Welcome to Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, private game reserve & safari lodges near Cape Town, Spa & Big Five (big 5) in the Western Cape :.

If you have comments for us about your stay at Sanbona then please email us. We would love to hear from you.

Brian & Susan Barry, Ireland. (August 2010) I would like to say a very special thank you to you all at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve for making Myself and Susan’s stay on our honeymoon at your resort one that we will remember for the rest of our lives. You really over exceeded our expectations and again I would like to thank you all we can't wait to return.

Andre Botha, Trans Africa Safaris (May 2010) We were thoroughly impressed with Sanbona! The Karoo has a special place in my heart and I love that landscape – all the succulents, beautiful rock faces and plains. We were pleasantly surprised by the amount of game we saw. Not sure whether we got lucky, but we saw game on our Sat morning drive that will rival the Kruger, Madikwe and Botswana. Whilst you probably won’t see the Big 5 (we did see leopard spoor in the road on Sunday morning!!), I really don’t think you have to downplay the game side of the experience. It is there – we had marvelous sightings of lion, elephant, rhino, giraffe, kudu and many more. Plus, saw really good birds.

Wayne Shepley, Australia. To each & everyone of the friendly & helpful staff at Dwyka Camp on Sanbona my sincere thanks for an amazing stay. From the moment my daughters & I were met on arriving at Dwyka Camp we knew instantly we should have booked for at least two nights instead of the single night we'd set aside. The level of luxury accommodation as well as the quality of service & the standard of the meals could not possibly be faulted. In particular I'd like to acknowledge how helpful & obliging the staff were when it came to providing meal options for my youngest daughter who is gluten intolerant & doesn't eat red meat. As soon as the staff were aware of my daughter's dietary restrictions they did everything possible to ensure Jess would have enough to eat during her stay.

I had also arranged for my daughters to enjoy a hot stone massage at the spa tent during their stay. On their return to our tents following their massage they continued to tell me how much they'd enjoyed their treatment & asked why I hadn’t booked other sessions for them to enjoy.

Our ranger Mark certainly did everything he could on our night & morning game drives to ensure we saw all the animals of Sanbona. We returned from our night game drive having been within 'touching distance' of two male white lions as they slowly & nonchalantly strode up to & around our vehicle. The game drive the next morning was just as exciting with the opportunity to watch white & tawny lionesses, white rhino, elephants, hippopotamus, giraffe & cheetah all within close range from our vehicle.

There's one thing I'm sure of & that is on my next trip or my daughters' next trip to South Africa, top of our list will be a 2 night stay at the Dwyka Camp at Sanbona. Once again, to everyone involved thank you all for making our stay something wonderful which will remain in our memories for the rest of our lives.

Michael & Heather Wright, SA. We would like to express our appreciation for a truly wonderful stay at Gondwana. We were so thrilled and proud to see what is being done at Sanbona re conservation of the land, flora and the wildlife and birds in general. The area is so vast and so beautiful. The food was excellent and so were the wines. The whole team at Gondwana were extremely friendly and hospitable. They looked after us very well. Marco was our host. His enthusiasm and pride were a joy to witness. He was so keen to share his knowledge. He did really well. Our companions were good fun too. We would love to visit again and would like to be kept on any mailing list that you might have. We obviously need to make use of your specials. We were so pleased to discover that, as South Africans we were not excluded, by cost, to your beautiful reserve. When and how do those specials work.

Neil Liversedge and Beccy Rix, UK. We are writing to say a big thank you to all at Sanbona for the terrific stay we recently experienced. We stayed for a couple of nights at Godwana Lodge from 6^th to 8^th September. Although the early spring was chilly, the weather was bright and we had a truly fantastic time. The warmth of your staff, the knowledge of your rangers and the beauty of the landscape around Sanbona was so, so brilliant. On the last morning our highlight was seeing tawny Lions stalking a heard of Springbok just a minutes drive from the lodge. Truly fantastic. And watching the elegant elephants grazing near the staff quarters was something we both could have sat and watched from morning til night!!! Can we please ask you to pass on our thanks to all of your staff, we had a brilliant time and we hope to see you again soon!

Tom and Vera Sugden, UK. Vera and I just wanted to say thank you so much for making our wedding day such a success. I really can't fault a single thing. The accommodation was amazing, the food was delicious, and the service and attention to detail was outstanding. I definitely will recommend Sanbona to any friends visiting South Africa, and I know that my brother and his wife will also recommend it to their friends. Thank you so much for all your patience and hard work, and to the Dwyka staff too.

