You hear them first, a deep vibrating rumble, the sound of breaking branches as they feed, and suddenly they are all around you. The great grey dusty shadows of the mothers, protective siblings, rubber legged new-borns. Perhaps a solitary bull with magnificent tusks. And once you have seen them, nothing can be the same. Experience wild Africa where the giants walk.

Serondella means “The Place of the Elephant”, and no stay at this stunning lodge, situated on a tributary of the seasonal Monwana River in the mid-section of the Thornybush Nature Reserve, is complete without a special encounter with these gentle giants as they move between the two waterholes and the watercourse.

Luxury Suite
Two private suites are positioned under the trees along the edge of our waterhole. They are designed to sleep two people and offer ample space to relax and unwind in the privacy of the suite. Each room has a comfortable lounge, outside deck, plunge pool, and a privately-positioned bathtub.

Botsotso Family Suite
Serondella is all about families, and the family suites emphasise comfort and convenience for both parents and children. Two bedrooms, a shared living area, a private kitchen, an outside deck, and a plunge pool offer a place for loved ones to feel at home together.

Willem’s Den
A self-contained suite for larger families offering space, privacy, and comfort with three bedrooms and bathrooms, a kitchen, lounge, private garden, verandah, boma and plunge pool. This is the perfect place to accommodate different generations in a home-like environment.

Game drives, in open safari vehicles, head out at sunrise and again in the late afternoon. The reserve’s natural animal populations include all of the Big Five, and it is renowned for the quality of its leopard sightingss – the most elusive of predator.

For those who wish to experience the bush, not just observe it, there is no better guided excursion. This is also a wonderful opportunity to encounter the smaller creatures, often missed on safari vehicles, and to discover more about the reserve’s plants – many with fascinating medicinal properties and traditional uses.