Serengeti of the South
Samara Karoo Reserve (previously known as Samara Private Game Reserve) is located near Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape. It spans 70000 acres of land in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot. It is considered to be the ‘Serengeti of the South’, and the land has be rehabilitated over a period of 20 years to its former glory after being farmed.
Herds of the endangered Cape mountain zebra are being reintroduced, as well as cheetahs. Visitors to Samara Karoo Reserve are invited to immerse themselves in their surroundings. The reserve offers activities such as picnics in the wilderness, walking safaris, tracking cheetahs on foot, mountain biking, helicopter flights, and nights to spend in a four-poster bed under the Milky Way.
Involvement in their conservation efforts is encouraged through a volunteer programme, and children are welcomed with a range of special safari-related activities. Samara Karoo Reserve is in a malaria-free area, offering an abundance of wildlife, birdlife, spectacular views and a variety of luxurious accommodation options.
Nestled in the Great Karoo
Speak to someone with a love for South Africa’s Great Karoo and you’re likely to get lost in tales of explorers and fascinating characters who roamed amidst herds of springbok that used to cover the area. You’ll hear stories of the rhino, cheetah, now-extinct quagga and the great Cape Lions that reigned over the land.
You’ll be left in awe of the unlikely beauty and magic of this semi-desert land. South Africa’s Karoo is divided into the Great Karoo and Little Karoo "Klein Karoo", the former being an expansive wilderness in the north-east and the latter a smaller, tamer area to the south-west. Samara Karoo Reserve is located in the Great Karoo.
The Karoo has a reputation for its harsh conditions, with little rainfall and endless, cloudless skies. Still, the area has diverse biomes including plains, mountains, dense thicket and grasslands. Many of these are present on Samara’s land. There are many town and small villages close to Samara, the closest being Graaff-Reinet, South Africa’s 4th oldest settlement. Also close by is Cradock and Pearston.
Samara Karoo Reserve, situated 53 km from Graaf-Reinet in the Eastern Cape, is renowned for its lavish accommodation options that meld in pe...