Buffalo Thorn Lodge

Rates inclusive of 15% VAT • South African Rand • Subject to availability
Description	1 Jun 2025 to 31 Dec 2026
Entire Lodge Midweek - out of school holidays (Sleeps 10)	R18 960
Entire Lodge Weekends, SA school holidays public holiday (Sleeps 10)	R23 200

• The Buffalo Thorn lodge is an Exclusive Self Catering Lodge and it is rented out as a whole lodge
• Rate are not per person.
• This means that you get the entire lodge for yourself.
• Included in the package is 2 x 2.5 hr Guided game drives per day on a Private Safari Vehicle.
• Maximum number of guests is 10 including children.

*Please note a minimum of 2 nights is required at anytime.*

The lodge consists of a main area (kitchen, boma, swimming pool etc.) and 5 alone standing rooms each with a king size bed and en-suite bathroom.

The rate per night includes;

• The rent of your own exclusive, ***** 5 star- Self Catering Game lodge, on Black Rhino Game Reserve in Pilanesberg National Park.
• 2 x 2 and a half hour game drives per night stay – (MAXIMUM 10 guests on the vehicle)
• Daily Fully Serviced by staff
• Tea and coffee in the rooms
• Daily gate fees included

The rate per night does Not included:

• Food, drinks, snacks- lodge is fully self catering
• Any additional activities such as hot air ballooning, BUSH WALKS and quad biking

Look at our Special Offers for SA Residents under our special offers section!

Self Catering Lodges

All bedrooms or chalets are stand alone units. The 70 square-metre bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms have their own lounge and private deck with sun chairs in which to relax whilst overlooking the African bush.
The units boast a king size bed (or two singles should they be required), a Jacuzzi bath as well as an indoor and outdoor shower.

Units are made up as follows;

•  2 Family units: with a King size bed (or two singles) plus a loft with two single beds (for children).
•  3 Double units with one King size bed (or two singles).
•  Camping Cots are available on request

Each Suite Includes

• King-sized bed
• Minibar fridge in each room and filter coffee facilities
• In-room, jet spa bath
• Outside and Indoor shower with exclusive body products
• White cotton bathrobes – full-length
• Air-conditioning, personally adjustable
• Hairdryers
• Private in-room lounge area
• Private viewing deck, with cushioned loungers and table

Buffalo Thorn Lodge has a wide variety of facilities and services available to make you feel comfortable and at home.

OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT

• Child friendly swimming pool
• Heated Jacuzzi with a view
• Bar with fridge and Ice machine
• Dining area
• Open fire barbeque
• Modern gas barbeque
• Director-chair seating around the open fire

INDOOR ENTERTAINMENT

• Flat Screen LCD TV
• Home Theatre System
• DSTV (Digital Satellite Television)
• Pool/Snooker Table
• Wine fridge
• Wi-Fi Hotspot

KITCHEN (FULLY EQUIPPED)

• Fully Serviced
• Large fridge and freezer
• Dishwasher
• Modern 5 burner gas stove with electric oven
• Microwave/Convection Oven
• All cutlery and glassware
• Filter Coffee Machine

ROOMS

• Complimentary coffee and tea
• Bar fridge
• All linen (bath and swimming towels)
• Electronic Safe
• Air conditioning and fan
• Lounge area
• Loungers on private deck
• Hair dryers 

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

POOL

• Child-friendly swimming pool with view onto the waterhole.

GARDEN

• Beautiful gardens with grass.

JACUZZI

• A heating jacuzzi spa bath on the deck with a view.
  

FREE WIFI

• Wifi hotspot available in the lounge and entertainment indoor area.
  

DAILY HOUSEKEEPING

• Daily housekeeping service for all of your needs including laundry, turn-down service and daily cleaning.
  

FULLY EQUIPPED KITCHEN

• This 5-star lodge is self-catering & includes a FULLY equipped kitchen for all of your catering needs.
  

INDOOR & OUTDOOR DINING AREA

• Choice of indoor & outdoor dining facilities.
  

VIEWING DECK

• Wooden deck overlooking the local waterhole that is frequently visited by Lion, Elephant, Rhino and more.
  

BOMA & BONFIRE AREA

• Outdoor entertainment at its best, wood & firelighters provided for an African bush fire experience.

FROM PRETORIA/JOHANNESBURG:
Head towards Sun City.
Stay on the R556 and pass the entrance to Sun City on the right.
Continue for 5.11 km to the STOP sign, turn right at the intersection (onto the R565).
Continue on this road for approximately 27 km through a village (beware of potholes) until you see the Black Rhino Game Reserve entrance on the right.
Sign in at the gate and either request a pick up from the gate if you do not want to drive your car on the dirt roads and we will come and collect you or drive directly to the lodge.
A normal sedan car should be able to reach Buffalo Thorn Lodge without a problem.

BLACK RHINO GAME RESERVE IS LOCATED AT (GOOGLE EARTH):
25°10’54.84″S
26°57’17.55″E

FROM THE BLACK RHINO GAME RESERVE GATE:
Enter the gate (sign in – Buffalo Thorn Lodge is number 20) then drive for 2,9 km along the road until you meet an intersection, turn left.
It is the first road at which you can turn left, after entering the Reserve.
Then continue for 1.47 km until you reach another intersection – turn extreme right then continue for another 470 m, keeping right until you see our lodge.
Turn left into our gate, Stand 20 – Buffalo Thorn Lodge.

BUFFALO THORN LODGE IS LOCATED AT (GOOGLE EARTH):
25° 9’48.73″S
26°58’19.97″E

• Check in time is 14h30 and check out time is 10h30
• The lodge consists of a main area (kitchen, boma, swimming pool etc.) and 5 alone standing rooms each with a king size bed and en-suite bathroom.

