Stuart is an award-winning travel journalist covering safari, trekking and conservation in Africa for the Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, BBC, Bradt Travel Guides, amongst many others. He is the author of Walking With The Maasai, a journey through some of Kenya's lesser-visited Maasai lands.
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
Combine big cats with wine tasting, and you get the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve.
Sanbona is an exclusive private conservancy that’s been restocked with the big ticket animal attractions — lions, elephants, buffalo and rhinos — and, thanks to the expert guides, all are regularly seen on safaris here. Covering more than 50,000 hectares, Sanbona is large enough to feel like a genuine wilderness, but at the same time is only a three-hour drive from Cape Town and lies close to the Western Cape’s famed wine lands. This means it’s easy to slip a Big Five safari into a wine tasting tour and a Cape Town city break.
Situated at the foot of the Warmwaterberg Mountains in the Little Karoo, Sanbona offers three reserves with all the usual luxuries.
As well as standard vehicle safaris, I recommend joining an overnight walking safari and trying a bush camping experience. Look out for the 3,500-year-old rock art depicting people and animals left by the San and Khoikhoi tribes.
South Africa Safaris
3 daysFrom $950Boutique South Africa Safaris
14 daysFrom £2,661At a glance
Destinations
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
Activity
SafariPhysical Level
EasySeason
January - DecemberRelated Guides
The best safaris in South Africa
I fell in love with South Africa the very first time I laid eyes on it. Like so many safari-goers before me, the love affair began in
Safari in the Western Cape
If you're going on safari in South Africa, the Western Cape might not feature too highly on your itinerary.
-
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
...