Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

Facilities

• Dining: All meals are included at all of the camps/lodges. Refreshments are brought to you before the morning game drive, followed by a full breakfast afterwards. Dwyka and the 2 lodges have their own restaurant and dinner is often served as an outdoor braai. Explorer Camp guests eat communally and alfresco
• Communal areas: Excluding Explorer Camp, each lodge has a bar/lounge with a fireplace, a dining area, and an open-air boma. Gondwana Lodge also has an outdoor play area and indoor playroom for children
• Swimming Pool: Each lodge has its own pool; Gondwana’s has a shallow area, ideal for children
• Spa Treatments: Sanbona’s relaxation retreat offers massages and beauty treatments, plus the use of saunas and steam rooms
• Recreational: Morning and evening game drives in open vehicles with friendly and very knowledgeable rangers. Armed rangers can take you on a guided walk to take in the flora and fauna, and see the ancient cave paintings in the hills. Explorer Camp package includes a game drive and numerous guided walks/treks with armed guides
• Weddings and Celebrations: A wedding package is available which includes a minister, flowers, a photographer and celebratory treats for the bride and groom. There are various optional extras but accommodation is not included. Enquire for details
• Meetings/Functions: Sanbona’s conference centre can cater for up to 20 people and is situated at the Tilney Manor. There is a TV and overhead projector, and arrangements can be made for any other requirements. The lodge can be hired out on a fully catered basis and has its own game ranger, chef and hostess. Conference packages are available on request
• Disabled Access: None
• Pets: Not accepted
• Languages Spoken: English, Afrikaans

Also...

• Own airstrip for light aircraft transfers
  
  
• Malaria free region
  
  
• 6,500 plant species
  
  
• In 2003 Sanbona introduced a few eland, 4 cheetah and 14 kudu to live alongside the elephant, buffalo, black rhino and lion brought in earlier in the year. Gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest, black wildebeest, bontebok and zebra are also prevalent, as well as natural small game such as jackal, caracal, aardwolf, antbear, brown hyena, grey reebuck, steenbok, klipspringers, grysbok, common duiker and the endangered riverine rabbit. In spite of the 'big 5' being radio-tagged, sightings are not guaranteed
  
  
• 160 bird species. Raptors include african fish eagles, booted eagles, eagle owls and several breeding pairs of majestic black eagles. Of the hundreds of smaller birds, the cinnamon beasted warbler appears at dawn, the southern grey tit sings with 13 different calls, the namaqua sandgrouse travels up to 80km in search of water, and blackwinged stilts forage in and around water areas

Environmental Policy

Sanbona has worked to reintroduce indigenous local animal and plant species, protect and conserve the local rock art, and maintain the surrounding eco-system to encourage the rehabilitation of endangered species (such as the black eagle). The lodge itself uses solar pumps, microjet irrigation and employ responsible methods of waste disposal.

Social Responsibility

The reserve works with local schools to provide environmental education, and participates in the Cape Nature Stewardship Programme.

When to go?

Sanbona is open all year round, excluding the Explorer Camp which opens for the summer only (October-April).

The Karoo is an arid land with an average annual rainfall of just 120mm; it benefits from good sun all year round. In January and February temperatures can soar to 35-40C, so October-December (spring flowers) and March-April are preferable. Low season rates are available from May-September, but it can get very cold during these months (it has been known to snow in June-July).

Author's tips

This is a very large reserve, and big game sightings are rarer than they might be at some other safari lodges. With this in mind, Sanbona is better for real wildlife and nature enthusiasts who will appreciate the plant and birdlife as much as they would the sight of larger mammals.

Features include:

• All meals included
• Room service
• Bar
• Garden
• Terrace
• Guest lounge
• Internet access
• Business centre
• Outdoor pool
• Spa treatment rooms
• sauna
• Steam room
• Concierge service
• Meeting rooms
• Function facilities
• Airport Transfers