| I awoke startled by an unfamiliar ring of a | | | | reserve and therefore adding to that remote |
| telephone and scrambled to find the phone in my | | | | exclusivity it offers. All the lodges in my opinion |
| dark unfamiliar room. Shaken back to reality from | | | | are wonderful and all offer a completely different |
| a deep sleep, my memory returned to me slowly | | | | experience. Tilney Manor, with only 6 suites, |
| as I realised where I was. Our game ranger, | | | | offers privacy and tranquillity with a wonderfully |
| Richard, sounding bright eyed and bushy tailed, | | | | welcoming staff complement seeing to your |
| was starting our day with a wake up call at | | | | every need. The huge and beautifully appointed |
| 05h30. A good strong cup of filter coffee had me | | | | suites offer space and complete luxury and the |
| right as rain and we were on board the game | | | | manor house a touch of history supporting old |
| drive vehicle by 06h00 ready to search for some | | | | photographs of the original farm owners. Tilney |
| exciting game species. | | | | Manor is the oldest of Sanbona's lodges with |
| Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is a very special place | | | | Dwyka Tented Camp and Gondwana Lodge being |
| for those searching for a remote luxury | | | | relatively new additions. |
| wilderness experience. Spectacular scenery has | | | | Gondwana Lodge is the child friendly lodge with 12 |
| one in awe of nature's beauty. The reserve | | | | suites cleverly appointed to suit families travelling |
| offers a huge 54 000 hectares of rugged | | | | together. It offers a "kids on safari" program |
| landscape, fascinating geology, unusual vegetation | | | | allowing the adults of bit of time to relax, unwind |
| and brilliant, diverse game viewing! It is the closest | | | | and enjoy the tranquil surroundings. The kids on |
| authentic Big 5 safari experience to Cape Town | | | | safari program offers a great selection of kids |
| being approx 3hrs30min drive away. The diversity | | | | entertainment including a games rooms, an outside |
| of game is excellent and I was fortunate to see a | | | | play area and documentary DVD's. |
| large selection during my 2 nights stay. To diverge | | | | Dwyka Tented Camp is also very luxurious, |
| a little, I shared the game drive vehicle with 2 | | | | situated at the base of a fascinating rock cliff |
| other clients staying at Sanbona's Gondwana | | | | where majestic Black Eagles (Verreaux Eagle) |
| Lodge. Monique and Simon were a young couple | | | | nest. Each of their tents is a separate unit with its |
| full of fun and laughter who worked on board a | | | | own private balcony and plunge pool offering |
| cruise liner and were here taking a break from | | | | complete privacy. Dwyka Tented Camp offers an |
| their crazy lives. We experienced a wonderful | | | | atmosphere of pioneering adventure and |
| sighting of a large breeding herd of elephants, we | | | | therefore seems to attract guests that appeal to |
| spotted the tawny and rare white lions, we | | | | the adventure. Each of the camps is surrounded |
| experienced tracking down a cheetah on foot and | | | | by an electric fence making it safe to walk around |
| found her with her 2 young cubs, and we spotted | | | | the lodges at any time of the day without an |
| black rhino a number of times. These and many | | | | armed escort. |
| other species kept us enthralled. | | | | Sanbona Wildlife Reserve offers complimentary |
| With many years of game ranging experience, | | | | transfers to the lodges from the main gate. The |
| Richard showed great passion and enthusiasm | | | | drive is approximately 45min to 1 hour and is on a |
| towards nature and we were delighted to be the | | | | dirt road. The road is very accessible by car, |
| recipients of his excellent knowledge and | | | | though it can be a bit corrugated and possibly a |
| expertise. I've always strongly believed that it's | | | | little too rough for low-lying sports cars. I would |
| imperative for a game lodge to have good | | | | recommend the transfer as it adds to the all |
| knowledgeable game rangers because as clients | | | | round hospitable service one gets from Sanbona. |
| you spend a lot of your valuable holiday time with | | | | This also prevents you from taking the wrong |
| them. They can make or break your experience. | | | | turn and getting yourself lost in 54000 hectares |
| Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, as do the other Mantis | | | | of rough wilderness! |
| Collection properties, understands this. | | | | All in all Sanbona Wildlife Reserve offers a |
| Sanbona Wildlife Reserve offers a choice of only | | | | fabulous experience, one I would gladly |
| 3 lodges within this 54 000 hectares, limiting the | | | | recommend. |
| number of game drive vehicles traversing the | | | | |