In the vastness of the Great Karoo lies one of South Africa’s most soulful safari destinations: Samara Karoo Reserve. Today, Samara is a refuge for wildlife, a sanctuary for travellers seeking meaning, and a rare example of conservation-led tourism shaping a new future for the Karoo.
Spread across 67,000 acres of restored wilderness, this privately owned malaria free reserve is a pioneering rewilding success story.
Where Luxury Meets Purpose
Samara’s strength lies in its intimate scale, personalised hospitality, and deep connection to the land. Here, luxury is not loud or ostentatious; it is subtle, soulful, and rooted in a sense of place. Each of the reserve’s accommodation options offers a unique expression of Karoo living:
The Manor – Exclusive Wilderness Living
A contemporary interpretation of Karoo architecture, The Manor is a private villa designed for families and small groups seeking complete exclusivity. Its elegant interiors, private pool, and newly upgraded gym blend refined comfort with wide, uninterrupted views of the surrounding mountains. With a dedicated team and the use of a private vehicle, guests enjoy a tailor-made safari experience in a home entirely their own.
Karoo Lodge – Heritage & Heart
Set within a lovingly restored farmhouse, Karoo Lodge embodies the charm of the Karoo’s pastoral past. Warm hospitality, homely living spaces, wraparound verandas, and crackling fireplaces create an inviting retreat for couples, families, and first-time safari-goers. It is the beating heart of Samara—where stories are shared, meals linger, and modern comfort coexists with farm-style authenticity.
Plains Camp – The Karoo, Unfiltered
For travellers drawn to the raw beauty of remote landscapes, Plains Camp offers a lowimpact, off the grid tented safari experience that places nature front and centre. Situated on the savanna grasslands with cinematic views, it is the ideal place to disconnect and return to the essentials: fresh air, starlit nights, and immersive wildlife encounters.
A Safari That Invites You to Go Deeper
Samara is not a place where guests simply observe nature—it is a place where they participate. The reserve offers an impressive range of activities that elevate the traditional safari into something richer and more meaningful:
- Daily game drives reveal Samara’s diverse wildlife, from cheetah and lion to black rhino, giraffe, aardvark, elephant and herds of plains game.
- Private vehicles for the villa and family suites allow guests the freedom to shape their own safaris—linger at sightings, stop for photographs, or change pace without compromise.
- Night drives introduce the nocturnal world: aardwolves, porcupines, caracals, and the shimmering Milky Way above.
- Samara is renowned for its on-foot wildlife experiences, particularly its celebrated cheetah tracking. Guided by expert trackers, guests follow subtle signs—prints, drag marks, scent trails—until reaching one of Samara’s habituated wild cheetahs on foot. Few safari moments compare to sitting quietly a few metres away from Africa’s most elegant big cat.
- Bush walks also explore: medicinal and cultural uses of plants; tracking and interpretation techniques; geological formations, andancient San rock art hidden within the mountains.
Conservation in Action
As a rewilding project, Samara invites guests into the heart of its mission:
- Participate in Spekboom planting, contributing to one of the world’s most effective carbon-storing plants.
- Learn about rewilding milestones, predator reintroductions, and habitat restoration.
- Hear community and conservation storytelling from people shaping the landscape’s revival.
Every stay includes a direct contribution to the reserve’s conservation efforts, ensuring each visit has lasting impact.
A Landscape Made for Slowing Down
- Beyond the magnificent wildlife sightings, Samara offers some of the most serene, soul-nourishing experiences in South Africa:
- Picnics on grassy plains or under ancient shepherd’s trees
- Stargazing in some of the clearest, darkest skies in the southern hemisphere
- Children’s activities that spark curiosity through bushcraft, tracking, and animal stories
This is safari not as spectacle, but as connection—connection to nature, to culture, and to oneself.
Why Samara Is One of South Africa’s Most Immersive Safari Destinations
In an age where remote, meaningful travel is increasingly sought after, Samara is easily accessible by road or air and offers:
- Incredible diversity of wildlife and bird species
- An unhurried, uncrowded safari in a vast private reserve
- Hands-on conservation experiences that bring purpose to a holiday
- Three diverse accommodation offerings for every type of traveller
- A rich tapestry of landscapes, from savanna and grassland to mountains and river systems
- Deep cultural heritage, including San rock art and centuries-old Karoo stories
Here, travellers are not just visitors—they become part of the remarkable story of a wilderness reborn.
Samara Karoo Reserve is a leading conservation journey to restore 67,000 acres of South Africa’s Great Karoo landscape and beyond through rewilding and responsible tourism. Staying at one of Samara’s lodges acts as a direct contribution to this vision.