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Thornybush Reservations

Booking Terms & Conditions

2026 Standard Booking Terms

  1. For bookings where there are 6 guests or less, bookings may be held on a provisional basis without payment for 7 to 14 days.
    • Please note that we will conduct a follow-up on the booking in 10 days. We request that our travel partners ensure all provisional bookings are followed up before the 14-day expiry period. 
  2. Any domestic bookings can only be held for 48 hours.
  3. For bookings where there are more than 6 guests, then the bookings may be held on a provisional status without payment for a maximum of 14 days.
  4. Extensions of provisional hold periods will be on request and approved at the sole discretion of Thornybush.
  5. For all bookings, regardless of group size, a 20% deposit is required to confirm the reservation.
  6. For bookings where there are 6 guests or less, full payment of booking will be required 30 days prior to the date of arrival.
  7. For bookings where there are more than 6 guests travelling, full payment of the booking will be required 45 days prior to date of arrival.
  8. We have a minimum of 2 nights’ stay and 1 night booking will need to be authorized subject to availability.
  9. For any special discount requested on a booking, Agents are required to pass the discount over to the Guests
  10. In cases where a special discount is granted outside of the standard contract, agents are expected to ensure that the discount is extended directly to the guest.
  11. On confirmation of a booking, Thornybush will require the following information for each guest traveling as part of the booking:
    • Surname and Christian names as they appear in their passport or identity document.
    • Nationality.
    • Any medical conditions that the lodge should be aware of;
    • Arrival and departure details.
    • Any special dietary requirements or special requests.
    • Mobile number of traveller and emergency contact person and number.
    • Room configuration – double / twin or single beds.
    • Travel Insurance details.
    • Any other specific requirements, medical and other.

STANDARD BOOKING CANCELLATION POLICY

  1. For bookings of up to 6 guests:
    • 20% cancellation fee from confirmation of booking to 45 days prior to arrival date.
    • 100% cancellation fee if cancelled 44 days or less prior to arrival date or for any no-shows.
  2. For bookings of more than 6 guests:
    • 20% cancellation fee from confirmation of booking to 60 days prior to arrival date.
    • For cancellation made 59 days to 31 days prior to travel date; 50% cancellation fee will be applied.
    • For cancellation made 30 days to 0 days prior to travel date; 100% cancellation fee will be applied.
  3. For bookings of more than 6 guests, should the numbers in a group decrease after the booking has been confirmed, cancellation fees will be calculated and charged on the number of released beds.
  4. Requests for postponement of bookings prior to 60 days of travel will be considered but there are no guarantees that cancellation penalties will be waived. Requests for postponement of bookings within 60 days of travel will not be considered and will trigger full cancellation penalty.
  5. For bookings for third-party services, the relevant third-party terms and conditions will apply. These terms and conditions are available on request.

REFUNDS OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE AGAINST A BOOKING

  1. Any refund due by Thornybush to the client may, at the discretion of the client, either be held as a future credit by Thornybush in the name of the client at full value for use against any future booking or returned to the client subject to a 3% administration fee on the full booking value.
  2. Credit and refund values are strictly in the contracted service currency and are not subject to any exchange rate consideration thereon.
  3. The above excludes all 3rd party provider payments. Refunds for 3rd party providers are subject to their terms and conditions. These are available on request. 

PAYMENTS

  1. Payments to Thornybush may be affected by either:
    • Virtual Card Services (VCS). A link will be generated and sent on request from the client; or by
    • Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) directly into bank account, details provided below.
  2. Proof of payment in respect of any reservation must be emailed to the Thornybush consultant attending the reservation.
  3. Bank account details are:
    Inzalo Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd trading as Thornybush
    First National Bank
    Wierda Valley Branch Code: 260950
    Account Number: 62357054958
    Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ

