Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

Western Cape, South Africa

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is situated in the famed Karoo region of South Africa. The Karoo is an open, dry and harsh environment that is dominated by a diverse variety of succulent plants and broken rock formations. The night skies are astounding. There is something about the vast openness of the Karoo that soothes weary travellers minds and souls. The flora consists mostly of the typical succulents, renosterveld, acacia thornveld thickets and grazing areas along the dry river lines. Beautiful and unusual birds and reptiles are found on the property. The area is rich in fossil sites and a number of San rock painting sites have been discovered on the reserve.

Sanbona itself is a massive 54 000 hectare reserve which is split in to three sections. The southern section which mosts guests drive through is 25000 hectares in size. This contains most general game species and the cheetah and a few private lodges are situated here. Midway through the property you cross over an electric fence line and in to another area of approximately 25 000 hectares where all the lodges are situated. It is in this area that the Big 5 and cheetah roam. An area of over 4000 hectares has been separated from the main game viewing area in order to breed certain animals. It is here that a small herd of disease free buffalo can be found. Guides and research staff use telemetry to track certain collared animals improving the probability of sightings of lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino. An area of 12 000 hectares has been assigned a wilderness area and as such no roads occur in this area. Guests have the opportunity to walk in this area but no human imprints can be left.

There are 3 commercial camps currently on the reserve:

The flowering season during August and September is spectacular. The area is also rich in fossil and San painting sites which your guide will likely show you during the course of your stay. Although the reserve is over 54 000 hectares in size most of the game drives and walks are taken in the main game viewing area in the north of the reserve which is around 25 000 hectares.

The Wilderness Foundation’s Green Leaf environmental assessment programme has chosen to use Sanbona as its base model for its biodiversity accreditations. The reserve has also entered into a stewardship agreement with Cape Nature (a provincial nature agency) to manage the reserve under a strict conservational code of ethics. Sanbona’s status is that of a Provincial Nature Reserve.