A Conservation Paradise In The Little Karoo
Dec 13, 2020 Olga M Cape Town, South Africa
Our first trip to Sanbona was as a couple and I recall that we had an amazing time. Fast forward almost 9 years with our 2 young children (7 years and younger), our Au Pair and with another family who are close friends, we found ourselves at Gondwana Family Lodge. As the lodge isn't booked on an exclusive use basis, we were admittedly a little…
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Our first trip to Sanbona was as a couple and I recall that we had an amazing time. Fast forward almost 9 years with our 2 young children (7 years and younger), our Au Pair and with another family who are close friends, we found ourselves at Gondwana Family Lodge. As the lodge isn't booked on an exclusive use basis, we were admittedly a little apprehensive to say the least when we booked for 4 nights. Those who travel with young children will understand that a lot hangs on the attitudes towards, flexibility with and child friendly resources available at a location, especially when there is nothing else close by. Whilst some establishments purport to be child friendly, the truth is sometimes somewhat different which makes for a "prickly" and rather unpleasant overall experience.
Under different ownership and management, Sanbona again lived up to our previous experience and did not disappoint. Our guide Casper, who has young children of his own, was nothing short of entertaining, enthusiastic, patient and incredibly knowledgeable of the history, habitat and ecology of the area. His passion for his work, the animals, plants and conservation was very apparent and he appreciated our keen interest in all things big and small. He did his very best to deliver a personalised and memorable experience for us and our children during our game drives and in camp. We were fortunate to have a fantastic encounter with a herd of elephants during our bush lunch, were visited by a jackal in camp and sat up close and quietly with the white lions as they ate from their fresh kill.
Now onto why a rating of 4 and not 5. The lodge itself was very comfortable and safe, with sleeper couches available in each room for the children. Whilst the room was very clean when we checked in, housekeeping in the rooms for the duration of our stay was a tad shoddy for such an establishment and the food was a little disappointing in that it wasn't consistent in quality. The meals were a bit "hit and miss" in that some were delicious, and yet others were very mediocre. I also noted that whilst we were one of 5 families who were staying at the lodge during our stay, the pool towels were "recycled" in that they were folded after use and placed back on the deck chairs, after the person using the towel had vacated the deckchair and left the pool area.
Overall I would definitely recommend Sanbona Gondwana Lodge for families with both younger and older children. It truly is a gem in the harsh conditions of the Klein Karoo offering a surprising abundance of animals, varied terrain with interesting, beautiful and rare indigenous plants, fossils, bushman paintings in caves, topped off with stunning sunsets all within a very delicate ecosystem that has been thoughtfully rehabilitated following years of cattle and sheep farming in the area. The area really has a very magical feel to it.
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