CHILDREN TRAVELING WITH GUESTS AND AS GUESTS

  1. For visits to Thornybush Game Lodge, Kamara House, Nkelenga Villa and Little Saseka
    • Children of all ages are welcome.
    • Children under 6 years of age are not permitted on game drives
    • A private vehicle is required to guarantee game drives for children. This is subject to availability and can only be confirmed 48 hours prior to travel, at an additional cost.
  2. For visits to Saseka Tented Camp and Simbambili Game Lodge
    • Children 12 years and older are welcome.
  3. For visits to Little Saseka, children of all ages are welcome when booked along with a private vehicle.
  4. Kamara House accepts children of all ages when booked on sole use.
  5. Children under 16 years of age are not permitted on bush walks. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult during game drives.
  6. Notwithstanding the above points, Thornybush management may refuse anyone whom they may deem unsafe / unsuited to participate in any activity.

MANDATORY LEVIES AND FEES

Valid for calendar year

For visits to destinations in the Thornybush Nature Reserve:

  • Costs are based on the published rates. 

For visits to destinations in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin:

  • Costs are based on the published rates.
  • Please note: The Sabi Sand Wildtuin gate fee is payable directly at Gowrie Gate (for guests staying at Simbambili).

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

  • Thornybush will not be held responsible for any actual or alleged loss, liability, damage, claim, compensation, injury, sickness, disease, death, medical payment, costs or expenses, including legal or professional costs, or any other amount, directly or indirectly caused by, arising from, or in connection with a Communicable Disease or fear or threat (whether actual or perceived) of or associated with a Communicable Disease.
  • For the purposes of this clause, loss, liability, damage, claim, compensation, medical payment, cost or expense, or any other amount, includes, but is not limited to, any cost to clean-up, detoxify, remove, monitor or test for a Communicable Disease.
  • A Communicable Disease means any disease which can be transmitted by means of any substance or agent from any organism to another organism where the substance or agent includes, but is not limited to, a virus, bacterium, parasite or any other organism or any variation thereof, whether deemed living or not, and the method of transmission, whether direct or indirect, includes but is not limited to, airborne transmission, bodily fluid transmission, transmission from or to any surface or object, solid, liquid or gas or between organisms, and the disease, substance or agent can cause or threaten death, bodily injury, illness, emotional distress, damage to human health, human welfare or property damage. 

General Terms

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is the guests’ sole and absolute responsibility to ensure that they have adequate and suitable comprehensive travel and medical insurance in place to cover themselves, as well as any dependents | travelling companions. This insurance should include cover in respect of, but not limited to, the following eventualities: cancellation or curtailment of the booking, emergency evacuation expenses, medical expenses, hometown repatriation expenses, damage and/or theft / and/or loss of personal property, baggage, money, and goods. Thornybush, their representatives, directors, officers, employees, and agents will not be responsible for any damage, loss, costs or expenses incurred or suffered by the guest, or guest’s dependents or travelling companions, as a result of or in connection with any of the abovementioned events. Guests will be charged directly by the relevant service providers for any emergency services they may require and may find themselves in a position unable to access such services should they not be carrying the relevant insurance cover. 

SUPERVENING THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF PERFORMANCE

In the event that either party cannot perform its obligations in terms of this agreement due to any reason out of its control, including but not limited to; force majeure, acts of God, travel bans and restrictions imposed by a competent authority or the government of the Republic of South Africa, both parties will be excused from any obligation in terms of this agreement in respect of only the affected reservation/s.

HEALTH

  • It is the guests sole and absolute responsibility to ensure that they are aware of and take any necessary health precautions recommended or required for travel with Thornybush, as well as to declare their medical status in relation to COVID-19 or any other Communicable Diseases
  • It should be noted that malaria is endemic to Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces where Thornybush lodges are located.

