From Sanbona's main gate, drive for just over an hour across the Little Karoo plains and you'll reach Bellair Dam and, on its shoreline, the thatched, Karoo-homestead-style Gondwana Lodge. This family destination has 12 generously proportioned luxury suites, never-ending views and plenty for everyone to do. Stay in super-comfortable style, see the Big Five on game drives, watch out for the reserve's impressive white lions, get close to hippos on a boat safari and enjoy the silence, the smiles and the starry moonlit skies. Children will have fun on the action-packed Kids on Safari programme.
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There are 12 suites in all, six on the ground floor with a private deck and six above them with balconies and views to the horizon. In all, four have large and super-comfortable twin beds, and the remaining eight have king-sized beds and a sleeper couch. The suites are sleekly furnished, with top-quality linen, big comfortable couches, underfloor heating and aircon, a private deck or balcony with seating and a luxurious en-suite bathroom with shower, freestanding bath and twin basins.
he Kids on Safari programme is brilliant! Scorpion hunts by torchlight, rock art workshops, a skull garden trail and storytelling around the fire - the kind of stuff that turns little ones into lifelong wildlife enthusiasts!
Grab a window seat on the upper level if you can. The balcony views over the dam and plains are superb, and on cooler evenings you'll often spot wildlife coming down to drink.
It's the biggest lodge on the reserve, so the atmosphere is livelier than at Dwyka or Tilney - great for sociable families, but not necessarily the place for a quiet escape.
Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch
Sanbona Gondwana can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made South Africa trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended South Africa trips featuring Sanbona Gondwana or get advice and suggestions from one of our South Africa specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at Sanbona Gondwana start from around $640, or US$640, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
Out-of-time and off-the-map allure abound in this stretch of mountain-flanked semi-desert.
