Sanbona Wildlife Reserve Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
Alluring Stillness Amid Raw Beauty And Boundless Plains.
Set within 58,000 hectares of the Little Karoo's ancient, folded landscape, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is one of South Africa's largest privately-owned game reserves - a place where sculpted rock formations, San rock art, and endless Karoo sky replace the more familiar bushveld of the northern safari circuit. A mere three-and-a-half-hour drive from Cape Town along the scenic Route 62, Sanbona offers an authentic Big Five safari experience without the long-haul flight, its conservation-led ethos (the reserve is owned by a non-profit foundation) ensuring every stay contributes directly to protecting this rare convergence of succulent Karoo and fynbos biodiversity.
Guests choose between three distinctive luxury lodges, each with its own character. Tilney Manor, styled in Cape Georgian elegance, offers just six open-plan suites with private garden showers and freestanding baths - an intimate, adults-only retreat prized for its privacy and personal service. Gondwana Family Lodge is the reserve's warm, thatched Karoo homestead overlooking Bellair Dam, with twelve interconnecting suites, a child-friendly pool and dedicated kids' programme making it the natural choice for multi-generational travel. For couples seeking pure seclusion, Dwyka Tented Lodge sits within a dramatic Karoo ravine beneath nesting Verreaux's eagles - a romantic, eco-conscious camp of just nine tented suites, each with its own plunge pool.
Dining at Sanbona reflects the same sense of place as the landscape around it. Each lodge has its own restaurant, where chefs draw on the freshest regional produce and the flavours of the Klein Karoo, blending traditional South African dishes - including a celebrated boma-style braai under the stars - with refined European technique. Meals are paired with an excellent selection of Cape wines, and dining can be tailored to virtually any preference, from candlelit al fresco settings at Tilney Manor to communal fireside feasts at Gondwana.
Beyond twice-daily game drives in search of lion, elephant, rhino and cheetah, Sanbona offers guided nature walks, San rock art tours, birdwatching, and some of the country's clearest stargazing skies. Each lodge has its own pool and spa facilities - including a dedicated Relaxation Retreat with steam room at Gondwana - while families are catered to with a kids' club and tailored Eco-Explorers activities, and couples can arrange private bush dining, boat safaris on Bellair Dam, and in-suite spa treatments for a thoroughly indulgent Karoo escape.
Rooms: 6 Suites at Tilney Manor, 12 Suites at Gondwana Family Lodge, 9 Tented Suites at Dwyka Tented Lodge
Dining: 3 x Restaurants (one per lodge)
Spa: Full Service
Pool: 3 x Pools
Recreation: Twice-Daily Game Drives, Guided Nature Walks, San Rock Art Tours, Birdwatching, Stargazing, Kid's Club & Eco-Explorers Programme
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Prices
Prices are per person for 3 nights. They are subject to availability, change and current exchange rate. You will be advised of the price of the holiday that you wish to book before your contract is confirmed. Includes all meals, beverages (excluding French Champagne), twice daily open Land Rover safaris, walking safaris, mountain biking safaris, archery, laundry and return car transfers.
Low season
from £1,500pp
High season
from £2,300pp
Location
Getting there
Airport: Cape Town International (CPT) 3 hours by road
Flying time
11 hours 25 mins
Time difference
GMT +2 hours
Currency
South African Rand
