A bush getaway is wonderful for the soul. The crisp air, calls of wild animals, stretches of green-brown open land, and silent slumbers under a starry sky make for a wonderful holiday experience. Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is certainly a top choice; it's one of South Africa's largest privately-owned nature reserves, stretching across 58 000 hectares of rich protected ecosystems. The reserve offers unforgettable scenery, animal sightings, beautiful lodgings, and wildlife adventures.
Soak up the rich reserve history
Sanbona has its roots as a private nature reserve built in 1998. However, in 2003, it shifted towards the creation of exclusive five-star lodges for nature-based tourism. It made history by becoming the first privately owned reserve in the Western Cape to succeed in introducing free-roaming Big Five animals. Since then, millions worth of wildlife species has been introduced to the area. The name 'Sanbona' is a tribute to the San people, the hunter-gatherers who lived in the area up to 100 years ago. It combines 'San' and 'bona' meaning ''to see'' which represents their vision of the Little Karoo.
Head off the beaten track
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve offers the chance to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The vast area offers a captivating stillness of undulating mountains, wide open plains, gorges, and rock formations. The reserve is situated between Montague and the Barrydale area. Being a roughly three-hour drive from Cape Town along Route 62, it's a popular destination for city-slickers in search of the quintessential outdoor adventure.
Explore the majestic landscape
The landscape is beautifully rugged thanks to the conservation efforts of the reserve. By striving to create a balance, endangered flora has the chance to thrive. The Klein Karoo region is rich in plant species, and you'll get an eyeful of the area's plantlife in Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. You'll spot kanna or kougoed, the succulent-like ground cover, different types of cassula, and the beautiful but deadly snake lily or slangkop. Be sure to look at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve's map to get more insight into the area.
Go wild spotting wildlife
By investing in restoring the region's biodiversity, Sanbona has a wide variety of wildlife to be admired as they roam the landscape. The Big Five are a favourite; elephant, leopard, rhino, buffalo and lion species now call the wild Karoo plains their home. Other creature spottings include numerous antelope species, elephant shrew, rhinoceros beetle, leopard tortoise, and antlion. The reserve also has 200 species of birds from graceful African Fish Eagles to striking Black Harriers.
Choose your luxury accommodation
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve has an impressive 4.6-star rating on Google Reviews, with many highlighting the superb accommodation on offer. The Dwyka Tented Lodge is hidden by rock formations, making it a secluded, romantic stay for couples. Gondwana Family Lodge is a child-friendly thatched Karoo homestead, overlooking the dam. The peaceful Tinley Manor has spacious open-plan suites leading onto private verandas. For the more adventurous, Sanbona Explorer Camp allows you to sleep in an outdoor tent around a blazing campfire. Prices start from R6 160-R8 155 per adult per night depending on your accommodation option.
Have the time of your life
The reserve is filled with plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained. Here are some of the things you can do on your holiday:
- Take an interactive nature drive with a qualified ranger.
- Go for a nature walk across the reserve's incredible landscapes.
- Relax with the reserve's assortment of world-class treatments and holistic modalities.
- Enjoy stargazing with the help of a high-powered telescope and dedicated ranger.
- Photograph the area's stunning landscapes, rock formations, and animals.
- See the San and the Khoi-Khoi rock art at seven recorded sites.
- Keep the kids occupied with a range of indoor and outdoor activities.
- Head out for a bird-watching session.
The reserve's unique and authentic wildlife experiences and outdoor adventures will be sure to make memories for years to come.
Live close to the wonders of nature
The pleasure of Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is the natural beauty, lavish luxury, and lively recreational activities found on its hectares of land. By living in Barrydale, you'll only be roughly 20 minutes away from this tourist hotspot. View Seeff's properties for sale or properties to let - we look forward to moving you into the home you've always wanted.
Image credit: Sanbona by Jon Mountjoy | Flickr | CC BY 2.0 | bit.ly/3qoJcDm