Samara Game Reserve

Eastern Cape, South Africa

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). Samara is a great place to view cheetah.

There are three lovely lodges on Samara including:

The Karoo Lodge is designed around a traditional Karoo farmhouse theme and the Manor at Samara is an exclusive use modern villa.

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 grasslands and 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 no doubt 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.