Lodge of the Week - Dwyka Tented Lodge

Chasm of Luxury

The Dwyka Tented Lodge is a luxury tented camp in the heart of the rugged Karoo. The camp design and layout is visually spectacular. All the tented suites are situated around the fringes of a bowl-like gorge with their own private views of the cliff face straight above and dry riverbed below. The main lodge is a blend of artistically placed traditional stone and rock with internal modern furnishings throughout. The entire camp looks on to the broken cliff face of this remarkable horseshoe gorge. The nine tented suites are superbly spacious and adequately private. Intimate moments can be spent quietly on the balconies with a book while eagles nest over head. There is a decent wine collection and the lodge offers a full spa service in its Relaxation Retreat. The food and service is of a superior standard but it’s the actual rock formations around the camp that push Dwyka to higher level.

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is a pioneering conservation effort still taking shape today. Sanbona essentially means ‘what the San (traditional bushmen) saw’ and the goal is to return the land to what it was like in their time – before commercial farming scarred the land. Indigenous wildlife has been re-introduced including the Big 5 (albeit in small numbers), cheetah and hippo. Although guests have good chances of seeing elephant, white rhino, lion and cheetah it is the smaller creatures, plants and rocks that make this reserve truly unique. The reserve has a solid and growing cheetah population and is famed for its small pride of free-roaming White Lions. Guides and research staff at Sanbona often use telemetry (satellite tracking of collared animals) to locate certain species in the vast reserve. The terrain is typically open with mountainous ridges and 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 take place in the 25 000 hectares in the north. Guests have the chance to alight from the vehicle with their guide to track animals on foot. Sanbona’s typical Karoo setting does include the odd farmhouse from a bygone era, but the evidence of its farming past is a small distraction and adds to the rich cultural history of the area.

Located roughly half way between Cape Town and George, Sanbona is a lovely addition to a Garden Route or Cape Town trip. This makes it a perfect stop over for 2 – 3 nights. Sanbona is not a conventional African safari experience, but rather something special. For those looking for a different type of safari experience or wish to experience the Karoo in its natural splendour then Sanbona is the place to get to. Dwyka Tented Lodge is ideal for couples, honeymooners and small intimate parties. It is an experience you will never forget.

Sanbona have successfully introduced free roaming white lion onto the reserve

RATINGS BREAKDOWN
Core Ratings:	Sun Rays
Lodge and Camp	7.5
Safari Experience	7.2
Service	8.3
Facilities	6.9
Unique Rating	8.3
Conservation	9.5
Social involvement	4.4
OVERALL RATING:	8.5

Read more about Dwyka Tented Lodge and other lodges on The Game Lodge Index