What a magical experience. To walk with cheetahs! A simply unheard of encounter. A personalized stay, where people greet you by name, in the most beautiful environment. The lodge is designed for long lazy afternoons on the verandah, and the meals served were delicious. We looked forward to afternoon tea every day, in anticipation of what had been freshly baked. The suite we were in was luxuriously spacious. Weve never been treated so specially at any establishment visited - it was the epitome of a truly memorable stay.

Samara could not have delivered a more fantastic stay. It was truly awe-inspiring. Arriving at the circular drive to the lodge, youre welcomed by smiling faces and an enchanting deep verandah. Im not sure there are many places in the world where you can track rhino and cheetah on foot. And to get to spend time with cheetah while they quietly laze in the sun, whilst youre on foot in the bush with them... Just unbelievable. Our tracker, and driver Dumi were so special. The element of conservation which we participated in was also fascinating. We looked forward to every meal, it was that delicious. I certainly recommend 3 nights minimum to stay. Samara will always be the most fond memory, as our favourite private game reserve!

My sister and I stayed at Samara Game Reserve in October 2020 to celebrate our birthdays. We had an incredibly memorable stay and would highly recommend Samara for a luxury Big Five experience in South Africa. Highlights of our stay were tracking 8 cheetahs on foot, the guides and staff that attended to our every need and the dining experience. Will visit again as soon as we can!

Definitely a nice place out from the normal touristic circuite. The staffs very professional

Samara is one of those places your heart always yearns to return to. Samara has become the benchmark to which we compare other game reserves we visit, it is just such a magical and fantastic place. We have been to Samara three times now, and we are always trying to build a visit to Samara into our next trip!The level of service of the staff is just amazing, the plentiful food is always of the highest standard, every night is a peaceful nights rest. The rooms are clean, cozy and spacious with everything you need. If you feel something is missing, you can always just ask the stuff, no ask is too big for the Samara staff. And the game drives never disappoint! The game rangers have always been the best and most interesting people.Samara is a must to visit, and great value for money.

An amazing experience in this beautiful (and vast) game reserve. Everything is just perfect : the landscapes, the lodge (very comfortable), the drives, the staff !Marnus, Samaras general manager, is truly passionate by the bush and the wildlife and knows how to share it. Thanks so much for these beautiful moments and talks during the drives ! Our kids also loved their stay. Its perfect for them with activities adapted to all ages.Last but not least, the sky at night is just amazingly full of stars and its a great experience to watch it in the dark.Thanks again. We hope well come back.

Fantastic staff. Overall very friendly and amicable. When I told the guide that Ive been visiting Africa for 2 weeks and have yet to see a Cheetah, the next mornings game drive was specifically set to track and find their Cheetahs just so that I could see them before heading back home to Canada. When we found them, it was the best and most memorable moment of my wife and Is entire trip. Thank Samara for a memory I will cherish the rest of my life!

What a stay! Literally so unbelievable!The reserve:So beautiful and filled with so many amazing animals! Giraffes, rhinos, baboons, cheetahs, and the list goes on! They are the third biggest reserve in South Africa and their land seems to go on forever! Also, saw some of the most beautiful sunsets of my life here as well!Staff:So incredibly nice and on top of anything we could have ever needed!Stay here!!

Very good place.....Very atmosphere

Superbly run reserve in the heart of the hauntingly beautiful Karoo. The staff, accommodation, food and most importantly the game are top notch - with Samara having the Big Five and 3% of the total world cheetah population. Stay at least 3 days but when you sadly leave youll have wished youd stayed for 7!

Samara is one on the most special places on earth. It is a rare treat to be able to drive and walk in the reserve. Our ranger was very knowledgeable ranger about the animals, plants, mountains and the general area. The staff at the Manor House is exceptional and made us feel very special. The highlight of our trip was the spotting of an aardvark, a cheetah with her cubs and being able to see a part of the Karoo that is not visible from the public roads.

The landscape will draw you into this amazing part of the world. It’s so authentic and important in terms of restoring the biodiversity of the Karoo.

Breath-taking experience. An absolute must for those passionate about wildlife and the outdoors.The care and conservation displayed by Samara for wild animals like the precious White Rhino or cunning Cheetah is awe-inspiring.Great reserve!

An amazing romantic experience with a personalized touch and wonderful attention to detail. Experience worth having.

