Samara Karoo Reserve- Travel Tips
What to See, How to Plan & Tours- Natural Scenery
- 5 Reviews
Reviews of Samara Karoo Reserve
Havi Harv - 5
You are looking for an amazing game drive experience - that’s the place! We did spend three days! Entering the reserve was very easy and safe. We came up from George towards Graaff-Reinet. Following the signs along R63 the entrance was easy to find. After about 2.8km we passed the first gate. Getting to the lodges is about 24 km and takes you about 45 minutes. Passing two more security gates you enter the wild life. Watch out for the bamboos. Amazing to see wild life from your own car. It is absolutely safe just make sure you stay inside the car. At the lodge you get welcomed by the team which was very warming and nice! The location is amazing. Well maintained clean and staffing is super friendly and attentive. All are in good moods. We did 4 drives in total with Christian and Michael. I would like to say thank you to the two of you for such an awesome experience. You guys are doing and phenomenal job with outstanding knowledge. We always felt safe. Did follow a rhino 🦏 trace by walking and saw 4 out of the big 5. The suites are enormous in size super clean and luxury. Food is stunning, super delicious. Also liked the bush coffee ☕️ during our drives and the set up breakfast with views. Thanks for this wonderful experience.
Christine Trewick - 3
I was really looking forward to this one, and while I enjoyed my experience, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations of a 5 star lodge. Positives: good game viewing - we saw 3 of the Big 5, cheetah tracking was a massive highlight. Magnificent setting in the Karoo. Amazing guide and tracker with so much knowledge who really went out of their way to get us viewings. Exceptional service and attention to detail (e.g. bubble bath drawn for you after evening game drive, beautiful table settings). Negatives: The Manor House is in serious need of maintenance and upgrading. Furniture is stained and broken, cushions torn, peeling paint, pool area full of weeds, pool full of algae and dead insects so we couldn’t swim in it. The amount of bees is also insane - I got stung multiple times. While I understand that it is difficult to prevent bees in the wild, there are eco-friendly and bee-safe methods to reduce bees in communal areas, used by other lodges. Overall, I did enjoy the 2 nights I spent there, but feel that for the price range I expected a more luxurious lodge. I understand that they’re doing renovations on lodges so hopefully with some building maintenance and TLC the experience can be enhanced further.
Cdo - 5
Would give 6 stars if I could!! Everything about this experience was truly amazing. The safaris were exceptional with lots of diversity. The Lodge is full of charm with spacious rooms. Very hospitable staff always with a smile. Great food quality and generous portions! Location is quite remote, which adds to the African safari experience. A price worth paying!
Erin McBrien - 5
We stayed in The Manor in May, 2023. The game drives were incredible as our tracker and driver were extremely knowledgeable and skilled. The accommodations were comfortable and beautiful. The chef was outstanding, and the meals were delicious. Even though it rained during part of our stay and during the game drives, we still went out and enjoyed the views and looked for animals. We were provided with lined ponchos to keep us warm and dry. Staying at Samara was our big splurge for this vacation and was well worth it.
Paige Elizabeth Hicks - 5
Samara itself is an amazing experience. Our first safari experience and it truly outdid itself, and far exceeded all of our expectations. The Lodge was impeccable, from the service, to the food and drink, to the views. We stayed in a Villa, complete with an outdoor shower area. Opening up the curtains on the huge french doors, and being greeted by giraffe, warthogs, antelope and everything else just yards away was truly magnificent. Our guide and tracker were top notch. This is a must.
