Samara Karoo Reserve Game Viewing

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Location

Samara is located in the Eastern Cape, near Graaff Reinet; about 2 1/2 hours drive from Port Elizabeth. Guests can self-drive directly to Samara or fly into Port Elizabeth from where the lodge can assist with transfers. Samara also boasts a private landing strip for direct charter to the lodge.

Accessing Samara By Road:

The recommended route from Port Elizabeth takes the R75 towards Graaff-Reinet for 258km. Turn right and take the R63 towards Pearston/ Somerset East for 7km. Turn left onto the Petersburg gravel road and drive 23km to reach Karoo Lodge.

Accessing Samara By Air:

Daily flights from Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. Air charters from Port Elizabeth to Samara (gravel airstrip) can be arranged on request.

Samara Private Airstrip
- Co-ordinates: 24 45.48 E, 32 26.34S
- Length –1500 m
Graaff-Reinet, a 40-minute drive away, has a 1,500m tarred runway with landing lights which can accommodate a Gulf Stream jet. Transfers from Graaff-Reinet can then be made either by road (40 min) or by helicopter (15 min) directly to the lodge..
Longitude: 24.861287
Latitude: -32.353714
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Languages

English
Afrikaans

Rates

Samara's Safari Rates and Packages 2022/23

1 Nov 2022 – 16 Dec 2022 Standard rate high season

Karoo Lodge -    Karoo Retreat suite – R8 925.00 pppns

Homestead Luxury suite – R7 875.00 pppns

Homestead Classic suite – R6 825.00 pppns

Sibella Family suite – R24 000.00 per unit (sleeps 4)

Manor - Manor suite – R8 400.00 pppns

Exclusive use – R50 400.00 for 1-6 guests & R6 295.00 for 7^th & 8^th guests

17 Dec 2022 – 08 Jan 202 Standard rate peak season

Karoo Lodge -    Karoo Retreat suite – R10 000.00 pppns

Homestead Luxury suite – R8 750.00 pppns

Homestead Classic suite – R7 250.00 pppns

Sibella Family suite – R26 400.00 per unit (sleeps 4)

Manor - Manor suite – N/A

Exclusive use – R78 000.00 for 1-8 guests

09 Jan 2023 – 30 Apr 2023 & 01 Aug 2023 – 31 Oct 2023 Standard rate new high season

Karoo Lodge -    Karoo Retreat suite – R9 550.00 pppns

Homestead Luxury suite – R7 875.00 pppns

Homestead Classic suite – R6 825.00 pppns

Sibella Family suite – R25 000.00 per unit (sleeps 4)

Manor - Manor suite - R8 995.00 pppns

Exclusive use – R54 000.00 for 1-6 guests & R6 695.00 for 7^th & 8^th guests

01 May 2023 – 31 July 2023 Standard rate low season

Karoo Lodge -    Karoo Retreat suite – R7 495.00 pppns

Homestead Luxury suite – R6 250.00 pppns

Homestead Classic suite – R5 750.00 pppns

Sibella Family suite – R23 400.00 per unit (sleeps 4)

Manor - Manor suite – R8 025.00 pppns

Exclusive use – R40 125.00 for 1-6 guests & R6 450.00 for 7^th & 8^th guests

Single Supplement:

Plus 50% per person per night sharing rate applicable to single occupancy. This does not apply to The Manor when booked exclusively.

Child Policy:

Children of all ages are welcome at Karoo Lodge. However, children under 8 years old are not permitted on scheduled game drives with other guests. Shorter "bumble" drives are on offer to families with young children mid-morning once the scheduled game drive has returned to the lodge. A private vehicle for families can be booked by prior arrangement, subject to availability and at extra cost (please enquire with Reservations).

Children before their 3rd birthday, sharing with adults, stay free of charge. Children between their 3rd and 14th birthday, sharing with adults, pay 50% of the adult rate. Guests aged 14 and over must take their own room at adult rates. In the Sibella Family suite, the quoted rate applies to 1-4 guests irrespective of age. Extra beds for children may be accommodated in Karoo Retreat suites (maximum two) and Homestead suites (maximum one), for use by children under 14 sharing with 2 adults. 3 or more adults are not permitted to share rooms.

Children under 14 years old are not permitted at The Manor unless The Manor has been booked on an exclusive-use basis. Guests aged 14 and over must take their own room at adult rates. 3 or more adults are not permitted to share rooms.