New have visited Samara many times, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. On our last visit, we saw a lovely example of using an Aloe flower to make a lamp holder. With the enthusiastic assistance of your staff, left with a car load of these, which we use to this day. Regards. Mike and Wendy. Helderberg Village, Somerset West.

Amazing place, delicious food, great staff and wonderful service. The perfect balance between relax and game drive. Thank you!

We had a most beautiful experience, getting up close to a pride of Cheetah. Also saw Elephant, Warthog, Giraffe, Zebra and a whole range of buck.

My husband and I spent 2 wonderful nights at Samara. Not only was the accommodation and food top class, the staff were also friendly and accommodating. We can recommend Samara for a special karoo experience and would love to go back again one day.

I have had the distinct joy and pleasure to have been part of the Samara family since 2006; when I say family it is exactly that; they make you feel at home. No request is too big/small or insignificant for them. Weve been there in the height of summer and lazed next to the pool; been there in the middle of winter and sat on top of the Plateau and seen the snowy mountains surround us. We were HONORED to have been up close and personal with Sibella in those visits and on our last one, emotional and sad as it was due to her passing, we met Chili, one of her cubs; a thrill that never ceases to amaze me.Our rangers have always been exceptional.The lodge staff, from the maintenance to the housekeeping to the kitchen staff....awesome.The food DIVINE.And the other guests we have met along the way, I am pleased to say, have stayed in touch and every time we saw a Zebra or a Vervet, on subsequent visits, we were fondly reminded of Joel and Jean who we met along the way.And let us not forget our memorable Silver Wedding Anniversary champagne and snacks sitting looking out over the Plains of the Camdeboo.You may leave but a part of you will remain at Samara.

Loved every minute at Samara. Old fashioned hospitality at its best and will never forget standing within feet of one of the famed Samara cheetahs. One day we will return. Simply magical

Samara was not the honeymoon wed expected. My wife and I checked in on July 29th, 2019. Wed planned on staying 4 nights, but ended up leaving after the 3rd night.In all, great biomes, and we loved the opportunity to walk with cheetas, giraffes and rhinos. We loved the respect and personal space that all animals are given, and the ethics of the reserve. The lodge was great, the food was on point (I am vegetarian and this was accommodated).The organization and the guide were a major let down though. We decided to dedicate part of our honeymoon to learning about conservation and walked out disappointed. We do hope that this review helps other travelers make the most of their time at Samara Private Game Reserve.The main watch-outs:1- ensure that the booking team acknowledges and confirms your specific requirements and areas of interest before you make any payments.2- ask in advance if there is any additional fees to be incurred.3- book 2 nights only. The website recommends minimum 3 nights but we found that you quickly go back to doing the same things.4- request to be assigned to a car with visitors of similar interest.And heres why:1-  Ensure your specific request are acknowledged before making any payment. We found that this crucial info had trickled poorly from the booking team to the operations team (guides, tracker, staff at the lodge). We consequently never got our Bush Walk, despite mentioning this particular interest 3 times while booking with Samara.We did get to go out of the car and shortly walk with cheetas, girafes and rhinos, which in itself is pretty unique.2- Ensure you are informed of all costs upfront: there is a conservation fee of approx. 140ZAR p.p per night which caught us by surprise. We were not happy about the surprise but the staff pleaded that we sign the invoice, as this expense would otherwise be taken out of their salary. So we did.3- Two nights are sufficient. Samaras website recommends a minimum of 3 nights. We found that the game drives from day 3 onwards, are simply a repeat of the ones of day 1 and 2 (same spot, same game, same everything).4- ensure youre a fit with your guide and other travelers. This is another organizational area that disappointed. My wife and I who wanted to cease any opportunity to walk with the animals, were paired up with travelers who just wanted to stay in the car, drive from one animal to thd other taking pictures.In addition to that, our guide turned out to be moody. Lively and enthusiastic one day, kurt and borderline unfriendly the next.So, worth a visit but just for two nights and with all info and cost confirmed in advance.Happy travels!

Breathtaking scenery, pristine environment, incredible wildlife, beautiful and well appointed rooms, amazing staff! Can honestly say that I will never forget our trip to Samara. I hope to return one day soon!

I have had the privilege of experiencing various private reserves and national parks throughout South Africa, but Samara is in a league of its own.The Samara Team is simply world class.

