Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is home to more than 200 species of birds, a delight for anyone that’s interested in birdwatching. In fact, the banks of the Bellair Dam alone are home to more than 40 species of birdlife, making it a hotspot of avian activity.

Viewing Delights

Pack your binoculars, notepads, and field guides because there is a healthy population of birds to be seen. And due to the unobtrusiveness of Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, all of them are at ease, which makes for pleasurable viewings and easy sightings.

Whether you’re on a game drive, boat safari, or simply relaxing at one of our luxury lounges, you can expect to see many rare and beautiful birds, such as:

Cinnamon-breasted Warblers
Booted Eagles
Southern Grey Tit
Namaqua Sandgrouse
Black-winged Stilts

Birds of a Feather

The Little Karoo is a well-known birding destination. With the contrast of vast plains, mountains, water-courses, and drainage lines throughout the area, it makes nesting for a variety of species easy.

You can expect to catch a glimpse of birds of prey, such as the Jackal Buzzard or Little Brown Jobs like the Chat Flycatcher. You might even find Chestnut-vented Tit Babblers, mingling with doves, mousebirds, and sparrows.

Through our birdwatching activities, you’ll certainly learn about and experience the wonder that is nature. Some species, like the Namaqua Sandgrouse, travel up to 80km in search of water. They collect droplets of water in their breast feathers, and fly back to their nests to deliver it to their chicks.

Best of all, whether you love the larger species like the Ludwigs Bustard, or you’re simply delighted by the more delicate ones like the Black-headed Canary, you and your family are in for a treat.

Let yourself and your family or travelling companions experience Sanbona Wildlife Reserve from a different angle. With the vast and impressive Bellair Dam situated on the property, guests can enjoy our boat safari activities, from the comfort of our spectacular vessel, The Peregrine.  This tour is subject to water levels in the Bellair Dam as Sanbona is situated in a water-scarce area.

Waterways Tour

Named after a bird of prey, the Peregrine Falcon, this boat embarks on water safaris that takes you into, what was once, uncharted territory. Through these guided tours, 12 guests are seated comfortably as the boat takes you on either a sunrise or sunset cruise, weather permitting. These are the best times of the day to enjoy a safari,as this is when the animals are at their most active.

Additionally, guests can gain a new perspective of the reserve and potentially see:

• The Big 5
• Hippos
• A variety of birdlife.

Best of all, if you’re travelling in a larger party for work or leisure, you can book a Peregrine boat safari exclusively, at an additional cost.

The Peregrine is able to navigate through even shallow waters and offers access to most areas of the dam.

Built almost 100 years ago, this dam is considered a bird watching haven as more than 40 species of birdlife flock here to nest, feed, and drink. Guests get a chance to see the newly built dam wall, and on a hot summer’s day, swim whilst enjoying vistas that are only found in the Karoo.

Additionally, our knowledgeable guides not only point out rare species of birds and identify calls, but they also share interesting and important information about the dam and the Reserve itself.

There are over 600 types of flora within Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. Various species bloom at different times throughout the year, but, in this region, flowering occurs more prolifically between August and September.

Sanbona is at the forefront of an on-going conservation project that aims to restore the ecological balance in the area. Approximately half of the surrounding landscape used to be livestock and agricultural farms, which have since been removed which has allowed the various floral kingdoms that make up the reserve to flourish. Plant life that inhabits this region of the Western Cape includes Acacia Thickets, Renosterveld, Succulent Karoo and Central Mountain Fynbos. Species of succulents are especially varied and fascinating with names like Baby’s Bottoms, Ostrich Toes and Pig’s Ears.

As part of our conservation efforts, we have reintroduced animals that once roamed the area freely, but were eradicated due to farming. The Big 5 and various other species such as gemsbok, springbok, hartebeest, eland, kudu and zebra can now all be seen on Sanbona Wildlife Reserve.

Other animal species that continue to thrive thanks to the efforts of Sanbona include natural small game such as the:

• Jackal
• Caracal
• Duiker
• Aardwolf
• Aardvark
• Brown hyena
• Grey rhebok
• Steenbok
• Klipspringer
• Grysbok

A riverine rabbit population was discovered on Sanbona in 2006, and as these animals are only known to exist in the central Karoo, they are incredibly rare. Moreover, this species of rabbit is the 13th most endangered mammal in the world. Sanbona is currently only one of two protected areas that provide riverine rabbit populations with sufficient space and diversity for their ecological processes to function naturally.

