Thorntree River Lodge

Each luxury unit has its own indoor and outdoor bathrooms, as well as a luxurious private plunge pool. Staying in these rooms gives guests the opportunity to simultaneously experience luxury and the natural beauty of the African bush. It’s perfect for anyone looking for an authentic African holiday, that doesn’t skimp on the creature comforts.

Thorntree also has 2 Family Units with inter-leading walkways between the parents and children’s rooms, which are both en-suite. Each room has its own indoor and outdoor bathrooms, as well as a luxurious private plunge pool. Staying in these rooms gives families the opportunity to simultaneously experience luxury and the natural beauty of the African bush, creating memories that they will discuss forever. It’s perfect for any family looking for an authentic African holiday that doesn’t skimp on the creature comforts.

The main lodge is made up of a lounge with an open dining area, where the fine dining experience of African cuisine will come to life. Trained chefs will cook you sensational dishes from both local and international origins, which you can then enjoy underneath the huge African sky which shows the Milky Way in all its glory. Even your meals here will be memorable.

The legendary Victoria Falls, known locally as Mosi-Oa-Tunya (‘The Smoke that Thunders), are just a stone’s throw away and here you can marvel at the splendour and magnitude of one of the great natural wonders of the world. After the rains, Victoria Falls will be at the height of her powers, but should you arrive in the dry season, you can still learn all about the geology of the rock formations alongside the Falls themselves.

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is home to the rare and threatened white rhino who are under 24-hour protection by the rangers. At Thorntree River Lodge, you’ll get the unique opportunity to see these incredible animals up close during a short walking safari. It is a privilege to see these animals in this way and the experience will last you a lifetime.

Thorntree River Lodge on the Zambezi River is home to a wide array of exotic birds, such as Gannets, Spotted thick-knee and Verreaux’s eagle-owl, making this a true birder’s paradise. Pick up the binoculars, or simply sit back and enjoy their beautiful songs as they serenade you throughout your holiday.

Led by one of our experienced guides, on your game drives you will see a whole host of magnificent wildlife indigenous to the area. Your guide will take you to the local hidden spots best for game viewing and give you an education with his insider’s knowledge. Game drives give you the opportunity to spot Africa’s best-known wildlife, such as elephants, and take photographs ready for the mantelpiece back home. Experience a true African safari at Thorntree.

From nature walks around camp and storytelling to cultural arts and crafts and cub club cooking classes, the African Bush Camps’ Ngwana Club creates a fun and educational environment for children staying a Thorntree.

African Bush Camps are committed to sustainable development and creating opportunities that empower rural communities who live in vulnerable wildlife areas in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia. They work to create these opportunities through Education, Community Empowerment and Conservation.

By contributing to the improvement of children’s education, from early development through to higher studies, a significant step towards economic development and breaking the cycle of poverty in a country can be attained.

The African Bush Camps Foundation (ABCF) supports orphaned and vulnerable children through scholarship programmes and life skills workshops that provide more holistic support. ABCF also works with schools where infrastructure support from local authorities is unfortunately limited, with the goal of shaping conducive learning environments.

Safe and clean infrastructure includes creating sanitary conditions with running water and proper toilet facilities, to prevent students catching water-borne diseases like typhoid or cholera which are common in this area and can have detrimental effects on their development. It is also important to give children the chance to develop their sense of self-worth and build relationships, aiding both their psychological and physical wellbeing.

Without the resources necessary to attend school, education within the community cannot improve, therefore limiting children’s opportunities later in life. This can lead to harmful and desperate acts such as poaching to survive. Access to education increases the community’s opportunity for a higher quality of life.

ABCF aims to give people the opportunity to thrive with their chosen crafts, using their existing talents and skills to address critical gaps like accessing healthcare and employment to achieve a better quality of life. The Foundation’s Income Generation Projects use expertise that already exists within the community and they are nurtured and developed locally.

Communities are encouraged to train and support each other, eliminating the need for highly-paid external specialists or staff. This allows communities to have sole ownership of micro-financed projects, making them self-sustaining, independent, and rich in community spirit.

The Foundation also uses the programmes as a platform to provide business training, entrepreneurial skills and money management, as well as to offer ongoing mentorship. The improved knowledge that this brings allows members of the community to have the ability and motivation to support themselves and their families. The Foundation further supports income generation by giving access to larger markets, enabling individuals to support and uplift their communities.

In this way, ABCF hopes to work towards the sustainable development of these communities and enable them to have a higher quality of life.

By coexisting with wildlife and using the natural world to grow crops, protect livestock and preserve the environment, communities can improve their food security and achieve a higher quality of life without having a detrimental impact on wildlife. With projects that aim to improve the relationship between humans and wildlife in the area, ABCF looks to help communities restore a harmonious relationship with nature for their benefit.

ABCF works with communities surrounding the African Bush Camps lodges to implement human-wildlife conflict mitigation techniques, which help them learn how to to conserve resources whilst implementing sustainable land-use practices.

Tourism is dependent on healthy ecosystems and wildlife populations as Africa’s natural beauty and wildlife are what attracts travellers more than anything else. This reliability is co-dependent, as the money from responsible travellers is invested into preservation and conservation, reaching people living in remote wildlife areas. As a result, tourism is a primary driver of economic development.