Barry Giggins, South Africa. Together with Don & Marion Forsyth we have just completed a two day stay at Sanbona & thought that you would like to have some feedback. What a surprise as we did not know exactly what to expect. From the warm welcome from Chris at the main gate to our waiter George we were pampered & our every whim taken care of - nothing seemed to be too much trouble & everything happened with no fuss or bother. The food from Dixon in the kitchen was good & plentiful!! A special thank you to Christopher our game ranger - we fully appreciate just how big the reserve is & how difficult it is to find game which we also realize, in these early days, is scarce but he went out of his way to make the drives as interesting as possible with lots of little snippets of useful information & background. He is obviously passionate about his job & Sanbona - a real asset to the company. It all seems to hang together with the capable & enthusiastic management of Peter & Jessica - they make an excellent team. So a BIG thank you for a wonderful two night in a very unique place. Please let me know when you next have "specials" for South Africans - we will be back!!

Coenie and Emmi Fick (South Africa). I would like to compliment the Mantis Group on it's excellent service, and I must say I am"proudly South African" when one can write such a letter. The first contact that I had with the group was the central booking department. The ladies were extremely efficient, competent and helpful. I really do need to single out 2 ladies in particular namely Anissa and Kim. On arrival at Sanbona things only got better, the staff are wonderfully trained and not only do they make you feel extremely welcome, but nothing seems to be to much trouble for them. The lodge managers really go to alot of trouble to ensure things are just right. The game drives were great and again our rangers were fantastic. From the above you have probably gathered that I have been there more than once, well by the 16th of October I would have visited Sanbona 4 times, that in it's self speaks volumes of my experience at Sanbona. Please could this letter be redirected to the correct person. Well done Mantis you certainly are getting achieving what you set out to do.

Nick & Zoe Nieuwstadt. IT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME!!!! We had such a wonderful night away! But just one thing....We should have stayed 2 nights!!!!! Service and food was excellent and we really felt well looked after! On the game drive we saw all the animals except for leopard, We even walked on foot to the cheetah we were about 10 meters away And he was totally relaxed with us. Awesome experience thanks to Out fantastic driver Solomon.
We are definitely going again next year but for 2 nights, so please keep us informed
As to when they have the special on again.

Matthew, Anne and Jon Clarke (UK) Just arrived back in the UK from our holiday to South Africa which included a weekend stay with you. We truly enjoyed our stayand must compliment you on the whole experience. The lodges were of a very high standard and the foodexcellent. We had a very good ranger in Natasha who proved very knowledgeable. She tried very hard to track down the cheetahs for us but sadly with no luck. This did not retract from our stay as we saw the White Lions, elephants at the watering hole and a beautiful giraffe in lovely sunshine at her own watering hole as well as many other birds and wildlife. The BBQ evening was wonderful too and it was nice that Natasha joined us too. I would also like to thank Marius wholit a small fire for our son to roast the Marshmallows he had brought.
We will not forget our experience and hope to return soon

Matthew & Mary Ann Syphus (South Africa) We so enjoyed our longweekend at Sanbona. As two individuals who through our voluntarily work as Honorary Rangers with Sanparks are very concerned for our fragile eco-environment, we were so impressed at what has been achieved at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve and at the commitment, passion and enthusiasm of all we met who work at Sanbona. In particular, we again wish to thank and express our deep appreciation to our ranger, Natasha for going the extra mile, and most notably our encounter with the Cheetahs will remain with us for a long time. We appreciated being able to share your passion for these most beautiful cats. Thank you.
To Richard and Ilande, thank you for the warmth of your hospitality and congratulation on a well-run but friendly resort and hotel. Your staff are well-trained and committed to the ethos of Sanbona (the good humour of Marius and Christopher were a really tonic!) Keep up the good work.
To the management of Sanbona, thank you for the opportunity afforded South African to also enjoy the joys of Sanbona through your winter specials. We hope that this will contiue as we'd love to return next year. Please continue the good work being done at Sanbona, and we have learnt a lot and have a greater understanding of just what it has taken (financially and energy-wise) to bring about this piece of Klein Karoo haven in the midst of the surrounding farmlands. One just has to stand still outside at night with the bright starry sky over head and the stillness of the night broken occasionally by jackal-calls or the hoot of a Eagle owl, or to travel through the unique, beautiful eco-environments during the day and watch Eland, Blesbok and Springboks grazing, to appreciate just what has been achieved. Simply, thank you.

Mara Lanzette-October (Grosvenor Tours).I was really blown away by Dwyka Camp – the excellent décor was shown throughout the rooms and common areas; the section of the reserve in which it was built gave the idea that one can “hide away” behind the cliff and spend some quality time with a partner.

Nick Buckland (Into Africa). I have a much clearer idea now of what Sanbona has to offer. Personally I thought it was beautiful. Very different and with so much space. We actually had very successful game drives taking in fossils and bushmans paintings as well as elephants and white lions.

Wendy Levendall (Thompsons Holidays). The two lodges are absolutely stunning and caters for 2 different markets, but both equally stunning. The Kids activities at Gondwana are great and definately has been devoloped to educate which is excellent.

Mary-Anne du Plessis (Kobo Safaris). The lodges are beautiful, the staff are excellent and the attention to detail is superb. Sanbona is a magical gem that lies so close to Cape Town and offers so much and I am looking forward to sharing my experience with the team here at Kobo and selling this magic to our clients.

