This is an elegantly designed, very comfortable small lodge that serves delicious meals presented beautifully at a single large table for the small number of guests. Many lovely touches made us feel pampered and our specific interests catered to. The drives delighted us in the extraordinary range of geological formations, endemic plants, and animals found only in South Africa. Gerry was a wonderful host(ess), and Israel a very knowledgeable and considerate guide. Oneof our favorite safari experiences ever.
From the time you arrive at the lodge your experience starts, you are warmly greeted with a nice cold towel. The drive from Cape Town takes about 3 hours and would HIGHLY recommend going through the Franschhoek pass either going or coming. There are only 4 units on the property and all are luxurious and large. The private balconies and outside showers are very nice, with you own deck chairs and tables give you a great sense of privacy. There are 2 safari drives every day, early morning, lasting about 4 hours and an evening one for about 2 hours. Your guide, Israel, has a genuine love of his job and it shows. The sunsets are are spectacular, and even better with a cocktail. Should you choose just to relax and sit by the pool, you will feel very relaxed. The reserve is NOT a park, its just that, a reserve and you may or may not see the animals. but when you do, it is amazing and natural. What makes the experience really amazing is the care you get from the staff. As there are only 4 units, everyone has dinner in the dining room. The food is really fabulous. Gerry and Alicia prepare perfectly cooked and presented meals. We were there for 4 days, and every meal was outstanding. They will also cater to vegetarian needs. All the Yogurt, Muesli and vegetables are all grown or sourced locally. The tomatoes actually have taste. I will definitely return, and would HIGHLY suggest that you make your reservations as soon as possible.…
Our host Gerhild and her welcoming crew made us enjoy our 2 days in this beautiful little lodge in the Little Karoo. Do not expect the game abundance of a Krügerpark but it's as close as you gonna get to it in the Western Cape. Israel our guide still managed to find 4 out the big 5! The Lodge bungalows are very comfortable and the food was excellent! We came as family with 3 kids, everybody enjoyed it!
We stayed at the White Lion Lodge for 2 nights as a group of 7 and had a great time. The rooms were very nice, with all the features of a 5* hotel. Service was very professional and friendly, with Gerri offering interesting insights into Sanbona and its history. The food was also excellent. The drives with Israel were a real highlight. We had been to Sanbona before, but this time the game drives were better, even if one has to add some driving time to the north as compared to other lodges. Israel made every effort and offered a lot of detail which made it all the more interesting. We were lucky (and fortunate to have Israel!) and saw all the different kinds of animals. However, having read some other reviews, do come with an expectation to see a really well managed reserve, including flora and fauna, which means that the animals have space to move around (as they should) and their density is not as high as in some of the other well-known reserves. If you're looking for a high-quality, professional and friendly stay in a personalised environment, I highly recommend the White Lion Lodge. We will certainly be back. Anyone wanting to see a different animal every 5-10 minutes should go to the local zoo.…
As family with 3 grandmas nearly 90 and 3 kids under 12 we had unforgettable 4 days - not only the nature experience and the wonderful animals but also the introduction in the plant world made us enjoy our stay so much. Accomodation and food quality best as well.
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