Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa Plan a trip

The Shamwari Game Reserve is known the world over for its luxurious and exclusive safari experience. If you’ve ever been on safaris at Kruger, you’ll be amazed at how different this place is. The Shamwari Game Reserve is about 40 km east of Addo. It’s one of the best-known Eastern Cape game reserves and one of the biggest, so there’s a great chance you’ll see some animals.

Go on a wildlife drive with a guide to learn more about the animals and see a few. All of the big five can be found in the Shamwari Game Reserve. There are lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo, as well as cheetahs and wild dogs. You’ll see a lot of antelopes during your stay; some might even come up to the car. But watch out for the males, they have spectacular, sharp horns. Due to the size of the reserve, it might be tough to see all of these creatures in one day. You’ll have to stay here a while to get the full animal experience.

The Shamwari Game Reserve puts on a few other activities for visitors. These include field guide courses, a trip to the rhino awareness centre, visiting the big cat sanctuary and learning about wildlife rehabilitation. By the end of your time here, you’ll be well versed in the reserve’s conservation efforts.

The big cat sanctuary is a major draw as it belongs to the Born Free Foundation that was founded by Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers, who starred in the film of the same name. Their priority is ensuring that animals are cared for with passion and respect – something we can really get behind. This is one of the reasons why we like Shamwari so much. It gives each visitor the opportunity to get hands-on experience with wild animals and teaches them about the importance of preserving the natural environment. You can even volunteer at the reserve for a day and take part in local conservation efforts.

This reserve is known for its luxury and sophistication, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck in an (admittedly luxurious) lodge all day. You can stay anywhere from large palatial bush tents to an Edwardian manor house. From there, you can go out on adventures and explore the local community as well as the reserve itself. It’s an unmissable opportunity.

Plan your trip to the Shamwari Game Reserve today.