Destination of the Week - Samara Private Game Reserve

Samara Karoo Lodge - Karoo Kaleidoscope

The Samara Karoo Lodge on the Samara Private Game Reserve is a luxurious camp styled around a traditional Karoo farmhouse with thick patios around the entire exterior offering guests the opportunity of relaxing on a private porch and soaking up the magic of the Karoo. There are 6 suites in total accommodating a maximum of 12 guests at a time - 3 Lodge Suites which form part of the main homestead and three Karoo Suites which are hugely spacious independent cottages. The décor is suitably simple and local in theme. Arriving back from a game drive to a freshly run and piping hot bubble bath soothes away any aches and pains. The lodge is quintessentially Karoo in character.


The Samara Game Reserve is something special. It covers a huge area of 28 000 hectares and hosts a wide array of habitat types. Game drives are conducted in a 14 000 hectare section of the property where rhino, buffalo and cheetah roam whilst nature walks and hiking can be done on the other 14 000 hectare which does not host any dangerous game. Although not a big 5 reserve, Samara is home to small populations of rhino, buffalo and leopard (rarely seen). The true beauty of Samara lies in the continually changing vistas. The lodges are situated in lower lying areas of typical Nama Karoo dominated by its usual succulent plant species, dry river beds and beautiful shepherd trees. As you head up the thickly vegetated valleys you emerge on to a plateau of vast open grasslands. The views from up here of the immense Karoo floor hundreds of metres below are absolutely breathtaking. Herds of black wildebeest, blesbok and eland roam the plains. Samara is home to healthy populations of Plains and Cape Mountain Zebra which both naturally occur here. A highlight of any trip to Samara is the late night safari where guests search for unusual nocturnal creatures such as aardvark, springhare and black footed cat. Another highlight is approaching wild cheetah on foot. The adult cheetahs on Samara are collared and guides use telemetry equipment to track the animal’s location on this vast reserve. Once sighted guests alight from the vehicle and follow the guide on foot to view these magnificent cats in the open.

Samara Karoo Lodge is suitable for families, couples and small groups looking for an intimate nature experience in the Karoo. Samara is especially suitable for nature lovers looking for something a bit different from your typical big game viewing safari – here the focus is on the smaller and often more interesting plants and creatures. Highlights are the possibility of getting up close and personal to cheetah on foot or to see elusive aardvark (Samara is arguably the best place in South Africa to view these creatures). The night drives in particular offer a very rewarding game viewing experience

SAMARA SPECIAL OFFER!!

Samara Private Game Reserve has so much to offer - we believe that you need three nights under the Karoo skies to truly experience the wonders of Samara, and that is why we will be giving you a complimentary third night as our gift to you for booking of 2 nights or more.


Begin the journey of revitalisation on your 'thinking mans safari', where you can plant a spekboom, walk with a master tracker and explore the ancient rock arts before relaxing to an afternoon of indulgence with spa treatments, Karoo cuisine and sunset game drives.


Elegant lodges provide luxury accommodation nestled between an amphitheatre of mountains on 70,000 acres, where wildlife roams again. An amazing life changing experience awaits, so come walk with the cheetah as you celebrate the rebirth of a unique piece of Africa and experience a luxury safari in the Graaff Reinet region of the Eastern Cape.


Contact Samara Reservations

Read more about our experience at Samara Private Game Reserve on The Game Lodge Index