Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

Only 3 hours from Cape Town, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve  boasts 54 000 hectares of undulating mountains & plains, indigenous flora & fauna, rock formations & rock art. This is a destination not to be missed.

The sheer expanse & stark beauty of the Sanbona gives one a sense of humbleness, the realization of the inconsequentialities of life, a temporary release of the daily stresses of everyday living.

Sanbona allows one to be at peace, allowing one to curl up with a book, seeking solitude & introspection & what's more...

At 54,000 hectares, Sanbona is one of the largest privately owned game reserves in South Africa.

Only 3.5 hours drive from Cape Town which makes Sanbona the closest free-roaming Big 5 reserve to Cape Town.

The ONLY FREE self sustaining White Lions in the World.

Vast open plains & rugged mountains.

Situated on the famous Route 62.

Variety of endemic bird & animal life.

Highly Competent Field Guides.

Previously home to the SAN People where one can experience the Legacy of the Bushman in the Beauty of their Rock Art.

The only conserved habitat for the highly endangered Riverine Rabbit (13th most endangered mammal in the world).

Malaria free.

Situated in the heart of the Little Karoo Wine Route, the longest in the world.

Luxury Lodges ...

Dwyka Tented Lodge

Once the range of ancient Khoisan hunter-gatherers dramatically situated in a horseshoe bend of a dry Karoo ravine and surrounded by awe-inspiring rock formations. These luxurious and secluded tents exude an atmosphere of pioneering adventure in this vast landscape.

Gondwana Lodge

Gondwana Lodge offers endless views over the plains of Bellair Dam and onto Anysberg-mountains. Children of all ages are entertained with its exciting Kids on Safari program.

Tilney Manor

Tilney Manor has six luxuriously appointed rooms. This exclusivity ensures that guests can experience personal service and world-class cuisine in an atmosphere of privacy and tranquillity.

Sanbona Explorer Camp

This unique walking experience is ideal for Guests looking for an adventurous & authentic option offering an ambience of a Tented Bush Camp. The Camp is located in a superbly shaded river line, north east of the Reserve.

Guest Activities ...

Game Drives

Traverse the landscape of Sanbona Wildlife Reserve with a qualified ranger in comfortable open Landcruisers. 

During the drive, be it in the early morning or for sundowners, various species of plants, animals, big game & birds can be seen.

Sundowner evening drives offer spectacular displays of light as the evening sun sets over the Little Karoo.

Birdwatching

For the avid birdwatcher, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is home to more than 200 species. There is a very healthy population of raptors to be seen including African Fish Eagles, breeding pairs of majestic Black Eagles & regular sightings of Black Harrier.

Relaxation Retreat

Step into a soothing sanctuary at the Relaxation Retreats at Sanbona. At our Relaxation Retreats, Mother Nature is brought indoors for indulgent pampering. Our body range draws on properties from the world famous indigenous “Fynbos” plant kingdom, eliminating toxins, soothing the soul & rejuvenating the body. 

Flora & Fauna

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve has about 600 species of plants & it is intriguing to know that various species are flowering at different times throughout the year, although some more prolific between August & September.

Nature Walks

Discover the spirit of the Little Karoo on foot & see the many treasures on the Reserve.

Rock Art

The San people of Africa roamed the area for thousands of years until 100 years ago.  The /Xam tribe, the nomadic hunter-gatherers living in harmony with nature realised then that man & nature together is sustainable.

Rock Formations & Features

Sheer humbleness is experienced beneath the massive examples of Cape folded mountains & thick veins of quartz, displaying rock features of incredible grandeur formed by the earths tempestuous past more than 350 million years ago. Continental collisions, the submergence of the earth's crust & the cataclysmic influence of the oceans have all contributed to the magnificent landscapes of Sanbona Wildlife Reserve.

Stargazing

With the absence of artificial light, the stargazing at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is phenomenal & amongst the best in Southern Africa.