10/10 Exceptional
Room and guides were excellent.
Martin
Martin, 2-night trip
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
Mountain lodge in Barrydale with safari and outdoor pool
Nestled in the mountains, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve offers a tranquil retreat with game and wildlife viewing. Unwind at the spa with a massage or facial, indulge in African cuisine at one of 3 on-site restaurants, and enjoy free WiFi by the firepit. The helpful staff has left a lasting impression on previous guests.
Exceptional
Popular amenities
- Pool
- Free breakfast
- Spa
- 24/7 front desk
- Laundry facilities
Main amenities (12)
- Daily housekeeping
- Restaurants
- Outdoor pool
- Seasonal outdoor pool
- Spa services
- Terrace
- 24-hour front desk
- Air conditioning
- Garden
- Library
- Reception fireplace
- Front desk safe
Feel at home (6)
- Playground on-site
- Private bathroom
- Separate bath and shower
- Garden
- Terrace
- Daily housekeeping
Why we love this property
Poolside bliss
The luxury property's outdoor pool area offers comfort with loungers and umbrellas. Guests can dine at the on-site restaurant with pool views.
Relaxation sanctuary
This lodge in a national park offers deep-tissue massages and facials. It features soaking bathtubs and a serene garden for a perfect mountain retreat.
Rustic luxury meets nature
Discover artistic flair in this colonial lodge's garden showcases. Savour mountain views from garden and pool restaurants in this national park retreat.
Room options
Check availability for these dates
Showing 3 of 3 rooms
Dwyka Tented Lodge 1
Excellent
Highlights
Balcony or patio
Private plunge pool
Air conditioning
Heating
Separate bedroom
Premium bedding
Blackout curtains
Bathrobes
- 65 sq m
- Mountain view
- Sleeps 2
- 1 King Bed OR 2 Single Beds
Tilney Manor
Exceptional
Highlights
Balcony or patio
Fireplace
Air conditioning
Heating
Blackout curtains
Separate bedroom
Premium bedding
Bathrobes
- 60 sq m
- 1 bedroom
- Mountain view
- Sleeps 2
- 1 King Bed OR 2 Single Beds
Gondwana Lodge 1
Exceptional
Highlights
Balcony or patio
Air conditioning
Heating
Separate bedroom
Premium bedding
Blackout curtains
Bathrobes
Designer toiletries
- 57 sq m
- Valley view
- Sleeps 2
- 1 King Bed OR 2 Single Beds
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About the area
R62 between Montagu and Barrydale, Barrydale, Western Cape, 6720
About this property
At a glance
Property amenities
Room amenities
Special features
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Sanbona Wildlife Reserve Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
9.8/10
Cleanliness
9.8/10
Staff & service
9.8/10
Amenities
9.8/10
Property conditions & facilities
10/10
Eco-friendliness
Popular mentions
Service staffAnimalsRoomAccomodation TypeLodgeFoodWhat guests liked
- The restaurant offered excellent food with a different choice every meal and provided perfect breakfast and dinner options. (4 reviews)
From real guest reviews summarized by AI.10/10 Exceptional
This place is amazing. Did not want to leave!!
Oliver
Oliver, 3-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
A truly wonderful place.
Sanbona is truly a magical place. The Dwyka Tented Lodge is so wonderfully crafted that you did really feel that you are the only people there. The game drives/guides are fantastic and knowledgable about all the animals and the area itself. The staff at the reserve are second to none and we could not rate than higher. We had the most wonderful time and can’t wait to go back.
Freddie
Freddie, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
This was an amazing experience, the beautiful tented lodge, the game drives with Josh, the landscape, the excellent service an attention to detail. Looking forward to returning in the not so distant future.
Jose
Jose, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Wonderful Experience
This was our first safari experienced in Africa and loved every minute. We loved the whole ethos of Sanbona .... they are creating a wildlife reserve that is a true representation of the semi-arid Little Karoo. There may not be as many animals here as on other large-scale reserves further east but we were privileged to see many species, including witnessing lions chasing an Eiland through the gorge. Our guide, Ryan, was wonderful ... SO knowledgeable, calm, funny and totally passionate about the animals and the whole ecology of the reserve; their ethos surrounding sustainability is outstanding. The scenery is both vast & beautiful.
Rooms were extremely comfortable, service from all staff excellent; we felt valued as guests, particularly regarding the "extras" we received as celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary; a big "thank you" for that.
One small area of disappointment was that the food was a little lacking at times, in comparison to other venues we have stayed on our trip.
We would return in a heartbeat!
Deborah
Deborah, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Unforgettable experience
Stayed in Tilney Manor which was adult only. Very well organised - food excellent with a different choice every lunch and evening meal. Room was large with bath, shower and outdoor shower. Very comfy bed. Alarm call each morning to be ready for the morning game drive at 6.30am. Excellent all round - can not fault them.
Carol
Carol, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Absolutely faultless from start to finish. We had the best experience possible thanks to the wonderful team at Tilney Manor and Jordan, our amazing guide.
Jordan went to every effort to make our game drives as intersting and as tailored as possible. His knowledge and skills are brilliant.
Thank you Sanbona for the memories that will last a lifetime.
David
David, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Fantastik oas i vildmarken! Lyxigt boende, trevlig personal och god mat. Safariturerna var magiska med stor respekt för djur och natur.
Anna
Anna, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
First Safari!
The property is amazing, eco friendly, 10 star comfort, and food.
