Sanbona Game Reserve

At the foot of the Warmwaterberg, in the heart of the Little Karoo, between Montagu and Barrydale on the famous Route 62, the vision of the San is becoming a reality. Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, 54 000 hectares of undulating mountains and plains, indigenous fauna and flora, rock formations and rock art make this a destination not to be missed.

The name Sanbona is a combination of the "San" people who roamed this area for thousands of years and "bona" which represents their vision in order to position this portion of the Little Karoo. Be it a journey of rejuvenation and self-discovery or absorbing the various essences and activities, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve- taking care of the small things in life.

Journey of Rejuvenation

[Click for bigger area map]

The sheer expanse and stark beauty of the Reserve gives one a sense of humbleness, the realization of the inconsequentialities of life, a temporary release of the daily stresses of everyday living and could be a deemed a profound spiritual experience.

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve allows one to be at peace, allowing one to curl up with a book, seeking solitude and introspection.

Sanbona has initiated a unique conservation programme that aims to breed the White Lion for release into the wild. Our dream is to reintroduce this rare animal into areas where it has been wiped out - for example, in the Timbavati region, where records indicate that the White Lion was spotted in the wild as far back as 1925.

The White Lion has always been rare, but its unusual beauty has captured the imaginations of people across the globe. Its whiteness is not due to albinism, but due to a recessive gene - similar to that found in the rare white tigers of Asia. However, it is not a separate species of lion from the typical tawny African lion. The cubs are born almost pure white, but darken to a rich cream colour over the course of their first two years.