Thornybush has announced the comprehensive refurbishment of Simbambili Game Lodge, an iconic destination within the renowned Sabi Sands Nature Reserve. This refurbishment aims to preserve the lodge’s storied history while enhancing its status as a premier destination for luxury safari experiences.
As pioneer in the safari industry, Thornybush remains committed to preserving the legacy of Simbambili and Sabi Sands.
Simbambili Game Lodge, celebrated for its intimate atmosphere, has undergone a transformation to improve its structure and layout. These upgrades now provide guests with a modernised, more advanced and luxurious experience.
The main lodge area features a new thatched roof, doors for a warmer dining space in winter, a new two-level deck and a firepit, the perfect setting for safari evenings. All soft furnishings have been refreshed, and a newly designed bar area has been introduced, offering a sophisticated yet cosy environment for guests to relax and socialise. Enhancements to the boma create a more inviting space for guests to gather and enjoy traditional African cuisine under the stars, enhancing the overall safari experience.
All rooms have received a refreshment, ensuring a blend of elegance and comfort that aligns with the surrounding bush. Each suite features a private deck, plunge pool and shaded sala bed, providing guests with an intimate and luxurious retreat.
The former conference room and gym have been transformed into the new Africology Spa & Wellness Centre and library, to offer guests an expanded range of options during their stay. The state-of-the-art spa offers two treatment rooms, a gym with an outside deck and swimming pool. This space includes an additional dining area with a weatherproof pergola-covered deck.
The new wellness facilities are designed to offer guests a sanctuary of relaxation and rejuvenation. With the global focus on conscious and healthy living, Simbambili Game Lodge can now provide guests with a holistic experience that balances wildlife encounters with wellness and relaxation. The Africology Spa is dedicated to natural, holistic healing and wellness, using products that celebrate South Africa’s rich botanical heritage and indigenous plants such as rooibos, aloe and African potato bush.
“The refurbishments have taken the lodge to the next level, without losing the special inviting and homely feel of the lodge,” says manager Tania Cowden. “Our newly constructed health and wellness facility is unique. It offers our guests the tranquil environment to sit back and enjoy reading some of our books on offer in the library, bask in the sun at the communal swimming pool, work out at the gym or enjoy a relaxing massage at the spa facility. With the introduction of the pizza oven, our guests are provided with the most delicious homemade pizzas served to them hot as they sit beneath the pergola alongside the pool.”
The refurbishment’s interior design, led by Cate Simpson of Reflecting Africa, aims to immerse guests in nature, ensuring the lodge harmonises with its setting. The colour palette and design concepts reflect the surrounding bush, enhancing the sense of place and connection to the natural environment.
Simpson collaborated with local artist Nikhil Tricam, who created seven large-scale murals that grace various areas of the lodge, adding a contemporary edge to the natural vistas. These murals, painted directly onto the walls, reflect the unique shapes and patterns of the surrounding landscape. “Nikhil, who is passionate about the bush, painted directly onto the walls an almost whimsical and contemporary take on the exquisite trees as a vista,” notes Simpson. “He so cleverly highlights the unique shapes and patterns that we see as we cast our own eye across the front of the lodge – forcing guests to see in nature what perhaps they would have missed.”
Threads that Bind Us, inspired by a photo of the surrounding grasses, crafted these into an embroidered cushion range. Lodge manager Mike Cowden’s black-and-white wildlife photography adorns the room walls, adding a personal touch to this couple-run lodge. Wildlife artist Warren Cary contributed three magnificent leopard paintings, celebrating the area’s prolific leopard sightings. “One of the standout decor pieces is an intricately carved wooden crocodile skull by Hoedspruit artist Friday Jibu – it is masterfully precise in its detail,” adds Simpson.
Located in the northern part of the world-famous Sabi Sand Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger Park, Simbambili Game Lodge is renowned for its exceptional game viewing and prolific leopard sightings. Set among old knobthorn and jackalberry trees, the lodge offers sophisticated safari accommodation that echoes its unspoilt landscape. The main lodge area overlooks a waterhole, providing guests with front-row seats to nature’s spectacle.
With seven stylish suites, Simbambili offers both comfort and elegance. The Honeymoon and Waterhole suites provide additional space and privacy for couples and newlyweds, ensuring a romantic and secluded escape.
Guests enjoy fresh, delicious meals – ranging from à la carte dining to boma barbecues – made with ingredients from the Thornybush Community Garden and local suppliers. Special dining experiences such as leisurely bush breakfasts and dinners enhance the culinary offerings, ensuring guests have a variety of delectable options throughout their stay.
“Thornybush is honoured to continue its legacy of exceptional safari experiences at Simbambili Game Lodge, where the spirit of the Lowveld and the rich history of Sabi Sands are celebrated and preserved. This refurbishment marks a new chapter in the lodge’s story, ensuring it remains a cherished destination for future generations,” concludes JB Burger, head of Sales and Marketing.