Absolutely wonderful establishment. Staff made me feel like royalty!

Love the Karoo Lodge with its wide verandas and good catering. A friendly game lodge, recently introduced Elephant and Lions in addition to its previous Cheetah speciality. Indigenous buck such as Mountain Zebra, Springbuck, Wildebeest, Waterbuck, Buffalo subdivided between mountain top views and lower level Karoo.

SAMARA , THE PEARL BEYOND EXPERIENCE...The drive through the hauntingly beautiful Karoo ends on a high note as we approach the superb Samara private game reserve ....the warm welcolm, and soon we are in our well appointed room, ...time to freshen up before dinnerThe Manor is simply opulence from a bygone era, friendly warm fire ..mellow single malt, and intimate moments to share our delight , before a memorable dinner , washed down with an excellent RedThe next morning at day break we head out on our game drive....to me, just sitting back in the open vehicle, warmly dressed ...savouring the smell and absolute sense of peace ...with no expectations...my idea of mindful zen Moments.....We have been fortunate and privileged to have visited the very very best on offer over most of Africa, and Samara will always hold a very special place in our hearts, and we so hope that we could returnOUR VERY CONSIDERED ADVICE...put SAMARA on the top of your bucket list....and go see for yourself

Absolutely amazing, the experience dinner around the boma under a starlit sky. To see the game and walk with a family of cheetah, we shall cherish for ever.

Beautiful scenery and landscapes. Top class staff and facilities. Our time at Samara Private Game Reserve was amazing. Thank you!

Fabulous setting; amazing luxury; wonderful drives and views. And the accommodation and food is excellent. Highly recommended.

The BEST! Go go go! Lovely staff and accommodations. Property is amazing. The best of the Karoo.

Samara Private Game Reserve is another de luxe accommodation; the hunnybunny knows how to pick them. From the moment we walk up from the circular driveway onto the front verandah its obvious that this place has history to show and money to preserve it.The rear verandah has tables covered with linen tablecloths, elegant crockery, and cutlery. Everywhere I look there are reminders of safari hunts, from camp crockery to bones and maps. With the fastidiously decorated main house and the wide-open well-tended fields I imagine this place used to cater to the 1% hunters. Walking around the verandah I can see deep into the fields and more shaded spaces to relax. The rear entrance to the dining room has been opened all the way; breezes blow through the house.The dining room; very nicely decorated -- with photos on the wall of old images of safari outings from days long past --  and a thatched ceiling. Theres one long table, for ten, and two tables for two or four people.The common living room has leather chairs, the same thatched roof design, a big fireplace, and a small chandelier with an oversized hand-blown glass enclosure.Perhaps the most visually striking interior is the intimate six-seat bar, with a row of these chandeliers and glass bulbs. Its obviously a social magnet but with a compact layout. In my minds eye, I can see hunters of old and photographers of today sharing tales of the days captures with fellow guests. Its design, long and thin, making good use of an otherwise too-small room, act as a vortex, pulling guests from the main traffic path into its inviting space.Off the wraparound verandah, there are lots of interesting spaces to hide and read a book or hang out with a small group of friends. Each has that lived-in homey feeling, with the furniture an assemblage built up over time, the artifacts the product of many years and many experiences, the oversized photos documenting lives of service to this land.Like most of the safari lodges, which are located deep within protected pockets of land, the kitchen staff has an importance much greater than is found in their city counterparts, where options about to satisfy hunger and slake thirst. Guest morale is dependant on a proficient kitchen, and Samaras does a great job of mixing local spices and flavors with an old-world, colonial palette. One of the things I liked best was their combination plates; having a little bit of everything to share means we get to taste a wide variety of foods wed otherwise miss if our choices were only main plates. Local game, great ingredients, and interesting re-imaginings of classic dishes made every meal something to which I look forward to all day.Samara Private Game Reserve was a grand place to visit; the elegance and calmness were a salve to traveling, and Id go back in a minute when such salve is needed.

Stunning location, nestled in a valley and about 45 minutes drive from Graaff Reinet. They have alot of very rare wildlife like Aardvark. Not yet Big 5. But they said that they are introducing lions in a couple of Months.

