507 ReviewsProperty Location You'll be in the mountains with a stay at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in Barrydale. Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 27 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars. Rooms have private balconies or patios. Private bathrooms with separate bathtubs and showers feature designer toiletries and complimentary toiletries. Conveniences include direct-dial phones, as well as safes and coffee/tea makers. Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities Relax at the full-service spa, where you can enjoy massages, body treatments, and facials. Additional features include supervised childcare/activities, babysitting/childcare, and gift shops/newsstands. Dining Enjoy a satisfying meal at a restaurant serving guests of Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge. Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include laundry facilities and air conditioning in public areas. Free parking is available onsite.
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R62 between Montagu and Barrydale,Barrydale,ZA,South Africa Property Location You'll be in the mountains with a stay at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in Barrydale. Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 27 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars. Rooms have private balconies or patios. Private bathrooms with separate bathtubs and showers feature designer toiletries and complimentary toiletries. Conveniences include direct-dial phones, as well as safes and coffee/tea makers. Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities Relax at the full-service spa, where you can enjoy massages, body treatments, and facials. Additional features include supervised childcare/activities, babysitting/childcare, and gift shops/newsstands. Dining Enjoy a satisfying meal at a restaurant serving guests of Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge. Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include laundry facilities and air conditioning in public areas. Free parking is available onsite.
Rating from 507 reviews
Sleep QualityRoomsServiceValue
Cleanliness 
IPH57 on 19/11/2017 19:53
Just left having spent three days at Tilney Manor. The rooms are fantastic. Massive in size with old world charm. Food is superb and service second to none - thanks Sam and Calvin. There are only ever 12 guests in this lodge so you really are given the personal touch like being called you first name.
Our ranger, Alwyn was a real character and very knowledgeable. He kept us entertained as well as informed. Made the trip for us.
Two slight words of caution. This place is in the mountains and so it can get very cold on game drives. My wife and I luckily had padded coats ready for our return to the UK. Later in the summer you may be ok.
Secondly this is not open Savannah with large herds like Kenya BUT we saw lion, cheetah, rhino, elephants, giraffe etc
Very recommended.
Alex W on 13/11/2017 10:41
Thankyou Sanbona Wildlife Reserve for being one of the most magical, captivating and genuinely touching places I’ve ever visited.
The care and compassion you have for all the animals (especially the endangered rhinos) is unparalleled.
Our time there will always stay close in my heart because it reminded me there’s always hope and good people in this world, even in some of the most remote and challenging regions of the world ❤️ 🦏🐃🐆🐿🐾🐛🦉🐒🦁
Netty1313 on 08/11/2017 17:01
We stayed for two nights and from the moment we arrived at the lodge where we were met with cold refreshing flannels and a drink - the service was excellent
There are only 12 lodges and the service given felt very personal/ individual and therefore special - you really felt a guest - not a number
We had chosen to drive ourselves- more on that later- our cases were removed- the keys handed over and our car parked for us
We were given a tour of the premises and shown our room
The room was large and comfortable with wonderful views and within minutes of settling in a mother and baby giraffe walked by. 😊
Bath and shower facilities of which you can partake whilst admiring the view were available
Lunch was served and we were introduced to our ranger who would take us and four other guests on our two evening and two morning safari drives
We met at 1600 and off we went seeing a variety of animals but for me the white lionesses and the elephants were the highlight - you stop part way round for a ‘sun downer’ drink - a G&T in my case - very civilised - before returning where you were met with hot refreshing flannels before for a very good three course dinner
An early morning call at 0500 was the start of the next day and drive two as per the evening before but tea instead of gin!
Again we saw various animals including rhinos and male lions before returning for a hearty breakfast
You then have the day free 0900-1600 where we caught up on a bit of sleep and had a massage before the second evening drive where we saw baby jackals and hippos
Returned for a buffet barbecue and off to bed
On the last drive we again saw the male lions and some zebra
After breakfast you have time before a prompt check out and the return- in our case - of the car
Constant was the stunning scenery
Our guide Brenda was excellent giving us plenty of time to observe and photograph the animals as well as telling us about their lifestyle etc. She was also very knowledgeable about the plant life, birds and reptiles all of which make up the environment
There is WiFi but no telephone television or radio - the ‘only’ thing to listen to is nature so you really do relax
Any minus? No but be aware that the lodges are approximately 20k from the main gate and the drive - if you choose not to use their shuttle is very bumpy on a dirt track
Temperature- yes it was summer- yes it is Africa but it got cold at times so several layers - hats gloves and scarves are needed - honestly!
The drives are in 4x4 and the guides were excellent drivers but it is rough terrain so it is a bit like being on a long roller coaster ride
There is currently a severe water shortage so all the rivers are dry and as a consequence flowers that should be out weren’t
Regrets - only that whilst the lodges are absolutely fine we could not get one off the six tents which are on another side of the reserve 😕
Whilst people do go for one night I would if time and finances allow go for a minimum of two nights in order get a better feel and allow you to relax in your surroundings
I really hope that one will be able to return- stay in a tent and see the water flowing
This was certainly the highlight of our holiday and the experience will stay with us forever
linellec2017 on 07/11/2017 09:30
Wow what a spoil. I was whisked away to a weekend away at Sanbona. We stayed in the Dwayka tents and it way way exceeded my expectations. We were met with warm towels to clean our hands and faces. Food was exceptional. Staff were friendly and efficient. Facilities above reproach. Drives were amazing - guide excellent.
We walked with the cheetah which was a very special experience. I can not fault Sanbona. Well done. Hope to go back one day and stay at Gondwana which is child friendly. We were the only South Africans there!
Jaeger6 on 31/10/2017 20:53
The fiancée and I were very impressed with Sanbona’s service and reserve. They are doing a great thing for the animals, and I’d like to say thank you to their patroness for turning the place into a nonprofit enterprise. The animals in the wildlife reserve are in desperate need of protection; some of the plants are in even more dire straits. Removing the worry of annual funding for Sanbona will bring so much to the rejuvenation of at least part of the Little Karoo, saving it for future generations.
Tilley Manor was also amazing, and I’d highly recommend it as a place to stay.