DATA MANAGEMENT AND PRIVACY

  • Subject to the applicable Laws, including the European General Data Protection Regulation and South African Protection of Personal Information Act, and Thornybush Privacy Policy, Thornybush is committed to the protection of personal information and the Guests right to privacy.
  • Personal data collected and stored by Thornybush will be used for the sole purpose of:
    • Fulfilling its obligations in terms of the reservation; and
    • Market data analysis.
  • Thornybush may retain such personal information for as long as is necessary or legally required in order to render its services or as may be required to comply with relevant statutory obligations under Applicable Laws.
  • Except to the extent of its own gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct, Thornybush will not be directly or indirectly liable or responsible for any damages suffered by the Guest as a result of the transmission any information disclosed to Thornybush through electronic means.
  • By confirming the booking, Guests consent to the lawful processing of their personal information by Thornybush.
  • Guests may, at any time, withdraw the consent provided on written notice to Thornybush.
  • Thornybush will cease to process and destroy the personal Information In respect of which consent has been withdrawn.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

“Thornybush Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property owned by Thornybush including (without limitation), all rights of copyright and related rights (such as copyright vesting in programming, algorithms, methods, methodologies, models, procedures, processes, techniques, analyses, templates, technical information, plans and procedures, marketing and business information, financial information, generalised features of the structure, user interfaces and screen designs, general purpose consulting and software tools, utilities and routines and logic, coherence and methods of operation systems, research, reports and findings), object code; source code, database rights, concepts, discoveries, ideas, trade marks (including the THORNYBUSH, SASEKA, SIMBAMBILI and KAMARA trade marks), domain names (including thornybush.com and thorybush.co.za) and related goodwill, know-how and trade secrets.

  • The Company acknowledges that Thornybush is the owner of the Thornybush Intellectual Property.
  • Thornybush shall retain title over the Thornybush Intellectual Property and the Company shall not acquire any proprietary rights to the Thornybush Intellectual Property in terms of this Agreement.
  • Thornybush agrees that the Company may use the Thornybush trademarks solely to advertise and sell accommodation at lodges owned by Thornybush.
  • Upon termination of this agreement the Company shall cease all and any use of the Thornybush Intellectual Property and shall not use any of the Thornybush Intellectual Property in future. 

For purposes of this clause, the following terms shall have the following definitions:

“Best Industry Practice” includes, in relation to an obligation, undertaking, activity or a service, the exercise of a degree of skill, speed, care, diligence, judgement, prudence and foresight and the use of practices, controls, systems, technologies and processes, which would be expected from a skilled, experienced and market leading service provider that is an expert in
performing the same or similar obligation, undertaking, activity or service and utilising and applying skilled resources with the requisite level of expertise;

“Company Data” means any data, including any information which may be treated or defined as “personal information” in terms of any Data Protection Legislation, supplied to or acquired by Thornybush or its personnel by or on behalf of the Company, or Processed by or on behalf of the Company or its personnel.

“Data Protection Authority” means any regulator or competent authority with jurisdiction or authority over the Processing of Personal Information under or in connection with this agreement.

“Data Protection Legislation” means any data protection or data privacy laws applicable in the Republic of South Africa from time to time, including but not limited to the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013, the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000, the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002, the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 and the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020;

“Data Subject” means each identified or identifiable (whether directly or indirectly) juristic or natural person to whom any Personal Information relates;

“Personal Information” means information relating to any person, including but not limited to: (i) information relating to the race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, national, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental health, well-being, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth of the person; (ii) information relating to the education or the medical, financial, criminal or employment history of the person; (iii) information relating to the financial affairs of the person; (iv) credit card details and transactional data; (v) any identifying number, symbol, email address, physical address, telephone number or other particular assignment to the person; (vi) biometric information about a person; (vii) personal opinions, views and preferences of a person; (viii) correspondence sent by the person that is implicitly or explicitly of a private or confidential nature or further correspondence that would reveal the contents of the original correspondence; (ix) the views or opinions of another individual about the person; (x) the name of the person if it appears with other personal information relating to the person or if the disclosure of the name itself would reveal information about the person; and (xi) any other information which may be treated or defined as ‘personal information’ in terms of any applicable laws, including Data Protection Legislation;

“Process” means to collect, receive, record, organize, collate, store, develop, retrieve, consult, use, disseminate or perform any other act or action, including any other act or action which may be treated or defined as “process” or “processing” in terms of any applicable laws (including Data Protection Legislation). The word “processed” shall have a corresponding meaning;

“Responsible Party” shall have the meaning given in the applicable Data Protection Legislation; and

“Thornybush Data” means any data, including any information which may be treated or defined as “personal information” in terms of any Data Protection Legislation, supplied to or acquired by the Company or its personnel by or on behalf of Thornybush, or Processed by or on behalf of Thornybush or its personnel.

