Samara Private Game Reserve

Okay, this is not a Big 5 reserve, but after Kwandwe, it's my top pick. Impeccable accommodations, good service, and the huge skies and horizons of the landscape make it stand out from the pack. When it opened in 2006, it quickly hit the "world's best" lists in Tatler, Travel + Leisure, and Condé Nast Traveler. Almost 3 hours from P.E., the location deep in the Karoo is distinct from the more vegetated coastal areas. This 28,300-hectare (70,000-acre) wilderness covers four of the country's seven biomes, home to more than 60 mammal species. But lions, buffaloes, and elephants are not among them. The focus here is on cheetahs. In 2003, Sibella, a rehabilitated female cheetah, was released along with two males. Six years later, Sibella has survived the wilds and successfully reared 18 cubs (2% of the wild cheetah population in S.A.). You can get up close and personal with Sibella or forgo the game drive to inspect ancient KhoiSan rock paintings or fossil sites, book a massage, or curl up with a book. You have a choice of two sumptuous lodges: the serenely colonial Karoo Lodge (featuring children's activities, including the reconstruction of a giraffe skeleton) or the newly built exclusive-use Manor House, with its more modern, Afro-chic look and feel.

Facilities:
Dining room; bar; lounge; airport transfers; pool; free 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.

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