Shamwari Private Game Reserve

The first big Eastern Cape reserve to be restocked with game, Shamwari has hosted a string of famous guests -- including Tiger Woods, who popped the question here. It's a little commercial in comparison to Kwandwe and Samara, but the quality of the game-viewing and the rangers' knowledge at this 25,000-hectare (61,776-acre) reserve is certainly among the best. The reserve has a choice of seven accommodations options: Aimed at the top-end market are Eagles Cragg, comprising nine junior suites in a forested gorge, and Lobengula Lodge, with six suites. Eagles Cragg suites all have private viewing decks with plunge pools (as do two of Lobengula's junior suites -- make sure you bag one of these). These thatched lodges offer the most authentic African-safari experience in the reserve, with huge suites luxuriously furnished in ethnic-chic decor, and great food. With only four rooms, Bushmans River Lodge (an original 1860 settler farmstead) is the most intimate; as a result, it's extremely popular, so book ahead. Personally, I still think Bayethe, the luxury tented camp with 12 en-suite tents (3 are superiors with such extras as TV, fireplaces, and hammocks) offers better value -- at least in the summer, when you can lounge around your private deck and plunge pool. If a tent doesn't appeal, you'll have to settle for the fairly modest Riverdene, a farmhouse with nine moderately sized rooms -- all child friendly and safely fenced. Parents seeking more luxury can opt for Sarili, a brand-new thatched villa that overlooks the Bushmans River; it is more exclusive and has an appealing contemporary air, but not all rooms have views. Popular with older clientele is Long Lee Manor, a pink Edwardian manor built in 1910, accommodating 36 guests in a more overtly colonial style. It, too, is beautifully furnished and well staffed, but is most like a hotel.

Facilities:
Dining room; bar; lounge; airport transfers; babysitting; binoculars; bush walks; cultural village; game drives; pool; Wi-Fi

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Back to Top