Reviewer Diary - Sanbona Private Game Reserve

Located a mere half an hour drive from the Avalon hot springs in Montagu on route 62 is the Sanbona private game reserve. The drive through route 62 was pleasant enough, but once we entered the reserve, the landscape became staggeringly beautiful with an overwhelmingly timeless feel and prehistoric quality about it. Sanbona is aptly named after the Khoi San word meaning ‘what the Bushmen saw’.

The drive from the main gate to the lodge was turbulent as the roads were being layered with a thick coating of crushed stones to prevent erosion, not ideal when not using a game viewer vehicle as guests would normally leave their vehicles parked at the main entrance to the reserve. One can immediately sense the huge expanse of the reserve and the rolling hills that go on forever over the horizon. We reached Gondwana lodge after 20 or so minutes and were treated to a friendly welcome which included chilled drinks and introductions to the staff. We were escorted to the rooms which all overlook a dam and once settled, we were taken on an afternoon game drive. The enthusiasm of our guide Mark was evident as no question was too vague or insignificant to warrant his full attention and soon we were well versed in the geology, history and bio-diversity of the area. The roads are scatted with ancient rocks and fossils and the area is rich in Bushman painting sites scattered about the reserve. Highlights of the drive included a very rare sighting of a brown hyena and sun downers at the side of one of the reserves largest dams. We left in a hurry to avoid the spattering rain and headed back to get ready for supper. All the guides and fellow guests meet in the lounge for drinks and discussions of the days’ sightings, a great incentive for the guests to socialise. The meals were excellent throughout our stay. The following mornings’ game drive saw us disembark from our vehicle to approach a few rhinos cautiously on foot.

We left Gondwana after breakfast for the rather striking Dwyka Tented Camp and were certainly not disappointed with the level of service and sheer luxury of the camp. Our afternoon drive with the Dwyka guide was equally rewarding and no effort was spared to track a herd of disease free buffalo in the north east quarantined section. Dinner that evening was again a social affair as we enjoyed our buffet style meal in the company of two delightful British honeymooners experiencing South Africa for the first time. It was a fantastic escape and the stunning moonscape panoramas of the reserve will be forever seared into my memory.

For more imformation about this reserve and others in South Africa visit gamelodgeindex.com