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We stood in silence for a minute, then two. Balanced precariously on a steep mountain slope, we looked out over the plateau grasslands beyond, dotted here and there with bushes, hearts in our mouths, and waited. The vehicle stood a ten-minute walk away, out of sight over the crest of the hill. We had walked … Continued
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In 1997, a restoration project began in one of South Africa’s most breathtaking landscapes – Samara Private Game Reserve near Graaff-Reinet in the Great Karoo. Eleven degraded and overgrazed livestock farms were purchased, internal fencing torn down and the land allowed to rest. As time went by, indigenous wildlife was slowly reintroduced, from the first … Continued
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Like most animals, vervet monkeys make a lot of different noises. As researchers, we often lump different vocalizations into various different signal “types”, eg., screams, barks, grunts, etc. Still, it’s difficult for researchers to determine whether all signals of a given “type” are created equally. For instance, does an infant’s scream always affect the behaviour … Continued
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We recently celebrated an important birthday. Wednesday 9th November marked 19 years since the Tompkins family bought the first farm that would form the nucleus of Samara, and 11 years since our flagship Karoo Lodge welcomed its first guests. The Samara project has advanced in leaps and bounds since then, so to celebrate, here are … Continued
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It is with great sadness that we share with you the devastating news of the passing of Sibella, a cheetah whose story and legacy had captured hearts and minds throughout the world. As the first wild cheetah reintroduced into South Africa’s Great Karoo region in 125 years, and contributing 2.4% to the wild cheetah population … Continued
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The striped polecat (Ictonyx striatus, also called the African polecat and African skunk) It lives predominantly in dry and arid climates, such as the savannahs and open country of Central, Southern, and sub-Saharan Africa. Striped polecats are about 60–70 cm (24–28 in) in length, including their tails, and 10–15 cm tall to the shoulders. Generally … Continued
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Ingredients 5 large eggs (whole) 2 large eggs (beaten) 800g quality sausage meat 1 small bunch fresh chives, finely chopped 1 whole nutmeg 1 tbs chutney Sea salt to taste Freshly ground pepper to taste 150g plain flour, for dusting 150g good quality white bread crumbs 2 litres cooking oil of your choice Method 1. … Continued
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Ingredients (Panna cotta) Ingredients (Berry coulis) Method (Panna cotta) Method (Berry coulis) Serving suggestions Samara Private Game Reserve is a luxury Big Five safari destination with a difference. Guests are invited behind the scenes of a passionate conservation journey to restore a unique South African wilderness. This genuine conservation participation combined with heartfelt Karoo hospitality … Continued
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Ingredients 4 firm medium sized avocados ¼ onion (grated) 2 Tbsp chopped coriander ¾ tsp ground cumin generous amount of Tabasco/chilli sauce (to taste) salt and black pepper 1 Tbsp lime/lemon juice ½ Tbsp olive oil 1 medium sized tomato (de-seeded and diced) Method Cut avocados in half and remove pips, then dice them quite … Continued
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Elands are peaceful herbivores which populate the grasslands of Africa. These distant cousins of Antelopes once reached the verge of extinction because of excessive hunting for their tasty meat. These meek animals could only moo in protest of such cruelty. Fortunately, their numbers have increased significantly after they were announced a protected species. Elands, though … Continued
