Sanbona Wildlife Reserve Travel Guide: Top Sights in South africa,

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Sanbona Wildlife Reserve- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Natural Scenery; South Africa; 5 Reviews

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Suggested Duration: 8 hours

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve occupies around 58,000 hectares of the Little Karoo, approximately a three‑hour drive from Cape Town along Route 62, against the dramatic backdrop of the Warmwaterberg Mountains. Once degraded farmland, Sanbona has undergone a two‑decade rewilding transformation that has restored native fynbos, succulent karoo and renosterveld biomes. This recovery has supported the return of the Big Five and locally extinct species such as desert black rhino and Cape mountain zebra, alongside rare riverine rabbits and 200+ bird species. Cultural heritage is woven into the reserve's fabric, with seven known San and Khoi‑Khoi rock‑art sites dating back 3,500 years, and fossil traces echoing Devonian‑era marine life. Operated under a non‑profit model since 2020, Sanbona channels lodge revenue into conservation, renewable‑energy infrastructure, anti‑poaching efforts and local community development. Travelers can join twice‑daily game drives, guided nature walks, stargazing sessions, and fossil‑site visits, experiencing both the region's ecological revival and its deep cultural roots.

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Reviews of Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

Christy Ricketts

5
Reviewed: 2025-06-21

Sanbona was stunning and offered a five star safari experience. Located in the Little Karoo about three hours from Cape Town, the expedition was first-class. The transportation provided was a must for reducing stress and arriving on-time so we could experience the evening game drive and a sunset cocktail overlooking the hippos. The food and service were outstanding, and our game driver, Marco, was superb! We saw giraffes, elephants, rhinos, lions, cheetahs, hippos, zebras, and more. The early morning game drives were made comfortable with hot water bottles, coffee, and endless snacks. The picnic lunch overlooking the mountains and star-gazing Braai were also highlights of the trip. Sanbona was the perfect Safari option if you want to skip the trip to Kruger. Note: it is recommended to bring cash in Rand for tips. 350 Rand per couple per day for your safari guide and a daily staff tip at your discretion.
Bam

5
Reviewed: 2025-06-07

A fabulous time! We stayed in Tilney manor for 3 nights. Everything was exceptional. Such a beautiful experience seeing all the wildlife, Jan was our safari guide, he has experience is knowledgeable and ever so humorous to be around! Thank you to Tilney staff for management of our rooms, the delicious meals and an all round a memory my husband and I will reflect on for a lifetime! Definitely recommend to anyone looking for an ethical safari experience and still be close to Cape Town!
Narayan Sundaresan

5
Reviewed: 2025-06-01

We are from NY: this reserve is spectacular and the accommodations and service are absolutely great. We stayed for 4 days and we recommend it! Got to see beautiful animals in their natural settings! Scenery and plant life are incredible!
Léonie Schmocker

5
Reviewed: 2025-04-13

I visited Sanbona Gondwana Family Lodge with my parents and we received a very friendly welcome. Our Ranger was very knowledgeable and generally a well rounded guide. We saw a lot even though the Wildlife Reserve is enormous. They really take good care of their animals and nature. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and can only recommend anyone thinking of going. Thank you for having us!
Annelise Shannon

5
Reviewed: 2025-04-07

This was one of the best experiences I’ve had. We saw so many animals and we got to get so close! The animals would walk right by and totally ignore the vehicle. Our guide was knowledgeable and had answers to all of our questions. The place is so big. They have trackers on some of the animals so you will see all of them. They don’t interfere with animals and they are great with the conservation. Definitely worth paying for. The rooms are so big and nice. There is a pool and spa. Drives are about 3 hours long. The workers are all so nice and care about your stay. All of the food is included and believe me you will never go hungry, the food is amazing. There are different lodges including a family lodge so you won’t have kids on your drives. Defiantly would tell everyone to go there, it’s amazing!