Samara

Karoo Reserve, South Africa

For young eco warriors

Samara is located in the Eastern Cape, near Graaff Reinet and about 2 1/2 hours drive from Port Elizabeth. The private reserve forms part of the merged Camedoo National Park and Mountain Zebra National Park, a 27,000 ha area with spectacular mountainous landscapes and panoramic views across vast tracks of land. Conservation plays a key role in this area with rare species such as Cape mountain zebra, black wildebeest, cheetah and the blue crane studied and monitored for research and conservation purposes. Samara is also proud to be the home of many aardvark and is one of very few places in South Africa where you are very likely to spot this elusive creature, although it can never be guaranteed.

There are two different accommodation options at Samara:

The Manor

The Manor is a private villa that houses 8 guests exclusively with its own Chef, butler, complimentary house staff and professional safari guide. The Manor has a large lounge, bar and outdoor entertainment area all with breathtaking views of the table topped mountains which are typical to the Karoo. The hospitality is superb and the gourmet cuisine fresh, home styled and picking up the flavours of the Cape and the Karoo. All the rooms are styled beautifully, each with large ensuite bathrooms and verandahs and furnishings that are cosy and comfortable.

The Karoo Lodge

The Lodge is a lovingly renovated farmhouse that offers 9 suites of varying sizes, catering for individual travellers, couples and families alike. Antiques, family heirlooms and vintage books permeate the décor throughout and it offers a warm and inviting living room with a fireplace as well as a cosy bar area. A large dining room with fireplace is used for indoor crystal dinners but when the weather is clement, candlelit dinners are set up on the verandah, on the lawn under the stars, or in the boma, a traditional reed enclosure warmed by a roaring fire.

Across both accommodation options activities are varied and include walks, game drives, insights into the conservation work and scenic all day drives that take you high up onto the plateaus where lazy picnics are had with a view of the world below. There is a star bed for adventurous sleep outs and a comprehensive children’s programme to ignite an early passion for conservation.

Located in the Great Karoo, a visit to Samara would dovetail beautifully with a Route 62 road trip. For more on this read our blog – Family Road Trip – Route 62, South Africa

 

You will love

  • Karoo scenery
  • Liklihood of rare aardvark sightings
  • Gourmet food & picnic lunches
  • The Manor – perfect for private groups or families
  • Conservation pioneers
  • Fabulous children’s+’s programme

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Elizabeth Mackintosh

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Milford family

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