White Lion Lodge on Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
A Karoo Wilderness Retreat on the Route 62, offering a unique nature and wildlife experience near Cape Town. The privately-owned White Lion Lodge is situated in the southern part of the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. It offers luxury accommodation, exceptional personal service and delicious cuisine combined with safari's through a 30000 ha concession of the Reserve.
"Right from the start the magic surrounds you"
The Sanbona Wildlife Reserve spreads over 58000ha in the malaria-free Klein Karoo, along the Route 62, between Montagu and Barrydale, just over 3 hours away from Cape Town. We operate a nature-based tourism business and like to introduce our guests to the biodiversity hotspots, Fynbos and Succulent Karoo Biome together with indigenous free-roaming animal species, that what the San saw hundreds of years ago.
Welcome to the White Lion Lodge on the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
Specials available, book direct or send enquiry (WhatsApp)
Daily program for a two night stay
DAY OF ARRIVAL
On the day of arrival lunch is served between 13:00 - 14:00
Your suite will be ready and waiting for you at 14:00
The Afternoon Botanical 4x4 Tour through the South will start 15:00 - 16:00
Dinner will be served after your return from the afternoon drive
Read more about the Botanical 4x4 Tour
SECOND DAY
Your day will start between 05:00 - 06:00
The morning drive, a Karoo Safari will take you to the northern part of the concession in the Wildlife Reserve
10:00 - 10:30 you will return to the Lodge and breakfast will be served
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch will be served
15:00 - 16:00 Afternoon drive through the South
Dinner will be served after the outing
Read more about the Karoo Safari
DAY OF DEPARTURE
Your day will start between 05:00 - 06:00
The morning drive will take you to the northern part of the concession in the Reserve
10:00 - 10:30 you will return to the Lodge and vacate your room
Breakfast will be served
After breakfast it is time to say good bye
Game Drives /Safari Drives
Your safari within the Wildlife Reserve can be carried out at any time throughout the day where you will be guided by your own private knowledgeable field guide in an open game viewing vehicle, who will provide you with insightful information on the fauna and flora of the Klein Karoo.
If you have any particular interests, please discuss them to your dedicated ranger who will be happy to merge your plans with those of the group, or mention them when reserving the accommodation. Be it a shorter southern game drive or heading north on an extended safari, the various game drives can take between 2.5 - 5 hours, depending on weather and time of departure. Game drives can include a bush breakfast or sundowners picnic for you to enjoy at one of our amazing viewpoints.
Karoo Safari
The Reserve is home to fascinating animals and plants and if you are lucky you might spot a Cape Mountain Zebra, numerous antelope species, elephants, buffalo, black backed jackal, brown hyena, giraffe, lion and not to forget to mention the different bird species. You may even spot the elusive Cheetah.
Botanical 4x4 Tour
Enjoy a very informative botanical 4x4 Safari in an open Land Rover and soak up the vastness of the Klein Karoo. You will be amazed at things you learn on a botanical tour. Explore the historically significant vegetation in all its diversity with countless botanical secrets, intriguing and diverse in a hidden wilderness called the renosterveld.
Climate and Weather
The climate is semi-arid with rainfall mainly in the winter month. The Klein Karoo is traditionally hot and dry, with cooling south-westerly winds during the afternoons in summer, making it ideal conditions for a lovely sunset game drive. On average the nights cool down to 15C – 20C degrees in summer.
Very little rain occurs during summer, and if it does, it is usually in form of thunderstorms. Normally the area receives about 250mm-350mm of rain per year, mostly in the winter months.
The lowest rainfall (6mm) is in January and the highest (27mm) in August. The coolest months are July & August, when the mercury drops to -2 & -4 degrees Celsius on average during the night, but during the day the temperatures range between comfortable 15-20 degrees, ideal safari conditions.
What to bring
For your safari dress completely informal, natural colors are recommended.
A warm jacket, a fleece, scarf, beanie, gloves for early morning and night drives
Comfortable walking shoes
Swimming costume
Binoculars, camera
Hat, sunglasses
Suntan lotion
Please note that the White Lion Lodge is situated within a malaria free area.
If there is anything else you would like to know, don’t hesitate to contact us.