Rates include:
- Access to 67,000 acres of private wilderness
- Two game drives daily with experienced rangers and trackers
- Optional bush walks outside of scheduled game drives (subject to availability)
- Optional excursion with the Tracker Academy (subject to availability)
- Access to conservation activities ongoing on the reserve (subject to availability)
- Luxury en suite accommodation
- All meals, tea, coffee
- Children’s programme (children under 8 are not allowed on scheduled game drives with other guests unless staying at The Manor when booked exclusively, or unless a private vehicle has been pre-booked subject to availability and at extra cost)
Rates exclude:
- Conservation contribution of R170 per person per night (South African guests aged 8 and above) or R330 per person per night (international guests aged 8 and above) will be added to the invoice. This contribution funds the reserve's vital projects of rhino security, anti-poaching, community engagement and ecological restoration through its registered public benefit organisation.
- Transfers to/from the Samara property
- All beverages
- Paid activities e.g. star bed & fly camping
- Curio shop purchases
- Laundry & telephone calls
- Gratuities
- Babysitting (R200/hour)
Rates Disclaimer:

Rates may vary and reduced rates may apply to additional persons. All rates are indicative only, may be seasonal and are subject to change without notice. Please visit our website or contact reservations for SA resident rates and specials.

Rates Disclaimer

Rates may vary and reduced rates may apply to additional persons. All rates are indicative only, may be seasonal and are subject to change without notice.

About Samara Karoo Reserve Game Viewing

Award-winning Samara Private Game Reserve sits on 70,000 acres of breathtaking wilderness south-east of Graaff-Reinet. Best described as ‘heart-stoppingly beautiful’, Samara uniquely encompasses four vegetation biomes offering a diversity of landscapes and wildlife. Endangered cheetah, black rhino and springbok roam the extensive plains framed by dramatic purple mountains, whilst herds of Cape mountain zebra, wildebeest and eland cavort on our unique 'Samara Mara' - thousands of acres of plateau grasslands resembling the East African Serengeti.

Samara boasts just two intimate five-star lodges, sleeping a maximum of 26 guests, so it will feel like you have this timeless landsape all to yourself when you gaze out for miles from the lookout points and dine under a canopy of stars. As well as providing a magical and romantic setting, Samara has agreater social and environmental purpose. The Samara project, started in 1997, seeks to recreate a sustainable Great Karoo ecosystem, and forms part of a greater vision to promote landscape-scale conservation in the region. When you stay with us, you'll delve behind the scenes of this conservation project, and your support will help contribute towards the achievement of this grand and worthwhile vision.

Accommodation includes:

Karoo Lodge, a lovingly renovated 1800s farmhouse encircled by a natural amphitheatre of mountains. Combining colonial comforts and modern day luxuries with a rustic and welcoming feel, Karoo Lodge is the perfect place to relax and allow the tranquillity of the Karoo to envelop you – on the wide verandah in summer or by the cosy fire in winter. With nine double rooms of varying sizes, Karoo Lodge caters for individual travellers, couples and families. It can also be booked on an exclusive-use basis for up to 18 guests, plus a limited number of extra children.

The luxurious Manor House, an exclusive-use villa ideal for families and groups looking for privacy, indulgence and complete relaxation, sleeps 8 in four luxury suites. The Manor is unique in its warm design which reflects the local landscape and traditions with a light, modern twist, interpreted through the eyes of talented South African interior designer John Jacob Zwiegelaar. Upon arrival your eye is drawn through the glass double doors flanked by beaded African artwork and traditional Karoo antiques to the breathtaking views beyond. Unwind as you watch the Karoo mountain landscape unfold over a 21m infinity pool.

Food at Samara is served from our Karoo Kitchen, delivering lovingly-prepared fare rustled up by our local chefs. Expect mouthwatering meals using the freshest produce and recipes handed down from generation to generation, evoking that famous Karoo hospitality. Friendly yet unobtrusive service is a Samara hallmark, and the team will welcome you as part of the extended Samara family.

Activities include game drives, guided walks, wilderness picnics, cheetah tracking on foot, aardvark spotting (winter is best), birding, hiking, mountain biking and our luxury star bed (open October to April). Samara is malaria-free and welcomes children of all ages with a dedicated children’s programme.

You’ll leave relaxed, revitalised and refreshed, vowing to return. That’s why we call Samara a Safari for the Soul.

Map and Directions to Samara Karoo Reserve Game Viewing

Petersburg Road,
off the R63 to Pearston,
near Graaff-Reinet,
Eastern Cape,
6280