Holiday with purpose

Conservation safari

Every Samara guest helps us to achieve our conservation vision simply by choosing to support us. We also offer active participation in our various conservation projects.

For those who want to delve a little deeper, to understand how a game reserve truly operates behind the scenes, we offer hands-on conservation sessions and personalised tours of our rewilding projects. These can be pre-booked at the time of reservation, or you can opt for our Conservation Journey package — a thoughtfully-crafted itinerary that enables participants to develop a meaningful understanding of Samara’s conservation efforts.

Darting elephant matriarch, Samara Private Game Reserve, Great Karoo, South Africa

Conservation is in our DNA

Why Samara?

You might wonder what makes Samara special. Aren't all game reserves beacons of conservation achievement? The reality is a little more complex. Samara's focus on conservation is not a fashionable marketing tactic — it is in our DNA. Samara was founded in 1997 with the vision of rewilding 67,000 acres across eleven former livestock farms, restoring degraded landscapes and returning wildlife which had been absent from the region for centuries.

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Cheetah darting at Samara Private Game Reserve, Great Karoo, South Africa

Endangered species & ecosystem processes

Pioneering rewilding

Since the very start we have been guided by expert ecologists and the best available science. We have celebrated a number of "firsts" — including reintroducing the first wild cheetah, black rhino, elephant and lion back onto the landscape in more than 100 years.

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Evidence-based conservation

Living laboratory

We see Samara as a "living laboratory" — a hub for research and learning at multiple levels — and accordingly we host researchers, community groups and school learners on the reserve.

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A 1.3 million acre conservation landscape

Ambitious vision

Our vision does not stop at Samara's boundaries — we are working with stakeholders in the region to create South Africa's third largest protected area, by linking 3 national parks with private land in an ecological corridor — providing a winning plan for the people and wild spaces of the Great Karoo.

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Top 10 safari lodges with guest-funded conservation projects

- CONDE NAST TRAVELLER

Conservation Journey Package

Who is it for?

This itinerary is suitable for anyone — from families and groups to couples and individuals. It is particularly well-suited to those with an interest in conservation and a desire to travel responsibly, as well as a curious mind and a willingness to get your hands dirty. Children are welcome and are catered for with age-appropriate activities.

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Conservation Journey Package

What activities are included?

Your personalised programme will include daily hands-on conservation sessions, subject to reserve needs at the time. This could include wildlife monitoring, camera trapping, land rehabilitation, Spekboom planting, research assistance, reserve and fence maintenance, conservation talks, wildlife translocations and community projects.

Conservation Journey Package

Explore Samara at your own pace

Equipped with a private vehicle and dedicated guide, you will explore Samara's diverse landscapes on foot and in a vehicle, combining your conservation activities with traditional game drives and bush walks. The experience also includes a fly camping excursion during which you will sleep out under canvas.

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Conservation Journey Package

Sleep & eat in comfort

No need to skimp on 5-star comforts during your conservation journey — you'll feel right at home in our intimate lodges where meals are served and where soft linen will lull you to sleep after a satisfying day on the reserve.

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Important information

Available year-round, excluding peak season (Christmas & New Year)
Peak season exclusion not applicable to guests booked into The Manor or Plains Camp on an exclusive-use basis
Package inclusions:
- 5 nights in luxury accommodation with standard nightly rate inclusions
- Use of a private vehicle with dedicated guide and tracker (subject to minimum of 4 guests and maximum of 8 guests on the package. For fewer than 4 guests, a private vehicle must be booked at extra cost)
- Daily hands-on conservation sessions, subject to reserve needs at the time of your visit. May include wildlife monitoring, anti-poaching work, land rehabilitation, reserve & fence maintenance, conservation talks, wildlife translocations, Spekboom planting, research assistance and community programmes
- Daily game drives and/or bush walks
- Wilderness hike culminating in a fly camping sleep-out under the stars, subject to weather and the conditions outlined here
Package exclusions:
- Standard nightly rate exclusions, as outlined here
- Note that the fly camping surcharge is waived for guests on the Conservation Journey package