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White Lion Lodge

Barrydale Garden Route - South Africa

Email White Lion Lodge Reservations: booksa@madbookings.com

The White Lion Lodge is situated along the Klein Kalkoenshoek River on the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve.
The 54000 ha privately owned Reserve is situated along the Warm waterberg Mountains, in the heart of the little Karoo, along the Route 62, the longest Wine Route - the Little Karoo Wine Route - in the world.

The unique Lodge offers four individual stilted glass and thatch Suites. Each has a spacious bedroom, a dressing room, a full bathroom and an own outdoor half moon shower.
Each suite is equipped with a fireplace, satellite television, under floor heating, air-conditioning, mini bar fridge, tea and coffee making facility.

Panoramic views over the riverbed can be enjoyed form the private wooden veranda. The bathroom offers twin hand basins, a spacious bath, separate rain dance shower, toilet and bidet.
The bedrooms are decorated with hand made bed linen, custom made fabrics and furniture which blend in with the nature and environment.

The Reserve is situated in the Klein Karoo, Southern Africa's "Hinterland" only 3 hours drive from Cape Town, which makes it the closest free roaming Big Five Reserve to Cape Town.

54000 ha of farmland in the Klein Karoo were restored and restocked with African Wildlife. Today, thousands of animals including white and tawny lion, rhino, buffalo, elephant, leopard and cheetah roam free in this diverse and fascinating Reserve.
Sanbona is home to the only free self-sustaining White Lions in the world, the Big Five and the endangered riverine rabbit.

White Lion Lodge Accommodation

The privately owned White Lion Lodge on Sanbona offers luxury accommodation, exceptional personal service and delicious cuisine.
The Lodge lies in the southern part of the Reserve and is set along a tranquil, remote river valley offering an ultimate Karoo experience.
The Lodge is a combination of contemporary décor mixed with Karoo sandstone, timber, thatch, airy free flowing spaces and hues of Karoo slate are breathtaking stylish, sophisticated yet refreshingly simple. Nature fibers and textures characterize the interiors.

White Lion Lodge is a perfect place for the sole use of a group up to eight guests. Natural stone walkways meander through a Karoo garden to provide easy access between the Main Lodge and the Suites.
Experience the restful tranquillity of the Klein Karoo while our discreet Staff provides impeccable and personalised service.

White Lion Lodge Facilities

The Main Lodge is focal meeting point for a pre dinner drink in the lounge next to a crackling fire or relax with a book from the Library on one of the outside sun decks.

To connect to the outside world complementary Wi Fi connection is located around the Lodge. South African cuisine is served either in the dining room, outdoors on the dining veranda or under a glorious African sky.

A fireplace at the swimming pool invites for a pre dinner drink or enjoy a Karoo night around the fire wile stargazing. A private Game vehicle with a qualified ranger is available at all times.

Enjoy bush walks through the Karoo Wilderness Area together with a qualified field guide. Or simply relax around the 15 metre rim flow swimming pool or laze on your private wooden deck and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Klein Karoo and the Lodge.

· For your safari dress completely informal, natural colors are recommended
· A warm jacket, a fleece, scarf, beanie for early morning and night drives
· Comfortable walking shoes
· Swimming costume
· Binoculars, camera
· Hat, sunglasses
· Sunscreen lotion

Please note, 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.

Directions to White Lion Lodge

From Cape Town to the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
The Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is situated 270 km; approximately a 3 hours drive from Cape Town. Take the N1 from Cape Town, direction Paarl.
Continue on the N1 through the Huguenot Tunnel or take the scenic drive via the Du Toits Kloof Pass. Drive through the Breede River Valley until you get to Worcester.

Take the second turnoff to your right, into the Town. Follow the signs to Robertson, Ashton, Montagu. From Montagu continue for approximately 43 km and turn left 300 m after the Akkerboom Trading post, at the “Die Vlakte” and Sanbona Wildlife Reserve signs.