The Samara Private Game Reserve and its lodges is a most impressive high end experience for observing and photographing wild animals or to study birds in the Camdaboo mountains. The reserve is just outside Graaff Reinet, for my family it was a pleasure and a privilege to have spent time at this jewel in the Karoo.For this reserve one is advised not to arrive at the perimeter gate unexpectedly, rather make an advance booking, therefore your meals and special requirements can be prepared. For our game viewing trip, the chef prepared a scrumptious meal in an old farmhouse had a colonial style setting. Trinkets and memorabilia were available for purchase at the reception centre. Thereafter we were whisked off game viewing in a well equipped 4x4 driven by a knowledgeable guide who was assisted by a skilled tracker. This was a most memorable experience which I highly recommend to any visitor to the reserve. Our photographic hunt concluded with a cheetah kill only meters away (a mother and four large cubs), what a privilege? Then we saw owls, night jars and a sundowner was prepared. We will definitely revisit this reserve on our next trip to South Africa.

If you have a group of rich friends, rent the mansion house. Stunning!

Warm hospitality, delightful sightings and the best of creature comforts !The Karoo has a way of pulling you back….. particularly to Samara which is set in the heart of the Karoo, up against some deceivingly docile looking mountains, the Camdeboo range.This was my second visit and my friends first to Samara.We appreciated the detailed information laden emails building up to our visit, directions, weather reports and tips on what to bring along.From the warm reception on arrival, to a guide that had already familiarised himself with our names, a handyman that whipped our car off to repair a flat tyre we picked up on route, a hostess who quickly discussed our dinner choices, a tracker who found us the elusive aardvark, housekeeping staff who turned down beds and ran fragrant baths to return to after safari drives and dining staff who happily accommodated our desire to move outside halfway during our meals - absolutely nothing was too much trouble and every whim accommodated with gracious enthusiasm.The lodge, rooms and most generous of wraparound stoeps ( verandah ) made it difficult at times to choose between going on a game drive or staying to enjoy the facilities. However, the game drives won out each time, just !Gibson, our guide, made sure that it was not just the BIG TICKS that enthralled us. Stopping regularly to point out a beautiful scene, delicate buck, small birds, ancient trees, fascinating plants and their properties and had us competing with fellow guests to identify spoor/tracks in the mud.We left well fed, in body and soul and will for sure plan another return visit to the very special gem of the Karoo.

A lifetime experience and one of the best in the world!

Beautiful landscapes in an expansive wilderness area, great game viewing, saw Cheetah, Cape Buffalo, big herd of Black Wildebeest and other game. Was hoping to see one of the Aardvarks, often seen there, good excuse to go back! A relaxing, a tranquil escape.The Karoo is a special part of Africa.Love the ambience and old world charm of Karoo Lodge. Food out of this world! Great Staff.Also strong conservationw ethics, with the tracker academy and other projects.I forgot to mention the stars, no not celebrities, (even though there is the possibilty of some staying at the lodge), the night sky, the milky way is so bright and clear, almost unbelievable.Thanks for my lovely stay Samara!

Idyllic setting. Friendly service.

Beautiful place, beautiful people. 5 stars service!!!

Will come here over and over again. Loved it.

Its a best place to be, with its nature like mountain ,beautiful animals and species

Very Very nice, fine people, Great Place to be.

A perfect reserve with perfect sights

Awesome gem in the heart of the Karoo

An amazing place

An unforgettable experience!

Very nice area.

Quality alround experience.

Too much driving for too little game

Best Private Game Reserve!

Had amazing fun days at Samara, beautiful bedroom and very friendly people! Especially Gibson our ranger :)

We stayed in the Sibella Suite for two days and we were really looking forward to the luxury lodge,unfortunately it was just a good suite.The food was very good one evening and only good the next evening.The game drives and the guide were just great and we were able to walk a few hundred meters over a ridge together with the cheetahs. That was a special experience.

A magical place to relax. We have been to the Samara Private Game Reserve twice.Fantastically beautiful accommodation, we stayed twice in the suites. Approx. 50 meters from a water hole we could magically watch a herd of giraffes from the terrace.The good soul of the house is Veronica, who is happy to help you in all matters.The safaris are great, especially Jan, who knows a lot about the flora and fauna.The food is good, but could be a little better for a luxury hotel.It is good, not essential, but helpful for planning the rest of the trip, that the suites now also have WiFi.