Most visitors to the Western Cape drive straight through the Karoo; this vast expanse of desert-like wilderness may appear, at a glance, to have little worth stopping for. But if you do stop and absorb the wide changing skies, the carpets of spring flowers, the bizarre rocks, the turquoise river-pools and the fascinating wildlife, it works its slow magic on you.
It certainly worked its magic on the South African entrepreneur who built Sanbona in 2001. Now owned by the Caleo Foundation, a not for profit conservation organisation, this 5-star lodge sits in 58,000 hectares of wildlife reserve. The area of undulating mountains and plains is surprisingly rich in flora and fauna: no fewer than 6,500 species of plant and 160 species of birds, live alongside the many wild animals such as native springboks, zebra and hyena, and the reintroduced 'big 5' (elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion, cheetah). But it is not only about game here. Rangers also show you bizarre rock formations, intricate fossils and 3,500-year-old rock art left by the San people, who lived in these hills until 100 years ago. And the sunsets are stupendous.
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
near Montagu, Hermanus & Overberg, South Africa
Highs
- Arguably the best safari destination in the Western Cape: only a 3-hour drive from Cape Town along the scenic Route 62
- Unusually large conservation area for this region, giving a sense of wilderness with rich animal, bird and plant life and expert rangers to bring it alive for you
- Huge plush suites and those in the Dwyka Tented Lodge have private decks with hot tubs
- Lots to do besides game watching: massage and spa treatments, ancient rock art, guided nature hikes and stargazing
- A dedicated family lodge and kids programme with no risk of malaria make it an ideal choice for those travelling with children.
Lows
- A huge reserve with few big mammals - don’t expect herds or frequent sightings. The Big Five are all present but not as concentrated as some other reserves, like the Kruger.
- The dry and open scenery can be hot in summer (but there's air-conditioning and a pool at the lodge), and cold in winter
- It's not cheap, but all meals and safari drives are included
Best time to go
Sanbona is open all year round and game can be spotted throughout the year. The Karoo is an arid region with an average annual rainfall of just 120mm; it benefits from good sun all year round. From December to February summer temperatures can soar to 35-40C. 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). The milder months April, May, August and September (spring flowers) are preferable.
Our top tips
This is a very large reserve, and big game sightings are rarer than they might be at some other safari lodges in South Africa. 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.