Stay on the gravel road for further 7 km and arrive at the Main Gate, where our guests will be welcomed and transferred to the White Lion Lodge, if requested.
From the gate it is a further 9 km drive to the White Lion Lodge. Follow the sign Khani Lodge until you get to a sign Private Lodges. At this sign turn left and carry on until you get to Lodge 22, the White Lion Lodge.

From Glen Abbey Apartments to the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
From Glen Abbey take the N2 direction George. Go over the Sir Lowry’s Pass, drive along the towns of Caledon and Riviersonderend until you get to the turn off Stormsvlei.
Turn left into Stormsvlei and carry on to Bonnievale. When you get into Bonnievale turn right at the first stop sign, direction Montagu (500 meters after the t-junction).

You will drive in a half left circle around a church and than turn left, direction Montagu. At the next T-junction turn left onto the R60 and at the following junction right onto the Route 62, direction Montagu.
Travel on through the Montagu Pass to Montagu. Continue for approximately 43 km and turn left 300 m after the Akkerboom Trading post, at the “Die Vlakte” and Sanbona Wildlife Reserve signs.

Stay on the gravel road for further 7 km and arrive at the Main Gate, where our guests will be welcomed and transferred to the White Lion Lodge, if requested.
Follow the sign Khani Lodge until you get to a sign Private Lodges. At this sign turn left and carry on until you get to Lodge 22, the White Lion Lodge. From the gate it is a further 9 km drive to the White Lion Lodge.

By Air
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve has got a private landing strip near the Bellair Dam. Air charters can be arranged with registered charter companies or private aircraft with overnight guests are welcome. Prior arrangements must be made with the Sanbona Wildlife Management.

GPS Co-ordinates
33 43 42 South, 20 36 55 East

The climate is semi-arid with rainfall in winter and summer month, very little rain, offering a rich centre of diversity for especially succulent plants.

The Klein Karoo is traditionally hot and dry, with cooling south-westerly winds during the summer month. Very little rain occurs during summer, and if it does, it is usually in the form of thunderstorms.

The Reserve is situated on the foot of the Warm waterberg, in the heart of the Little Karoo, between Montagu and Barrydale on the famous Route 62.
The Reserve covers an area of 54 000 hectares of undulating mountains, gorges, canyons, plains, indigenous fauna and flora, rock formations and rock art make this a destination not to be missed.

Specialist guiding is a key element in providing a memorable and varied experience. The name Sanbona is a combination of the "San" people who roamed this area for thousands of years and "bona" which represents their vision in order to position this portion of the Little Karoo.

Guests are offered many opportunities to experience the wonders of Sanbona. There are 260 km of roads for game viewing in a game vehicle with an experience ranger.

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is home to the only free-roaming white lions in South Africa, the big 5 (Elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino), the rare riverine rabbit and numerous other species.

The beauty of Sanbona is reflected in the large private dam, Bellair dam. Bird watching is excellent with over 200 species recorded.

The Reserve exists within various flora kingdoms, Acacia Thickets, Nama Karoo, Renosterveld, Succulent Karoo, Central Mountain Fynbos. The colorful huges varied habitats and panoramas will delight and entertain photographers and visitors.

Nature Walks
Being within nature landscapes slows down one's pace. Smell the flowers and plants along the way and take in the breathtaking scenery around you. Enjoy guided walks through one of the private wilderness areas in the Klein Karoo and enjoy the beauty of the Renosterveld.

Birding
The Reserve is home to more than 200 species of birds. Fish Eagle, pair of Black Eagle or a regular sighing of a Black Harrier are only some of the raptors, which can be seen at Sanbona.
Interesting birds on the Reserve are the Cinnmonbrested warbler, which is endemic for the South African region and is inhabitant of arid, rocky hill slopes.

