World Travel AwardsAfrica's Leading Safari Company 2024 & 2025

Big 5 Safari
Near Cape Town

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve — home to free-roaming white lions, Big 5, and ancient San rock art — malaria-free, just three hours from Cape Town. Plus the Western Cape's finest coastal and Garden Route game reserves.

5-Star
Safari & nature lodges
143k
Acres of wilderness
BIG 5
On the reserve
3 Hours
From Cape Town
The Curated Sanbona Collection
All four Sanbona Wildlife Reserve lodges — from romantic tented suites to walking safaris with the Big 5 — plus the Western Cape's finest coastal and Garden Route game reserves, all malaria-free.

133,000 acres of dramatic Karoo wilderness — home to the world's only free-roaming white lions, Big 5, ancient San rock art, and three luxury lodges plus a seasonal walking safari camp.

Dwyka Tented Lodge, Sanbona Sanbona · Couples Luxury The Romantic Safari Icon

Dwyka Tented Lodge

  • 9 luxury tented suites concealed in a dramatic dry Karoo ravine
  • Private decks with heated plunge pools & panoramic views
  • All meals, house beverages & on-drive refreshments included
  • Twice-daily game drives & guided wilderness walks
  • Home to the world's only free-roaming white lions
Specialist Note: Our top choice for couples — total seclusion, dramatic landscapes, and extraordinary Big 5 sightings.
Tilney Manor, Sanbona Sanbona · Heritage Manor The Colonial Classic

Tilney Manor

  • Restored Cape Georgian homestead with 6 luxury open-plan suites
  • Rim-flow pool, spa with steam room, sauna & therapy rooms
  • All meals, house beverages & on-drive refreshments included
  • Twice-daily game drives & guided wilderness walks
  • Children 12+ welcome — mountain & Karoo plains views
Specialist Note: Classic elegance with world-class guiding — best for those who appreciate heritage and tranquillity.
Gondwana Family Lodge, Sanbona Sanbona · All Ages Welcome Big 5 Family Specialist

Gondwana Family Lodge

  • Thatched Karoo homestead with interconnecting family rooms
  • Kids on Safari programme with guided nature activities
  • All meals, house beverages & on-drive refreshments included
  • Twice-daily game drives & family-friendly bush walks
  • Children's pool, play areas & child-minding available
Specialist Note: The only Sanbona lodge welcoming children of all ages — Big 5 safari designed for families.
Sanbona Explorer Camp Sanbona · Walking Safari Big 5 On Foot

Sanbona Explorer Camp

  • 3 mobile canvas tents — unfenced, authentic walking safari
  • 2-night guided walking trail through Big 5 Karoo wilderness
  • Armed expert guide — encounter Big 5 on foot
  • San rock art sites, stargazing & campfire dinners
  • Seasonal: Oct–Apr · Fridays only · Ages 16–60
Specialist Note: The most authentic safari near Cape Town — walking with Big 5, sleeping unfenced, under the Karoo stars.

From Walker Bay's marine Big 5 to the Garden Route's fynbos-fringed game reserves — malaria-free Big 5 experiences all within driving distance of Cape Town.

Grootbos Forest Lodge Walker Bay · 2hrs from CT Marine Big 5 & Eco-Luxury

Grootbos Forest Lodge

  • 5-star eco-luxury lodge in ancient milkwood forest above Walker Bay
  • Whale watching (seasonal), shark cage diving & marine Big 5
  • All meals, water, soft drinks, tea, coffee & minibar included
  • Guided fynbos walks, horse riding & conservation experiences
  • Award-winning sustainability & community programmes
Specialist Note: The perfect complement to Sanbona — coastal eco-luxury with whales, fynbos, and the marine Big 5.
Pumba Private Game Reserve Eastern Cape · Garden Route Rare White Lion

Pumba Private Game Reserve

  • Big 5 reserve home to Africa's rare white lion
  • Two exclusive 5-star lodges with plunge pools & mountain views
  • Morning & afternoon game drives plus guided bush walks
  • Soul Spa, bass fishing, stargazing & archery on-site
  • Over 300 bird species — a birdwatcher's paradise
Specialist Note: One of the few places on earth to see the rare white lion in the wild — a truly unforgettable Big 5 experience.
Kwena Lodge, Gondwana Game Reserve Gondwana Game Reserve · Garden Route Garden Route Big 5

Kwena Lodge

  • 27,000-acre Big 5 reserve on the Garden Route near Mossel Bay
  • Luxury private villas, lodges & fynbos-fringed tented camps
  • Game drives, fynbos walks, kids' programme & golf nearby
  • Family-friendly with interconnecting rooms & children's activities
  • Combine with Garden Route road trip — Knysna, Plettenberg Bay
Specialist Note: The best Big 5 safari on the Garden Route — luxury villas, fynbos landscapes, and easy road-trip access.
Botlierskop Tented Lodge, Botlierskop Game Reserve Botlierskop Game Reserve · Near George Horseback & Tented Safari

