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Samara Private Game Reserve – now known as Samara Karoo Reserve – is one of South Africa’s most purposeful and soulful luxury safari experiences. Less about ticking boxes and more about slowing down, breathing deeply, and feeling the landscape around you.
Set within the vast, rumpled plains of the Great Karoo, Samara invites you into a place where space seems infinite, and the modern world feels distant, replaced by room to think, unwind, and reconnect.
Here, silence isn’t absence; it’s presence. You’ll encounter the Great Silence of the Karoo, a profound stillness that clears mental noise and makes room for clarity.
Samara is a luxury safari in South Africa, one that honours stillness and intention in a way that is deeply restorative.
Why Samara Karoo Reserve Is Special
More than a destination, Samara is a rewilding success story. What was once degraded farmland has been restored over decades into a thriving ecosystem. Indigenous vegetation has returned, wildlife roams freely, and landscapes are being regenerated, all guided by long-term conservation, science, and local engagement. Best yet? Your visit supports this ongoing work.
Samara makes conservation feel real, thoughtful, and embedded in daily life.
Experiences at Samara Private Game Reserve
Walking Safaris & Cheetah Tracking on Foot
Samara’s walking safaris are transformative. Guided by experts, you’ll move slowly across open plains, read spoor, listen for subtle shifts in the wind and sound, and truly feel the land beneath your feet.
The Cheetah Trail is one of Samara’s most sought-after experiences. Tracking wild cheetahs on foot across multiple days in intimate terrain, far from the bustle of vehicles and crowds.
Star Bed: Sleeping Beneath the Milky Way
Few experiences compare to Samara’s Star Bed. Set beside the Milk River – also known as Melk River – this raised four-poster bed invites you to fall asleep under one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most luminous night skies.
Arrive at sunset for a picnic, watch wildlife drink at the riverbank, and let the galaxies unfold above you. No electricity, no distractions. Just you and a sky full of stars.
Sundowners at Eagle Rock & Quiet Moments
At elevated vantage points like Eagle Rock, golden light brushes endless plains as you sip sundowners. It’s a quietly cinematic moment, perfect for couples, solo travellers, or anyone seeking perspective.
Elsewhere, unstructured time invites journaling, meditation, gentle hikes, resting on your lodge deck, or simply watching light shift across distant hills.
When’s the Best Time to Go to Samara Karoo Private Wildlife Reserve?
The best time for game viewing at Samara is during the winter months of June, July, and August. While the early morning and evening temperatures are cold, the days are mild. The lack of rainfall causes animals to congregate around water sources.
Summers in the Karoo – December to February – are hot and punctuated by thunderstorms. The transition months – March to May and September to November – are the autumn and spring seasons and can be fantastic choices for a Samara safari. Game viewing is still good, and the weather is temperate.
Wildlife Found in Samara Karoo Private Wildlife Reserve
Over the years, Samara has introduced many species to the reserve; this work has made the reserve a Big Five safari destination (although leopards are difficult to spot). Cheetahs are the stars at Samara, as are the more unusual species such as the aardvark and black-footed cat.
As you travel across the reserve, you’ll come across incredible herds of desert-adapted antelope, including springbok and red hartebeest. Birders will have 225 species to spot during game drives and walking safaris – look out for eagles, kingfishers, vultures, and bustards.
In summary:
- Cheetah: Samara is one of Africa’s premier places for cheetah encounters and on-foot tracking.
- Big Five: Lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, with leopards present but naturally elusive.
- Rare and nocturnal animals: Black-footed cat, aardvark, and more.
- Birdlife: 225+ species.
Where to Stay
Samara’s lodges are designed to complement the landscape and invite calm. Each lodge offers intuitive hospitality with space to reflect and truly enjoy nature unfolding around you. These are the lodges Samara has to offer:
- Karoo Lodge: A restored farmhouse with warm, welcoming spaces and wide views of plains and mountains.
- The Manor: A private villa ideal for families or small groups seeking exclusivity with thoughtful service.
- Plains Camp: A low-impact, off-grid safari camp built for those drawn to unfiltered wilderness and night skies.
How to Get to Samara Karoo Private Wildlife Reserve
Samara is near Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape, just at the edge of the Great Karoo. To get there, your options are:
Charter Flight:
Fly direct to Samara’s private airstrip, with a short transfer to your lodge.
Commercial Flight:
Fly to Graaff-Reinet Airport, followed by a scenic hour’s drive. The other nearest major airport to fly to is in Gqeberha (Chief Dawid Stuurman International); it’s then a two-and-a-half-hour scenic transfer to the reserve. (These flights are serviced with daily commercial flights from Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban.)
Either way, the journey to Samara feels like a transition in itself, from noise to quiet, from movement to presence.
Start Planning Your Journey
If you’re seeking a South African safari that restores you, Samara Private Game Reserve offers you space to breathe, moments to pause, and experiences that linger long after you return home.
Ready to plan your luxury South Africa safari with Samara at its heart?
Let’s start building a journey as gentle, meaningful, and unforgettable as the land itself.
