Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

Press Reviews

Guardian, 2010
"Sanbona is the largest private reserve in the Western Cape and home to a rare pride of white lions. It also boasts rock art by the San people dating back thousands of years, and a choice of accommodation - from tented lodges to a manor house."

Frommer's
"The only real Big 5 reserve in the Western Cape, this is a beautiful (if you like arid landscapes) 54,000-hectare (133,380-acre) reserve with luxurious accommodations; time (and money) allowing, make this your next overnight stop - the scenery makes for a very different safari experience, and this is the first (and thus far only) Western Cape reserve big enough to host free-roaming lions. (A few others may claim Big 5 status but the lions are in separate enclosures.)"

Dick Dace for Fox News/H Texas magazine
"The lodges are some of the most romantic hotel rooms in the world. Spacious suites showcase a vast savanna that stretches to the horizon of rolling hills through the French doors in the bedrooms. The creative, world-class meals at Tilney Manor are served on an outdoor patio overlooking an indigenous garden and infinity pool. Ostrich, antelope and wild duck were daily features, paired with the award-winning wines from Steenburg Winery. One evening after watching the animals have their drink, the guides served us champagne in the bush. Since this was our last evening at Sanbona, the butler drew all the guests a bubble bath in their pedestal bathtubs, complete with rose petals, more chilled champagne and heated towels."

Guest Reviews

Reviews are only from people who have stayed there and booked through i-escape.

• “We origninally booked for Tilney Manor since this was the only availability. Sanbona called us two days prior to our arrival to ask if we would move to Dwyka Tented Lodge since there had been a water leak in the room. We agreed and went to Dwyka. It was fabulous. The situation is amazing. The silence seismic and the sky huge! The room was huge with an amazing bathroom in boutique style ( bath on legs, enormous shower) with an outdoor shower and sliding doors onto a private plunge pool. The service was discreet. We did not come across a maid over the two days but the room cleaned twice daily and immaculate. I must mention the Spa. Incredibly professional and wonderfully relaxing. There was a little problem with a tap in the room. It was fixed immediately and apologetically. The lunch menu was more imaginative than the evening menu but the food was beautifully presented and fresh considering the isolation of both Dwyka and the reserve. The game drives were wonderful. A real sense of space and we saw Rhino, Elephants, Giraffe, Hippo, White Lions and pretty much everything else. All the guides were professional and knowledgable and tried to ensure we saw as much as we could. We were within 10 metres of most animals. It was very impressive. I am told that Tilney Manor is also beautiful but slightly more classical in decoration. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay would not hesitate to recommend it.”
  Rebecca, United Kingdom (02.02.10)