Derek Boshard (Go2Africa). I was wowed by the Sanbona experience. How proud you must be to have successfully reclaimed, restocked and protected an area of such magnificent beauty and history.

Bonita Twigg (Go2Africa). Sanbona is a gem in the sense that not only do they offer the big 5 but also other activities and cover different areas of interest. There seems to be a greater awareness of the environment and a bigger focus on the little things (which is what I often feel is missing when you visit the reserves that focus purely on the big 5).

Valeri Mouton (&Beyond). I was super impressed with the planning and the property. The staff are lovely, food delicious and the game drives very interesting and informative (such a lovely cheetah sighting not to mention the stunning white lions).

Medina and Luca. Safari experience was great and Sanbonna is an absolutely remarkable place I think. You don't really expect to find yourself in the middle of such wilderness after you passed the entrance gate. I think that's the best part of it. The lodge is extremely comfortable and serene (we actually had some regrets we didn't stay 1 more night there). I would really recommend Sanbonna to everyone because also the quality of safari is fantastic. From their web-site you don't understand that they have soooo many animals there (they are modest!!!). We saw hippos, white lions, elephants, giraffes, jackals and etc all within 2-5 meters from the car. Amazing

Celeste Abrahams, European Sales Manager, DGB International. My journalists who just left loved it. Karen is an amazing manager, Natasha fantastic and the staff are so friendly. It was truly amazing. I just heard from people who were there at the same time as us and they said it was the best safari they have ever been on. You will soon have 7 new Sanbona Ambassadors!

Rosalie and John. (South Africa) We returned last night after 2 of the most memorable days/nights of our lives. Tilney Lodge was wonderful. We were thoroughly spoilt and felt like millionaires - Every member of the staff was special and the game drives were great with our ranger called Heinrich. It is such beautiful countryside. We hear that they will be having REAL celebrities next week. Thank you for the arrangements you made for us. It was much appreciated.

Anne, Laetitia, Hannetjie and Shimri Muir (South Africa) Hi Keeren and the rest of the staff at Tilney! Just wanted to say thank you all for the fantastic time we spent with you guys, especially to Herman (the medicine man) and his care he showed towards us, Zaieeda, Anrick and Marius. Also the staff behind the scenes that we didn’t meet. Say thank you to Natasha for her patience and bless her eagle eyes. Hope to see you all again in the future. We will send the photos soon.

Louis and the team (African Dreams) What an eventful and magnificent stay we had at Tilney Manor. Our weekend was unfortunately dominated by the severe cold front but at least we could experience the hospitality and comforts of the lodge to the full. We arrived to a 64km wind and it would not have been forgiving on the open vehicle. The next morning the snow did actually arrive as forecasted. It most definitely did not spoil our weekend in any way although we did not get to see any of the reserve or animals, other than the fantastic drive to the lodge. I have to complement Madelein and her team on their professional and friendly approach. Now that we had the introduction we will most definitely be recommending Sanbona frequently. The food was great and it would have been a great to have met the chef to congratulate personally. The rooms and facilities are magnificent and fit for the most demanding guests. Most important of all, the friendly staff all round is what makes the place great. Thank you for making our stay possible.

Christl and Dieter Nennstiel : AST-Reisen. My husband and I stayed at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve this year and count this experience among the most memorable ones that we have had in South Africa. For us as tour operators it is indeed vital to know a product personally in order to be able to give well-founded advice to potential clients. The incredible vastness of the Reserve stretching as far as the horizon and the austerity of its vegetation make a stay at Sanbona something very special. Moreover, both service and food are outstanding. Tilney Manor offers every modern comfort including a wonderful spa and the exclusivity which sophisticated travellers expect. During the game drives through wonderful landscapes we saw a large variety of animals like giraffes and antelope. We also saw cheetah, could even approach them on foot and follow them for a while. This was definitely a highlight which will always remain in our memory. We were not lucky enough to see elephants, lions – except the white lions in the enclosure - and rhinos, but we know that they are there. After all, a reserve the size of Sanbona is even less a zoo than smaller game reserves and everybody knows that you are not guaranteed to see everything on each game drive.

Norman & Johanne Hamilton. We recently returned home and while showing some pictures were reminded that we needed to express our sincere appreciation to the entire staff of the Tilney Manor. The onsite staff were some of the most accommodating we have had the opportunity to deal with and the Rangers were extremely friendly, knowledgeable and went out of their way to provide an outstanding experience.It is rare that in our travels we take the time to write this kind of recognition. The extra step by Liesl to bring my vehicle and have air added to a low tire was above and beyond.Without a doubt we will recommend your establishment and wish you continued success. We look forward to returning some day! “Words cannot describe, brilliant, amazing, we really enjoyed it. Best Staff we have ever met – Thanks.”(Ireland)

“We enjoyed it very much and will never forget the cheetahs we saw last night” (Germany)

“Mystic experience watching elephant & giraffes. Great Service from all Sanbona staff, gracias, thank you “(Spain)

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