Hoedspruit, South AfricaThornybush Game Reserve
Farmstead at Royal Malewane
Maximalist safari homestead
Thornybush Game Reserve Hoedspruit, South Africa
Opened
2019
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Luxe LocalOutside the door
The house
The Royal PortfolioMaximalist safari homestead
A home-like bush retreat unfolds with plush jewel tones and hanging daybeds that float out over an active waterhole.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Liz Biden interiors pairing bold jewel-toned velvets with riotous Ardmore fabrics, antique Zanzibar doors, and South African art.
Remarkable
Personalized bush hosting with dedicated master trackers, chilled iced tea greetings, and heated suite plunge pools.
Notable
Operated on Moletele community land in Thornybush, supporting local employment across thirty thousand private reserve acres.
What they say
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
You arrive down a driveway with a fountain and hanging lanterns and enter into a living room rather than a lobby with bold hued furnishings…
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Thirty thousand private acres in Thornybush Game Reserve surround the lodge, with master trackers guiding game drives through unfenced wilderness.
The rooms
Canopied beds and clawfoot tubs lead to timber decks with heated plunge pools and outdoor showers facing the wilderness.
The lap pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Sun loungers and glowing lanterns line the outdoor lap pool, looking straight out across the surrounding bushveld.
The spa
Treatments draw on indigenous African botanicals and Healing Earth balms, set in quiet treatment rooms or out beside the pond.
Restaurant
Main Lodge Lounge & Dining Deck
Guests dine beside the indoor fireplace under vaulted ceilings, or out on the open deck overlooking the active waterhole.
How it began
Built in partnership with the local Moletele community, the lodge operates on a long-term lease that transfers full ownership after forty years.
Stay here
Farmstead at Royal Malewane
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Hoedspruit
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.