Thornicroft Lodge
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Along the Luangwa River Between Kakumbi village and the park entrance, South Luangwa National Park Zambia
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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About
#10 of 43 in South Luangwa National Park
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Thornicroft is an intimate bush-style lodge set on the banks of the Luangwa River with spectacular views over the Park. At Thornicroft you can explore South Luangwa National Park on unforgettable game drives with our expert guides. On our drives you will explore one of the best parks in Africa to see lion and leopard, not to mention all the other birds and animals that make this valley so unique.Our nine charming bush-style chalets are spread out along the banks of the Luangwa River. Each of our intimate en-suite chalets has fabulous views of the South Luangwa National Park. The chalets are designed for 2 people, but on request we can add a third bed. However if you are looking for a more affordable way to safari we have eight permanent safari dome two-person tents with shared bathroom facilities near the lagoon. The tented camp is closed from January – March.Thornicroft can also arrange transfers from Lilongwe to Thornicroft Lodge.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Pool
Outdoor pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Airport transportation
Non-smoking hotel
Laundry service
Shuttle bus service
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Room features
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Family
River View
Location
Full view
Contact
Along the Luangwa River Between Kakumbi village and the park entrance, South Luangwa National Park Zambia
Getting there
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171Reviews2Q+A27Room tips
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We had a wonderful time there : intimate lodge, nice and comfortable chalets, beautiful sunrises at breakfast on the river, excellent food, a very kind, helpful and attentive staff, always there when we need. Our guide, Godfrey is a very experimented guide, he knows a lot about wildlife. We learnt to read footprints, droppings and alarm calls with him, so tracking animals became so exciting and we saw a lot night and day ! And at last, but not least, he is a very pleasant guy !
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Date of stay: June 2021
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Service
Sleep Quality
Helpful
My group of 7 friends loved our brief stay here. All the staff were attentive and caring and we felt spoiled with beautifully presented food and surroundings. We only had 2 days for our safari, but if we'd stayed longer, I doubt we could have seen more than we did. Boyd was excellent a spotting wildlife and giving explanations. On our first excursion, we saw more than we'd hoped to see in a week. The Valley of the Leopard lives up to it's name. As we progressed into the reserve, Boyd chose excellent times to inform us about birds, flora and little creatures too. He really listened to what our group was interested in and it was clear that he had a good relationship with the other guides who would point us in the direction of a herd of elephants or pride of lions. Our meals were presented beautifully and reminded me of fine dining restaurants. The deserts were decadent and my favorite thing was drinking water that allowed us to take a break from evil bottled water for a short time. We were nervous to try it, but it was fantastic! The only criticism I have is that the wifi didn't save the long, alphanumeric password we were each given. I love that the wifi didn't extend past the common area, as we're there to take in nature, but when the wiifi is limited to a small area, it would be helpful to have the sign in page remember the password, so one did not have to put it in each and every time. Strolling into the wifi area and having it automatically connect would have been nicer as we were trying to communicate with the outside world to coordinate plans etc. The passwords were long, complicated and written with impossibly small font for our age group. This necessitated organized meetings where everyone would type in the password as one person read it out loud. Other than that, the accommodations, pool, proximity to the park, and overall ambiance was top notch and I would gladly return for another, longer stay. (Also, bring cash, the ATMs in town are a little sketchy and Nadja and Dylan were gracious in their efforts to help us circumvent the issue) …
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Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Travelled
Helpful
Response from nadjapilz, General Manager at Thornicroft Lodge
Responded 2 Dec 2019
Dear BOOMERANGO, thank you so much for all your wonderful comments about the lodge and the staff. It was a great pleasure hosting your group and we hope to welcome you and your friends back in the future! We also appreciate your feedback concerning the WIFI as it will help us to improve our guest experience in the future. Currently the Voucher-System is run on a software which was implemented by an external company. We found this company to be the most reliable and professional in terms of internet supply, but we know that the Voucher System can have its limitations. Unfortunately, there are not many alternative options we can use out here in the Bush. We will discuss your feedback with the software company and hopefully they can help us to make the WIFI Vouchers more user-friendly. Please accept my apologies for the small font on the Vouchers, this will be changed immediately. Best greetings from South Luangwa Nadja & The Thornicroft Team
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The adorable Nadja and her husband Dylan made all it was possible to help and manage our stay in Thornicroft . The park gate is only 5 mn drive from the lodge and it is the only handicap for those who would prefer within the park . By the way , we saw dogs or lions just 15 mn away from the gate ! But in Thornicroft, you can hear Lions roarings or hyenas just on the other side of the Luangwa river as well . The swimming Pool is just perfect with sometimes bushbucks and monkeys coming to drink . I saw also a brown hooded king fisher just above the pool ! Godfrey was also a very nice guide with good comprehension of animal behaviors . As a photographer , he understood very quickly what kind of pictures I intended to do .
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Date of stay: October 2019
Rooms
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Service
Helpful
Response from nadjapilz, General Manager at Thornicroft Lodge
Responded 6 Nov 2019
Dear Pierre, thank you so much for your great review! It was a pleasure hosting your group. We hope you managed to take some amazing pictures. Best greetings from our Team
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+1
My husband and I had such a special time with my brother visiting South Luangwa National Park based at Thornicroft Lodge. The team all became like family over the 5 nights and the managers were so friendly and professional, looking after details and anticipating every need or desire. Chalets were comfortable, clean and located on the steep banks of Luangwa River so don’t have to go anywhere to see some great wildlife! One night we had an elephant come eat the marula fruits from the tree just behind our dinner table- that was surreal! The grounds on the property allow for restful experience during safari break time and the shape of the pool is even designed like the borders of Zambia- very creative! We loved the food and friendly service, and as a result probably drank more than we normally do on safari vacations. Thanks for the delicious coffee to make those early morning easier, and to our guides Boyd and Godfrey who were attentive and shared their passion and knowledge with us at some phenomenal wildlife sightings together. We will never forget this special place and already dream of making it a bigger family trip back in 2021 or 2022!…
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Date of stay: June 2019
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from nadjapilz, General Manager at Thornicroft Lodge
Responded 30 Oct 2019
Dear DreamOcean, thank you so much for writing such a lovely review! We feel delighted to hear that you had such a memorable stay with us and are looking forward to meeting your family next time :) I will forward all your compliments to the staff. Best wishes from our Team!
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I generally do not write reviews. However, in this case I felt I must. An excellent stay, Dylan, Nadia and their team were outstanding, the food was very tasty, the rooms by the river were very good. Everyone were arrive oriented and very helpful. Godfrey was an excellent safari guide and very knowledgeable. A lovely small intimate place and I would give my highest recommendation. Bala
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Date of stay: October 2019Trip type: Travelled
Helpful
Response from nadjapilz, General Manager at Thornicroft Lodge
Responded 17 Oct 2019
Dear Bala, thank you so much for being such a wonderful guest! It was a pleasure hosting you and we are happy to hear about your great experience at our Lodge. We wish you all the best for your future travels! Hope to see you again! Nadja and the Thornicroft Team
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LOCATION
ZambiaSouth Luangwa National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
9
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Thornicroft Lodge
Which popular attractions are close to Thornicroft Lodge?
Nearby attractions include Mulberry Mongoose (6.0 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Thornicroft Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a pool, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Thornicroft Lodge?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Thornicroft Lodge?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Thornicroft Lodge have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Thornicroft Lodge offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Thornicroft Lodge have airport transportation?
Yes, Thornicroft Lodge offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Thornicroft Lodge have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the river view available here.