If relaxing in the lap of luxury within the renowned Sabi Sands Nature Reserve is on your list, then listen up. Thornybush has announced a comprehensive refurbishment of Simbambili Game Lodge, which aims to preserve the lodge’s history while enhancing its status as a premier destination for luxury safari experiences.
The main lodge area features a new thatch roof, doors for a warmer dining space in winter, a new two-level deck, and a firepit. 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, and each suite features a private deck, plunge pool, and shaded Sala bed, providing guests with an intimate and luxurious retreat. The Honeymoon and Waterhole suites provide additional space and privacy for couples and newlyweds, ensuring a romantic and secluded escape.
New on the premises are the Africology Spa & Wellness Centre and a library to offer guests an expanded range of options during their stay. The 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 refurbishment’s interior design, led by Cate Simpson of Reflecting Africa, aims to immerse guests in nature, ensuring the lodge harmonises with its setting. 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.
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 décor pieces is an intricately carved wooden crocodile skull by Hoedspruit artist Friday Jibu.
About Simbambili Game Lodge
Located in the Northern part of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger Park, Simbambili Game Lodge is renowned for its exceptional game viewing and prolific leopard sightings. Set amongst old Knobthorns and Jackalberries, 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, each featuring a private deck, plunge pool, and shaded Sala bed, Simbambili offers both comfort and elegance.
Guests enjoy fresh, delicious meals made with ingredients from the Thornybush Community Garden and local suppliers, ranging from à la carte dining to boma barbecues. 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.
Visit www.thornybush.com/lodge/simbambili-game-lodge/ for more information.