Friendly and supportive staff. The cottages are incredible!, clean, large super comfortable quarters! very spacious.
The Location is spectacular with incredible views.
The safari excursions are fabulous. The Guides are great. Our guide Nicole was fabulous, friendly and informative.
This is the way to safari!!! Its a must for everyone, especially families! You'll remember this forever!!!
carlos
carlos, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Really love that Place
Nadja
Nadja, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Exceptional Hospitality
Angelika
Angelika, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Sanbona was amazing! They are very focused on the conservation of plants and animals, but manage to do this while offering the utmost luxury! We loved our stay at Sanbona!
Dawn
Dawn, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Unfassbar schöner Aufenthalt! Einfach einzigartig. Zwar nicht ganz günstig, aber dafür ist alles inklusive. Auch die beiden Safari-Ausfahren.
Markus
Markus, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Incrível
Minha estadia no Sanbona Wildlife Reserve foi simplesmente inesquecível! O hotel está localizado em uma reserva natural incrível, onde tive a chance de ver os "Big Five" em um cenário deslumbrante. A experiência de safári foi excepcional, e nosso guia foi fantástico – extremamente conhecedor, atencioso e sempre garantindo que tivéssemos a melhor experiência.
O atendimento no hotel é de outro nível. Desde o momento da chegada, me senti extremamente bem-vinda e mimada. A equipe se dedicou de forma impecável para garantir uma estadia perfeita, com um cuidado constante e personalizado. O restaurante também foi uma experiência à parte. Os atendentes foram extremamente atenciosos. O serviço foi impecável, e a comida era deliciosa.
O quarto era maravilhoso, com muito conforto e uma vista espetacular para a natureza ao redor – um verdadeiro refúgio.
Fui para comemorar o meu aniversário, e a surpresa foi ainda mais especial: fui recebida com espumante e um bolo lindo de aniversário, um gesto que fez toda a diferença e me fez sentir muito especial. Não tenho palavras suficientes para descrever o cuidado e a dedicação de toda a equipe, bem como a qualidade das instalações – tudo superou minhas expectativas!
Se você quer uma experiência única, com luxo, atendimento impecável e a oportunidade de vivenciar a natureza de uma maneira espetacular, o Sanbona é o destino perfeito.
Jane
Jane, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
The best hotel ever stay. I could not say enough how much I enjoy this hotel, staffs are so kind , food is exceptional excellent !! Strongly recommend to stay two nights or more. Will definitely come back !
christy
christy, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
This was a very unique holiday break for 2 days. The service and facilities was excellent and all of the staff were wonderful. Our game reserve guide Jaylee Pietersen, who was very knowledgeable and courteous. It made our wedding anniversary a very memorable experience. Thank for a lovely stay and would recommend to anyone.
David
David, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Great two night stay at Sabona.
We had a great 2 night stay at Sabona Wildlife Reserve.
Especially our game tour guide Nicole gave us three fantastic game drives. She was able to answer any question re. the animals and the plants in the park.
Luckely we saw the BIG FIVE.
The rooms had comfortable beds, a large balcony with perfect wievs of the surrounding area.
Overall the staff was helpful and friendly. The restaurant offered a perfect breakfast and the dinner on the first evening had a good choice of meals. 2.nd evening dinner unfortunately gave us no choice.
Overall we had a very good stay at Sabona Wildlife Reserve.
Nels Kristian
Denmark
Nels Kristian
Nels Kristian, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Stunning property in an amazing setting!
Britta
Britta, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Excellent
Benjamin
Benjamin, 3-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Wonderful experience! Stayed at Tilney Manor - room was exceptional. Food outstanding and staff warm and welcoming! Our safari guide (Adrian) went out of his way to find the animals we were interested in seeing and was very knowledgeable with a great sense of humor. We appreciate the philosophy of the reserve and the good work they’re doing. Highly recommend!
Gustavo
Gustavo, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Extraordinaria experiencia un lugar excepcional
Es un lugar mágico. 62.000 hectáreas de tierras salvajes pero perfectamente cuidadas por un equipo de 180 profesionales desde guardas, seguridad, veterinarios, gerencia, camareros, chefs, servicio de limpieza que son realmente adorables en todo la amplitud del término, además de excepcionales profesionales.
Las instalaciones son impecables teniendo en cuenta que están en medio de la naturaleza pero a tiro de piedra de Cape Town (2 horas y media de viaje en coche). Los guías son unos apasionados de la naturaleza fauna y flora y se lo saben todo.
Hay lugares más salvajes quizás más lujosos pero no tan cerca de una gran ciudad y desde luego con un equipo tan extraordinario como el de Sambona.
Gustavo
Gustavo, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
I have never gone on a safari and Sanbona exceeded my expectations! The staff was very friendly and the rooms were gorgeous. I would recommend our safari guide Josh to anyone. He was very knowledgeable. I would definitely come back.
Amy
Amy, 3-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
60th Birthday trip
The most amazing experience our guide Marco was so well versed with all the animals.
Gary
Gary, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Wonderful Experience !
wang fung
wang fung, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Highlight of our trip
This was without doubt the best part of our two week stay in the Cape Area. We stayed in the Tilney Manor part of the reserve in one of the best rooms we have ever stayed in. There were only 6 couples in the Tilney Manor so it was very personalised service. The staff including the guides were excellent as was the food. We were only there two nights but packed in so much. We did four drives in the Game reserve and got very close to a host of animals. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone.
Kim
Kim, 2-night trip
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