Nestled just outside of the spectacular town of Montagu, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve offers exquisite landscapes, majestic rock formations and an abundance of animals, birdlife, flora and fauna to appease an array of tastes. Thus making this slice of the Western Cape region  a photographer’s dream.

These natural endowments coupled with near perfect light conditions, enable photographers of all expertise the chance to capture wildlife scenes that surpass their expectations.

Whether you prefer photos of game and panoramic landscape shots or want to capture close-up details of the smaller species of insects and plant life on the reserve, your choices are endless.

So, when you’re on your game drive, nature walk, or water safari, be sure to bring your camera so that you don’t miss any magnificent photo opportunities.

Aside from the array of game and majestic landscapes, another of the exquisite attractions available at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is the ancient rock art found here.

There are seven recorded sites throughout Sanbona.  These rock art sites date back more than 3,500 years and depict the spiritual beliefs and lives of the San and the Khoi-Khoi people that lived in this area until 100 years ago.

Following History

The San were nomadic hunter-gatherers and the Khoi–Khoi were pastoral herders who owned livestock such as cattle and sheep. The rock art is a product of what the Shaman of both Khoi-Khoi and San people envisioned in their trances.

But, the paintings are very different from each other. The San paintings are more representative of animals, people, and beings and are done in a darker red colour due to the ochre they used.

Whereas the Khoi-Khoi paintings are more ‘orangey’ and symbolic in style. The paint was made from ochre, calcrete, animal blood, animal fat, plant sap, and ostrich eggs, which they ground to a paste.

Historic Rituals

During their travels, members of these groups would congregate around a communal fire, weaving stories and celebrating the gift of life while the Shaman would meditate in a trance through rhythmic dancing, singing, and clapping,  receiving visions as guidance. This would ensure the wellbeing of the tribe, protecting them from evil and sickness, predicting the future, and praying for good hunting and rains.

It’s also during these rituals that certain animals such as the praying mantis and the eland were honoured and revered as they were considered to have great spiritual powers.

These trance experiences of the Shaman were depicted to the tribe in the form of the rock art seen today. The various sites were also very symbolic, as the rock face was seen as a portal between the different realms the Shaman had travelled through in his trance.

Preserving the Past

Some of the only evidence that remains of this way of life is depicted through this delicate rock art.  This makes Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, not only a leading destination for an African experience, but a national treasure in terms of heritage.

One of the great wonders to experience at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is the night sky. Free from light and city pollution, the Klein Karoo offers some of the finest stargazing in Southern Africa and is an ideal activity for all guests to enjoy.

Each lodge has a high-powered telescope and dedicated ranger who utilising a laser pointer guides you through the awe-inspiring constellations and planets.

Seasonal Sights

As part of the constellations on show, in summer, Orion can be seen alongside Taurus the bull, and the Seven Sisters.  But, as winter comes around, Scorpius, with the red giant star Antares at its’ heart and the distinctive Southern Cross, come into view.

Experienced or professional astronomers can sit back and enjoy the neighbouring dwarf galaxies, also known as the  large and small Magellanic Clouds. Other deep space features that can be viewed with the telescopes provided at each lodge include the Orion and Carina Nebulas, and not forgetting Tuc47, another brilliant star cluster.

A Night Under the Stars

Stargazing can be conducted at the lodges but can also be incorporated on night drives. Although the winter months may be colder, they offer even better viewing as heat and dust are greatly reduced in the atmosphere, offering a clearer view of the sky.

It’s the ideal activity for the whole family. Guides are happy to explain to younger guests the unique aspects of the Karoo sky, which is not only educational for them, but mom and dad might learn a thing or two as well.  Stargazing can also be incorporated in the Kids on Safari programme.

Take it all in when you visit Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. We encourage our guests to jump at the opportunity to discover everything the Little Karoo has to offer in terms of fauna, flora and majestic landscapes.

The entire reserve offers an array of nature walks, hiking and wilderness trails for you to explore. Well-informed and experienced rangers can indicate points of interest while divulging important and interesting information about the area.

With the variety of exquisite sites, animals and plants to see while on your excursion, choosing the right time of day is important. Larger and smaller animals alike are most active during the early mornings and early evenings. During the day you’re likely to catch a glimpse of an array of birdlife nesting, hunting or travelling through the area, with waterholes being the most prominent area.

Each adventure is appropriate for any fitness level, from easy walking tours to more advanced hiking trails.