  1. For purposes of the Data Protection Legislation, each Party agrees that in the instances where either of the Parties is regarded as a Responsible Party, such Party will act as an independent Responsible Party and shall independently fulfil all of its obligations under the Data Protection Legislation.
  2. To the extent that the Parties act as independent Responsible Parties, each Party will ensure that, to the extent required under applicable Data Protection Legislation:
    • in the case of the Company, Process the Thornybush Data (or any other Personal Information) in accordance with the applicable Data Protection Legislation.
    • in the case of the Thornybush, Process the Company Data (or any other Personal Information) in accordance with its privacy notice https://www.thornybush.com/privacy-policy/
    • it has a demonstratable legitimate ground under applicable Data Protection Legislation to Process the Personal Information (and where the legitimate ground relied upon is consent, that it has retained a written record of such consent);
    • it provides clear and sufficient information to Data Subjects of the purposes for which it will Process their Personal Information, the legal basis for such purposes and such other information as is required by the applicable Data Protection Legislation; and
    • Immediately notify the other party where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Personal Information has been accessed or acquired by an unauthorized person. In such event, the party making the notification must immediately:
      • take all measures necessary to determine the scope of the compromise and to restore the integrity of the affected infrastructure.
      • take steps to minimize the impact of the security compromise.
      • provide all information which may be reasonably required by the other Party.
      • make any submission or notifications that may be required to a Data Protection Authority, Data Subjects or any other person; and
      • co-operate fully with the other Party in relation to any investigation that it may initiate, or which may be initiated by an investigator or the Data Protection Authority.
  3. Both Parties shall take all reasonable and appropriate technical and organizational precautions and measures necessary to secure the integrity and confidentiality of the Personal Information, and to prevent any (i) loss of, damage to, or unauthorised destruction of Personal Information; or (ii) unauthorised or unlawful access to or Processing of the Personal Information.
  4. The Company hereby indemnifies Thornybush and holds Thornybush harmless from and against all losses, damages, costs, expenses, penalties and fines that Thornybush may sustain or incur arising from a breach by the Company of this clause or any other claim that may arise in respect of the Personal Information provided or made available by the Company to Thornybush.

THIRD PARTY SERVICES

Thornybush acts as an agent only in securing services outside of our own lodges and therefore cannot be held liable for any loss, damage, injury, accident, delay, or any other irregularity that may occur by suppliers other than Thornybush.

BREACH

Either party shall be entitled to, without prejudice and in addition to any rights which they may have in terms of this agreement or in terms of the law of the Republic of South Africa, terminate this agreement with immediate effect or uphold this agreement and in either event to claim such damages as it may have suffered in the event that the other Party:

  • Commits a breach of any of the terms and conditions of this agreement, and fails to remedy such breach within a period of 7 (seven) days of receiving written notice thereof from the other party; or
  • Does not fulfil the conditions of payment agreed between both parties; or
  • Takes steps or has steps taken against it for liquidation, winding up, deregistration, judicial management; or
  • Has committed an act of insolvency or an act which would be deemed an act of insolvency by the law of the Republic of South Africa and /or in the country of domicile (i.e. registration and incorporation) of the client 

TERMINATION

Either party has the right to terminate this agreement by giving the other party not less than thirty days written notice. Such notice shall not prejudice any rights which may exist prior to or during such notice period, during which both parties shall remain committed to fulfil any and all obligations in terms of this agreement.

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