Child Policy

• Children of all ages are welcome at the lodge and on game drive

Breakage Deposit

• On arrival a R 2 000 refundable breakage deposit will be required- by supplying cash

Important Notice

• ANY over occupancy meaning over and above 10 guests (including children) will be liable for an over occupancy fine of R4 000 per person per day
• NO Day visitors are allowed at the lodge
• If you miss your scheduled game drives due to unforeseen circumstances/ late arrival or due to weather you unfortunately forfeit you game drive
• Arrivals after 18:00 pm need to be arranged for and no arrivals permitted after 20:00 pm
• ONLY 10 guests (including children of all ages) allowed on game drive
• Early arrivals and late check-outs will be penalised R 1000.00 per hour
• Fully self-catering lodge- No drinks/snacks or food is supplied
• NO LOUD music is permitted as this is a National Park and nature reserve

Cancellation Policy
All reservations, amendments or cancellations are valid only if advised and accepted in writing.

•  Cancellation of booking than 90 days or more prior to arrival - 20% of total booking amount retained
•  Cancellation of booking between 60 to 89 days prior to arrival - 30% of total booking amount retained
•  Cancellation of booking between 41 to 59 days prior to arrival - 50% of total booking amount retained
•  Cancellation of booking less than 40 days prior to arrival - 100% of total booking amount retained.
•  A 10% admin fee will be retained for cancellations made after the card has been charged.

 Deposit Policy

• For all bookings made within 30 days of travel Full payment Is required within 48 hours of your booking. This payment can be made via bank transfer or credit card (Master/Visa).
• For all bookings made more than 30 days of travel
•  A 50% deposit Is required within 48 hours of your booking and the balance 30 days prior to arrival. This payment can be made via bank transfer or credit card (Master/Visa). 

Daily exclusive game drives (safari) are included in your package and can be arranged with your ranger.

• Morning drives include a coffee & rusk stop (rusks provided by guests)
• Afternoon drives include a sundowner stop (drinks & refreshments supplied by guests)
• Two game drives per night stay (morning and afternoon)

Only 10 guests allowed on game drive/safari (including children of all ages).

SUN CITY ACTIVITIES

Additional activities at the nearby Sun City resort can be arranged at an additional cost by our reservation staff.

To find out more about these activities, please talk to reservations.

• LION PARK TOURS
• BUSH WALKS
• QUAD TRAILS
• BALLOON SAFARIS
• DRUMMING
• ARCHERY
• INTERACTIVE GUMBOOT DANCING

BUFFALO THORN LODGE ACTIVITIES

Daily exclusive game drives (safari) are included in your package and can be arranged with your ranger.

• Morning drives include a coffee & rusk stop (rusks provided by guests)
• Afternoon drives include a sundowner stop (drinks & refreshments supplied by guests)
• Two game drives per night stay (morning and afternoon)

Only 10 guests allowed on game drive/safari (including children of all ages).

SUN CITY ACTIVITIES

Additional activities at the nearby Sun City resort can be arranged at an additional cost by our reservation staff.

To find out more about these activities, please talk to reservations.

• LION PARK TOURS
• BUSH WALKS
• QUAD TRAILS
• BALLOON SAFARIS
• DRUMMING
• ARCHERY
• INTERACTIVE GUMBOOT DANCING

Buffalo Thorn Lodge is part of the Black Rhino Game Reserve; in the Pilanesberg National Park. Only 30 kilometers from Sun City and about 3 hours from Johannesburg, it is in the heart of South Africa’s North West Province – a malaria-free area.

Buffalo Thorn Lodge provides the ultimate escape from busy schedules, with five luxury, self-catering, thatched chalets accommodating only ten guests (including children). The lodge is rented out exclusively sleeping ten guests. Thus meaning that you have the tranquility and the beauty of the bush all to yourselves.

The main entertainment area comprises a dining room, TV lounge, reading lounge, games area and a fully equipped kitchen. Outside in the boma, you can relax around an African fire, listen to the sounds of the night or to the stories of your experienced game ranger. Alternatively, you can star-gaze under an ink-black sky or just relax over a good meal at the dining table and bar, inhaling the pungent smells of indigenous veld and wildlife.

Enjoy morning and afternoon safari in an open vehicle as your ranger shows you the large and small species of the African bushveld. Or game view from the comfort of loungers around the pool. Alternatively relax in the jacuzzi as many species of birds and buck, even some of the big five, such as elephant, amble past the electric fence a few meters from the pool deck.

We are committed to giving you a memorable self-catering safari experience at Buffalo Thorn Lodge:

And included in the rates, are:

• All game drives.
• All daily conservation fees.
• A daily fully serviced lodge by the staff.
• Tea and coffee in the rooms.
• Extravagant luxury has never been this affordable and accessible.

Buffalo Thorn Lodge gets its name from the Buffalo Thorn tree (Ziziphus Mucronata) which is small to medium-sized.

It is colloquially known in Afrikaans as the ‘Blinkblaar Wag-‘n-Bietjie’. The ‘Blinkblaar’ refers to the shiny leaves while ‘Wag-‘n-Bietjie’ literally means ‘wait a while’ in English. Deriving its name from the paired and straight-hooked thorns which attach themselves mercilessly to passersby, it requires a lengthy amount of time to extricate oneself!

The Buffalo Thorn tree has many varied uses among different cultures and beliefs. The fruit can be used to make beer and it is rumoured that chewing the leaves serves as an aphrodisiac! Some believe that the tree is immune to lightning making it safe to shelter under during a thunderstorm, while the Zulu people believe the “z” shaped thorns protect graves and put souls to rest.