Booted eagle that migrates during the European winter to sub Saharan Africa. The Southern grey tit that is endemic to fynbos and Karoo regions and typically seen in pairs or small flocks roaming over rocky and arid areas. The Namaqua Sand grouse can be found all over the western half of southern Africa and particularly in arid areas with short grass.

Botanical
The Sanbona Wildlife Reserve has about 600 species of plants. Various floral kingdoms make up the Reserve. These include the Acacia, Karoo, Renosterveld, Succulent Karoo and the Mountain Fynbos.
The succulent Karoo with its winter rainfalls is known for its hundreds of kinds of succulent plants. It has a variety of small shrubs, as well as winter-growing grasses, which disappear during the drought and re-appear after the rain.

Wildlife Animals, which used to roam freely in former times, are being reintroduced to Sanbona. The Big Five - Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant, Rhinoceros as well as other species such as Gemsbok, Springbok, Hartebeest, Eland, Kudu, Wildebeest, Zebra and Giraffe.

The natural small game such as Jackal, Caracal, Aardwolf, Ant bear, brown Hyena, Grey Reedbuck, Steenbok, Klipspringer, Grysbok, Duiker can also be observed.
A variety of these species ha adopted to the diversity of habitat types found in the Karoo. Eland, Hartebeest, Springbok, Duiker, Steenbok are Karoo generalists.

Other species prefer more specific habitat conditions. The Cape Mountain Zebra, Mountain reedbuck, grey rheebok and Klipspringer occur in mountainous and broken habitats. The specialists of the grassy plains are the Black wildebeest, Gemsbok.
The network of wooded kloofs, valleys and river channels that dissects much of the Karoo provides habitat for specialist woodland browsers such as Black rhinoceros and Kudu. Permanent water and rivers support the Hippopotamus, Elephant and Buffalo.

The White Lion project at Sanbona returned an integrated lion pride including two adult males and two juvenile female white lions back to the wild.
This makes Sanbona home to the only free roaming White Lions in the world. The Riverine rabbit, which can be seen on night drives is endemic to parts of the Klein Karoo and is one of the most endangered terrestrial mammals in South Africa. With an estimation of a few hundred animals being left in the wild, today the species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction.

The Karoo
The Karoo is a spectacularly wild and open landscape of rugged mountains, stony plains, saltpans and sand dunes. Rain may fall in winter.
In summer without warning or not at all. The indigenous plants and animals of the Karoo have been selected over hundreds of thousands of years to escape or endure heat, droughts and floods. The unpredictability of the weather, together with the unusual vegetation of the region, makes it a very special place.

Rock Art The San People of Africa lived in this area for thousands of years until 100 years ago. The ixam tribe, the nomadic hunter-gatherers living in harmony with nature, realized then that man and nature together are sustainable. There are 7 sites throughout the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, rock art sites dating back more than 3500 years depicting the spiritual beliefs and lives of these fascinating people.

Stargazing
With the absence of artificial light stargazing in the Karoo and Sanbona is amongst the best. Few things in life are as pleasant as sitting around a campfire on a warm summer night and gazing skyward at the tapestry of stars overhead. The cares of the day-to-day world can seem as distant as those flickering points of light.

Our ancient ancestors came together around campfires at night after long, hard days of hunting, fishing, and farming. After the evening meal, the elders would weave incredible tales and stories that told of fantastic creatures, evil villains, and damsels in distress.
They would often use patterns among the stars to illustrate these myths. Over the years, these stories were passed on from generation to generation, with many remaining popular even to this day.

We can still look upon their star pictures, or constellations as they are now called, and recall some of their fantastic tales. Incentive White Lion Lodge caters for small, exclusive group incentives. Activities on the Reserve and in the vicinity are numerous and tailored specifically to each group's requirement.

Weddings
A wedding at the White Lion Lodge, on the Sanbona Reserve offers romance, magic, charm and adventure. At the White Lion Lodge you can enjoy an intimate wedding up to 8 guests with an incredible hospitality.

Email White Lion Lodge Reservations: booksa@madbookings.com