Shamwari Private Game Reserve Travel Guide: Top Sights in South

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Shamwari Private Game Reserve- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Natural Scenery; South Africa; 5 Reviews

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Suggested Duration: 48 hours

Shamwari Private Game Reserve stands as a pinnacle of wildlife conservation and luxurious safari experiences in South Africa's Eastern Cape, a mere 75 km journey from Gqeberha. This game reserve exemplifies the successful revitalization of an ecosystem once dominated by agricultural farming, now a sanctuary for wildlife and nature enthusiasts alike. As a member of the Indalo Protected Environment, Shamwari holds a vital position in the conservation landscape, underscoring its commitment to ecological preservation and restoration. Covering expansive landscapes, the reserve is home to an impressive array of wildlife, including the celebrated Big Five - lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, elephants, and buffaloes - alongside other majestic creatures such as hippopotamuses, South African giraffes, Cape mountain zebras, Southeast African cheetahs, wildebeests, and hyenas. This rich biodiversity offers guests an unparalleled opportunity to witness some of Africa's most iconic animals in their natural habitats, making every safari drive a unique and unforgettable adventure. Recognition of Shamwari's outstanding conservation efforts is evident through its receipt of the Global Nature Fund Award for Best Conservation Practice in 2005, reflecting its pioneering role in wildlife protection and environmental stewardship. This acclaim extends beyond accolades, with Shamwari making notable appearances in popular culture, including being the backdrop for the Netflix reality TV series 'Shamwari Untamed', the British TV series 'Safari School', and Animal Planet's 'Shamwari: A wild life', offering viewers a glimpse into the reserve's day-to-day operations and conservation initiatives. Additionally, Shamwari's partnership with the Born Free Foundation epitomizes its dedication to animal welfare. This collaboration has led to the establishment of two sanctuaries within the reserve, providing lifelong care to lions and leopards rescued from dire circumstances in circuses and zoos worldwide. These sanctuaries underscore Shamwari's holistic approach to conservation, where the well-being of every animal is paramount.

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Reviews of Shamwari Private Game Reserve

Piotr Eliasz

5
Reviewed: 2024-07-26

Our stay exceeded all our expectations. Rooms, service, food was all excellent, but by and far we loved most our game rides with Shaun, a passionate ranger with great knowledge. Thanks!
Pauline W

5
Reviewed: 2024-06-04

It is hard to put into words the experience I had at Bayethe Lodge at Shamwari. From start to finish, we were treated like royalty. The attention to detail on every aspect of this lodge is unlike anything I have ever experienced. The rooms or shall I say our house was beautiful and so welcoming and comfortable. The main dining area's ambiance and the surrounding grounds were impeccable and we felt so relaxed. All the staff were so kind and their efforts in making our stay an enjoyable one well exceeded our expectations. This place is like a taste of paradise and the peace and tranquility I felt while staying here was out of this world. The food was absolutely amazing and so many choices for any palate. You do not go hungry at Bayethe! Last but not least, Patrick, our Ranger, with his infectious laugh, his knowledge and passion shone right through his daily commentary of the animals, plants, birds and the game reserve as a whole. We learned so much from him and are forever grateful that we were lucky to have him take us out on 7 game drives. To see the many creatures up close and personal was absolutely spectacular. From a herd of elephants to lions mating, giraffe grazing, rhinos, cheetah, zebra, hippos, buffalo and the countless other species on this land had my jaw dropping every 5 minutes. Visiting the cat sanctuary and rehab centre was so humbling and the work being done to protect and possibly reintroduce animals back into the wild was so commendable. Memories from this trip will last a lifetime and I highly recommend this lodge! Thanks again to Patrick, Nina and everyone who made our stay unforgettable.
Shikha Vaishwanar

5
Reviewed: 2024-03-31

My husband and I stayed 3 nights in the Bayethe lodge and felt like we were on a second honeymoon! Everything was perfect - the service the little touches and the beautiful rooms. Patrick was our ranger who took us for 8 game drives in total. Every drive was unique and we had a chance to see 4 out of the 5 big five. He’s an excellent guide with a great wealth of knowledge about each animal so we felt we also learned a lot while experiencing some of the best moments of our life. The staff is very friendly, they remember your names, preferences and always ensure you are well taken care of. We had excellent meals throughout our stay and the drinks / snacks while on the game drive were an extra special touch. All in all, the best holiday we have had and can’t wait to go back to shamwari in the future.
Abi Sanders

5
Reviewed: 2024-03-10

Had an incredible few days at Eagles Crag at Shamwari - the staff were absolutely faultless, accommodation was everything you could have needed and the reserve itself was exceptional. Our ranger Frans was amazing! Please pass on our thanks for a great few days, he did his absolute best to make the trip special and memorable even with the unfortunate rain at the beginning of the week. His expertise and knowledge was very impressive. We weren’t expecting the food to be as good as it was, every meal was to a very high standard and there was really nothing else we could have wanted. Thank-you to the Shamwari team & Frans for an incredible first visit to South Africa.
Chris Mounsey

5
Reviewed: 2024-01-11

We recently had the pleasure of staying in Eagles Crag lodges in Safari. It was one of the best experiences of our life, absolutely everything was amazing. Leon our ranger was incredible, his knowledge and passion shone through every day and his enthusiasm was infectious which helped with the early starts! He really made the whole experience and it helped that we got to see some incredible animal sightings on our drives with him too. Neil and the whole team at Eagles Crag were brilliant also, even going out of their way to organise a traditional South African Braii for us one of the nights when they heard we would love to try it. We will definitely be back!