Welcome to Samara

Luxury private game reserve in South Africa's Eastern Cape

"Thank you for acquiring so special and unique land in the beloved Karoo. You have saved part of the soul of South Africa so that others will experience the heartbeat of the wilderness."

- THE LATE DR IAN PLAYER, FOUNDER OF THE WILDERNESS MOVEMENT

Samara Private Game Reserve is a passionate conservation undertaking, the leader in its area and a catalyst for change in the Great Karoo region of South Africa. A 2.5-hour drive from Port Elizabeth, Samara is ideally situated at the end of the Garden Route and just 40 minutes from the historical town of Graaff-Reinet, rich in culture and heritage. Described as ‘heart-stoppingly beautiful’, the award-winning malaria-free reserve encompasses 70,000 acres of wilderness in the Great Karoo – South Africa’s magical heartland and a must-visit destination in the Eastern Cape.

'Heart-stoppingly beautiful' is how Samara is best described

Samara’s safari game lodges offer unique experiences to savour this serene landscape in the Eastern Cape. Activities on offer include game drives, guided walks, luxury star bed sleep-outs, wilderness picnics, birding, mountain biking in the Karoo landscape, indoor and outdoor dining and conservation activities. Children of all ages are welcome and we offer a children’s programme dedicated to making conservationists out of even our youngest guests.

World class accommodation is provided in two intimate five-star luxury game lodges. Karoo Lodge, a homely and comfortable renovated farmstead overlooking an amphitheatre of mountains, sleeps 18. The Manor, an exclusive-use villa with private pool, chef, butler and ranger, sleeps 8.

Samara forms part of a greater vision to create South Africa’s third largest protected area in a global biodiversity hotspot in the Eastern Cape. In staying with us you help achieve this grand vision.

Join us in our efforts to preserve this irreplaceable part of our natural heritage

Linger longer on safari this winter

With our Stay 3, Pay 2 special

View specials

Some Samara highlights:

Our story

Samara Private Game Reserve

Cheetah conservation

Samara Private Game Reserve

Sleep under the stars

Samara Private Game Reserve

Why drive to Samara when you can fly?

NEW! Daily shuttle from Plettenberg Bay

Why drive when you can fly?

Plett Air Safaris offers daily shuttle flights between Plett and Samara, offering a seamless connection to guests using the scheduled Fly CemAir service into Plett from Cape Town and Johannesburg.