Samara Private Game Reserve

Frommer's Review

Okay, this is not a Big 5 reserve, but bear with me. Samara officially opened in 2006 and was promptly featured in Tatler (Top 101 Hotels in the World), Travel + Leisure (Top 50 Romantic Destinations), and Condé Nast Traveler (Hot List: 60 Best New Hotels in the World). It's a combination of factors -- impeccable accommodations and good service of course, but mostly it's the landscape, with its huge skies and horizons; Samara is almost 3 hours from P.E., and its location deep into the Karoo is very different from the more vegetated coastal areas. Don't come here to tick off the Big 5; this is a 28,300-hectare (70,000-acre) indigenous wilderness covering four of the country's seven biomes, and home to over 60 mammal species -- but lions, buffaloes, and elephants are not among them. The focus here is on cheetahs. In December 2003, Sibella, a rehabilitated female cheetah from De Wildt, was released along with two males, and 3 years later Sibella has not only proved herself capable of sustaining herself in the wilds but has successfully reared 11 cubs. You can get up close and personal with Sibella or choose to forgo the game drive and instead inspect ancient KhoiSan rock paintings or fossil sites. Or book a massage instead, then curl up in a comfortable couch with a good book -- staying here is more about being in a wonderful retreat than rushing around to tick off game experiences.

Facilities:
Dining room; bar; lounge; pool; laundry; airport transfers; shop

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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