Botlierskop Tented Lodge

  • Luxury tented lodge between the Outeniqua Mountains & Indian Ocean
  • Big 5 game drives, horseback safaris & guided bush walks
  • Free-roaming cheetahs via Ashia Cheetah Conservation
  • Spa treatments with bush views & gourmet Fireplace Restaurant
  • Family-friendly with children's activities & day-visit options
Specialist Note: The Garden Route's most versatile safari — horseback, tented, and family options with mountain-to-ocean views.
All-Inclusive Sanbona & Cape Town Packages
Handcrafted packages from entry-level Sanbona safaris to the full Southern Africa experience — all with transfers, luxury accommodation, meals, and daily game drives included.
3-Day Big 5 Safari near Cape Town 3 Day Safari Quick Big 5 Escape

3-Day BIG 5 Safari near Cape Town

  • Dwyka Tented Lodge: 2 nights in 5-star at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
  • All meals, house beers, wines & soft drinks included
  • Two daily safari activities in open game drive vehicles
  • Guided wilderness walks & on-drive snacks and beverages
  • Round-trip road transfers: Cape Town to Sanbona
3-Day BIG 5 Safari at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve 3 Day Safari Optional Cape Town Combo

3-Day BIG 5 Safari at Sanbona (Combine with Cape Town)

  • Dwyka Tented Lodge: 2 nights in 5-star at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
  • Guided wilderness walks & all on-drive snacks and beverages
  • All meals, a limited selection of house beers, wines and soft drinks
  • Round-trip transfer from Cape Town to Sanbona
  • Optional combo: 3 nights at Romney Park, Cape Town — Peninsula & City Tours
8-Day Cape Town Family Safari and Vic Falls 8 Day Safari Family & Vic Falls

8-Day Cape Town Family Safari & Vic Falls Combo

  • Victoria & Alfred Hotel: 3 nights in 4-star, Cape Town Waterfront
  • Gondwana Family Lodge: 2 nights in 5-star, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
  • Gondwana: All meals, game drives & guided wilderness walks
  • The Wallow Lodge: 2 nights in 4-star, Victoria Falls
  • All flights & transfers across three destinations
11-Day Luxury Kruger, Victoria Falls and Cape Town 11 Day Safari The Triple Combo

11-Day Luxury Kruger, Victoria Falls & Cape Town

  • Lion Sands River Lodge: 3 nights in 5-star, Kruger National Park
  • Lion Sands: All meals, beverages & 2 daily Big 5 game drives
  • Sussi & Chuma Lodge: 3 nights on the Zambezi, Victoria Falls
  • Victoria & Alfred Hotel: 4 nights in 4-star, Cape Town Waterfront
  • All flights & transfers between Kruger, Vic Falls & Cape Town
Cape Town aerial

The Mother City — Where Mountains Meet the Ocean

Cape Town, often referred to as the "Mother City" of South Africa, is renowned for breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and a vibrant lifestyle. Commanded by the iconic Table Mountain, the city offers award-winning wineries, colourful neighbourhoods such as Bo-Kaap, and a wealth of adventure activities.

From hiking and shark cage diving to encounters with seals, whales, and African penguins — with beautiful beaches, a lively waterfront, and a thriving culinary scene, Cape Town is one of the world's most captivating destinations.

Table Mountain
Table Mountain
Big 5 Safari
Big 5 Safari
Cape Winelands
Cape Winelands
Cape Peninsula
Cape Peninsula
Marine Wildlife
Marine Wildlife

World-Class Winelands

Stellenbosch, Constantia, Franschhoek, Paarl, and Tulbagh offer renowned wineries and gourmet dining set among historic towns and stunning farm estates.

Year-Round Destination

Warm, sunny summers (Dec–Feb), calm golden autumns (Mar–May), whale watching in winter (Jun–Aug), and blooming wildflowers in spring (Sep–Nov).

Perfect for Every Traveller

Whether it's a luxury honeymoon, a family adventure, or a bucket-list trip combining city, wine, and safari — Cape Town delivers transformative moments.

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World Travel Awards 2024 & 2025
Africa's Leading Safari Company
World Travel Awards
2024 & 2025
Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice 2024
Travellers' Choice Awards 2024
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260+ Reviews on Tripadvisor
Trustpilot
4.9 / 5 Stars
Rated Excellent — 1,567+ Reviews
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Member #1680
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Member #206430
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AWF & WCN
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