Samara Karoo Lodge

Samara Karoo has a spectacular setting at the foot of a mountain range, about two and a half hours by road from Port Elizabeth in the Karoo region of South Africa’s malaria free Eastern Cape. At 27,000 hectares, Samara is the largest private wildlife reserve in the Eastern Cape. The reserve has a remarkably wide range of eco systems, and very varied wildlife as a result.

Accommodation & Facilities

Karoo Lodge is an old colonial homestead which has been carefully restored to retain much of its historical character. The lodge has just eight beautifully decorated and spacious suites with air conditioning and ensuite bathrooms, and private shaded verandahs. The family suite consists of two interconnecting en-suite rooms in one building, which also has a private verandah and a waterhole close by. The main lodge has a large sitting area and dining room, and there is swimming pool in the well maintained gardens.

Wildlife & Activities

Samara has five of South Africa’s recognised biomes, thicket, savannah, grassland, Afro-montane forest, and nama Karoo, which allows a wide variety of flora and fauna to thrive (the Kruger has just one biome – savannah). Flora includes ancient shepherd’s trees, wild olives, Karoo sage, milkwood, and camphor bushes, amongst others. Wildlife drives with expert guides offer guests the chance to see a large variety of animals and birds, which including cheetah, lion, buffalo, wildebeest, black and white rhino, small numbers of elephant, Cape mountain zebra, giraffe, aardvark, meerkats and herds of springbok and other antelope. Guided walks, picnics and tracking white rhino and cheetah on foot are on offer year round, and ‘star bed’ sleep outs and fly camping are possible from October to April.