Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

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Sanbona Wildlife Reserve | Cape Town, South Africa | Virgin Atlantic Holidays

Cape Town, South Africa

5 stars

The ultimate initiation into the world of South African safaris, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve brings you the 'Big Five', all your classic safari experiences, and extra encounters like visiting ancient rock art sites – and all just a few hours’ scenic drive from Cape Town, through the famous winelands. Its location makes Sanbona the go-to reserve for those wanting to mix urban adventures in Cape Town with wilderness adventures in a 58,000 hectare reserve. The malaria-free reserve offers every kind of safari experience (including game drives, boat safaris, nature walks, stargazing, and relaxation retreats) and every kind of luxury led safari sanctuary (with its secluded Dwyka Tented Lodge, set in a dry riverbed and featuring private Jacuzzis; its luxurious Tilney Manor refuge with its rim-flow pool; its seasonal Explorer Camp for wilderness wanderers; and its Gondwana Family Lodge, with its unique Kids on Safari programme).

Amenities

Safari
Bar
Restaurant
Swimming Pool

Explore the local area

The reserve is located along Route 62, half way between Cape Town and George and just beyond the Winelands. It is in a fantastic location for those self-driving Cape Town to George/Knynsa. Transfer time from Cape Town Airport: 3 hours.

Hotel Information

Room Information
Room Upgrade Information

Tilney Manor features 6 spacious open-plan suites that lead on to private verandas, air-conditioning, fireplace, en-suite bathroom with shower and freestanding bath in the centre, outdoor showers, tea/coffee-making facilities and mini-bar. Suites sleep maximum 2 adults.

Gondwana Family Lodge offers 6 suites on the ground floor with private deck and 6 suites upstairs with private balcony/viewing deck. Each of these suites have air-conditioning, underfloor heating, , and free standing bath, king-size bed or twin beds. Suites sleep maximum 2 adults and 1 child.

Full Board Plus includes: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Tea/coffee, water and game-drive beverages. Daily game-drives and guided walks.

Hotel details

Facilities

3 luxurious lodges and back-to-nature Explorer Camp. Tilney Manor has both in/outdoor dining facilities, rim-flow swimming pool, lounge with fireplace and a Relaxation Retreat* with steam and sauna room. The family friendly Gondwana Lodge offers a Kids on Safari programme as well as indoor and outdoor play areas and a child-friendly pool. The Dwyka Tented Lodge, set in a dry Karoo ravine, features an open-air dining boma, wine cellar, lounge with fireplace and a Relaxation Retreat*. Range of safari activities available including bird watching, game-drives, nature walks, boat safaris, rock art and star gazing. Complimentary WiFi.

Minimum Stay

2 nights between 1 Sep '18-30 Apr '20.

Additional Information

* Denotes local charge.

Trip advisor rating

4.8/5

368 reviews

Excellent

84%

Very Good

11%

Average

Poor

Terrible

“Dwyka lodge luxury”

Oct 13, 2025JimBobOrly

Well worth the long drive, including the hour from the outer gate. You enter a magical wildlife reserve where the various animals roam free and your mobile phone doesn’t have a signal! The Dwyka tented complex is pure luxury, more wooden lodges with a canopy, plus a huge wet-room and hot tub on the deck. The central reception building / restaurant offers three good meals a day so you really won’t be hungry. The guides make the whole experience memorable - Chris was an absolute star. They will take you out at sun rise / sun down for drives in search of the animals. Take note they use adapted 6 seater Toyota Land Cruisers and there are steps up, plus the roads are bumpy. We had amazing encounters with lions, cheetahs (after kills), elephants, rhino, giraffes, baboons and watched the hippos blow water in the large lake. Sun down drinks & snacks were the perfect end to the day - watching giraffes roam close by as the sky turned shades of orange.

“FABULOUS”

Oct 01, 2025bronwynt36

This is one of the best adventures I have been on. I spent 3 nights at the Dwyka tented Lodge. Going out on nature drives morning and evening was fantastic. Our guides passion for the animals here was infectious, he was very knowledgeable and answered all my silly questions!! The food and accommodation are excellent - what more can I say!! I will be back!!

“DWYKA Tented Lodge - AMAZING”

May 27, 2025FarAway36095907944

Absolutely stunning setting. All staff were amazing and made you feel special. Shout out to Monica & Timba, always very informative and interested in what you'd seen. The food was amazing aswell, you'd defo not starve here. Our guides were Joe & Rein both very informative and great at spotting the animals whilst driving. Both lovely guys and easy to talk to. We seen so many elephants, giraffe, zebra, also seen the lion on a couple of drives once when he was trying to find the lionesses and the following day with the lionesses. Also got close to the cheetah and her cubs. Found both white and black rhino's and a glimpse at the hippo. The tented lodge was beautiful and was nice to laze by the plunge pool between game drives. Also saw some animals from our balcony. Cannot rate the resort and the staff highly enough. Loved every second ❤️ x

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Some of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. However, ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed on this website. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: https://www.atol.org/about-atol/atol-certificates.

This product offers you combinations of a hotel and flights at an inclusive price. This product enjoys the protection of the Package Travel, Package Travel and Linked Arrangements Regulations 2018.

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