammal species, 354 bird species, 65 reptile species, 18 amphibian species, and thousands of other interesting smaller species!
