Off the beaten track. Rugged landscape showcasing the Big Five. The lap of luxury in a prehistoric Bushman setting.
This is Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. Set along the lesser travelled Route 62 highway which runs some 450km from Cape Town to Oudtshoorn. Often referred to as the ‘inland alternative’ to the Garden Route, this route takes you through rural South Africa, past tiny dust-ridden towns and into the Klein Karoo, a stretch of arid semi-desert which meanders its way up country.
The 54000-hectare Sanbona reserve is sandwiched between the towns of Barrydale and Montagu, set against a landscape of rolling hills. The San (Bushmen) were the first to wander this area and their history echoes across the expansive plains. Both the reserve’s lodges – Tilney Manor and Khanni Lodge – are themed on these prehistoric people and the design is a welcome change from the traditional African safari lodge. Plus the area is malaria-free so swop your medication for a Martini at the bar.
We stayed in Tilney which was luxurious beyond belief – all six rooms just about constituted their own manor with private balconies, Victorian baths and outdoor showers. Throw in a plush pool to cool off in – or a spa to soak your bones after a day in the bush and you have a match made in Heaven. And we hadn’t even got to the game viewing yet!
The reserve is home to the Big Five – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo – as well as an array of antelope and small game. We were lucky enough to spot a herd of elephants and a myriad of jackals and hyenas prowling across the plains as the sun set beyond the dusty horizon. Given the size of the reserve, it was difficult to spot game but there are plans afoot to introduce 3000 head of game which will make Sanbona arguably the most authentic safari experience in the Western Cape.
All meals were exceptional culinary feasts and the personal attention we received from our ranger and all the other staff was top-class. And at the end of our day, the stars came out to illuminate the night sky as the sounds of the bush reverberated around us. We celebrated with champagne in the spa – a fitting end to our time in Sanbona.
It won’t be our last.