Petersburg Road Samara Karoo Reserve, Graaff-Reinet 6280 South Africa
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#3 of 66 hotels in Graaff-Reinet
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A heart-stoppingly beautiful African setting awaits at the award-winning Big Five malaria-free Samara Karoo Reserve near Graaff-Reinet. Two elegant lodges lie nestled between an amphitheatre of mountains on 67,000 acres of Great Karoo landscape with breathtaking views.
Samara encompasses 5 vegetation biomes, dramatic mountains and the unique "Samara Mara" - vast plateau grasslands resembling the East African Serengeti - home to 225 bird species and 65 mammal species including endangered and desert-adapted wildlife.
Renowned for tracking safaris to view wild cheetah on foot, other activities include conservation activities, birding, hiking, mountain biking & a children’s programme. Samara specialises in outdoor dining, whether under the stars, a picnic in the river or lunch on the mountain-top. A luxury star bed is the perfect romantic getaway.
Samara also has greater purpose as a leading conservation journey to restore the Great Karoo region through rewilding and responsible tourism. Staying at one of Samara's lodges acts as a direct contribution to this vision. Recommended minimum stay 3 nights.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Free breakfast
Hiking
Patio
Children's playground
Kids club
Secured parking
Internet
Pool / beach towels
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
Shallow end in pool
Fence around pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Breakfast in the room
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Complimentary tea
Complimentary welcome drink
Kid-friendly buffet
Kids' meals
Outdoor dining area
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Walking tours
Board games / puzzles
Highchairs available
Airport transportation
Baggage storage
Gift shop
Mosquito net
Outdoor fireplace
Outdoor furniture
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
Sun umbrellas
First aid kit
Umbrella
Private check-in / check-out
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Bathrobes
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Interconnected rooms available
Private balcony
Coffee / tea maker
Refrigerator
Walk-in shower
Safe
Seating area
Telephone
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Private bathrooms
Electric kettle
Complimentary toiletries
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Room types
Mountain view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Luxury
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans, Xhosa
Location
Petersburg Road Samara Karoo Reserve, Graaff-Reinet 6280 South Africa
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401Reviews4Q+A96Room tips
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+1
This was our second visit to Samara ( last visit Oct 2019) and we were allocated the same room in the Manor House. The staff at the Manor House were all friendly, welcoming and professional which made our stay even more relaxing. The quality and choice of meals was perfect and the staff accommodated our special requests. Thank you. The game drives were first class and our Ranger Ze and Tracker Enrico were extremely knowledgeable about the reserve animals. What a surprise when we met Ze for the second time - his care and driving skills were exceptional especially when driving up to the mountains. During our bush walks we experienced some very close encounters with Rhinos, Baby Rhinos and Cheetahs and Springbok and witnessed a Cheeta attempting a chase to catch his lunch. Fortunately the springbok evaded capture.…
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Service
Room Tip: Staying for four nights or more is advisable in order to really absorb the joys of Samara.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Hotel's Favourite
We visited as a couple in October, and had a magical time. Our guide Mzi and ranger Jason were outstanding and we had many special experiences up close with the animals, the most memorable being when a Rhino and her calf walked past us while we were having sunset drinks by the vehicle. The fact that Samara only caters for a relatively small number of guests means the guides are able to allow you to get closer to the animals and have a bespoke experience. The vegetarian food options were delicious and I was very impressed, the rooms lovely and the staff friendly and welcoming. The longer journey to get to this safari reserve was definitely worth it. Thank you Samara!
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Date of stay: October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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+1
An exhilarating experience from the moment we arrived until we left! At the Eco-luxe tented camp we were greeted with great enthusiasm by the ever-so-friendly staff. The accommodation was impeccable. A great “Africa-only” experience with luxury interweaved! The “bucket shower” was a first for me and I really enjoyed having a hot shower after the game drives and bush walks. The abundance of wildlife was everywhere. We enjoyed spotting a variety of birds as we are keen birdwatchers. The huge variety of antelopes, the giraffes, the awesome backdrop of the Karoo scenery and then the highlight of tracking the cheetahs and the lions just made our stay one to remember for ever! The wildlife experience filled our souls and the delicious Al fresco dining filled our tummies! A huge thank you to all of you at Samara – you are really making the Karoo wildlife experience worth it! …
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
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Room Tip: Just relax and enjoy the sounds of Africa!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Excellent facilities. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Wonderfull food. Management obviously very well informed and highly capable. Highly recommended for an experience that is very exceptional!
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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+1
OUR RECENT VISIT TO THE NEWLY ERECTED TENTED CAMP AT THE SAMARA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE OF LUXURY OUTDOOR SAFARI VENTURES. WE RECEIVED A WARM, EFFICIENT WELCOME AT THE NUM-NUM RECEPTION CENTER, FROM WHERE OUR LUGGAGE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE TENT CAMP, WHILE WE HAD A VERY RELAXED INFORMATIVE GAMEDRIVE TO OUR LODGING FOR TWO NIGHTS. SAFE PARKING FOR OUR PRIVATE VEHICLES PROVIDED. ON OUR ARRIVAL AT THE CAMP THE PERSONEL WERE AWAITING US WITH REFRESHMENTS AND INFORMED US ABOUT THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF STAYING IN THE OPEN VELD IN TENTS WITH A GUIDED TOUR OF THE CAMPSITE AND FACILLITIES IN THE TENTS. THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON WAS TAKEN UP BY A WONDERFUL GAME DRIVE WITH OUR VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE GUIDE AND TRACKER ONTO THE PLAINS OF THE CAMDEBO. A BIG VARIETY OF GAME AND BIRD SPECIES SPOTTED. THE DAY WAS ENDED WITH A FIVE STAR DINNER AROUND THE LAPA CAMPFIRE. ALTHOUGH IT WAS COLD AT NIGHT, THE BEDS WERE WARMED WITH WARMWATER BOTTLES AND EVEN A SAFE STOVE IN THE TENTS TO KEEP OUT THE COLD. DUE TO THE CONSTRAINT OF TIME, WE ONLY DID SHORT WALKS THE NEXT DAY AND PREFERRED TRAVELING ON THE GAME VEHICLE TO COVER A GREATER AREA OF THE GAME PARK WHICH PROVED TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL. I CAN CERTAINLY RECOMMEND THIS AFFORABLE LUXURY CAMPING EXPERIENCE TO THE NATURE LOVERS OF SOUTH AFRICA AND ABROAD. …
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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I hesitated for a long time before writing this but in the end decided I would go ahead. I greatly admire the conservation work going on at Samara and normally would do everything in my power to persuade people to support this private reserve. But the experience was so poor that I thought I should share my views. The reserve itself is a work in progress, a gradual rewinding of some 30 000 hectares of farmland, and so is not yet fully wild, though it has a fair number of reintroduced wild species including the rare black wildebeest. Our guides, Roelof and Rowan, were both clearly passionate about conservation and super-knowledgeable about the terrain. Our game drives were interesting and pleasant but not a patch on what's on offer in other private reserves. Which brings me to the point: at the rates they're charging, Samara had better get its act together if it wants to compete with the game lodges further north. The accommodation in the tented camp was awful. There was nowhere to sit except on a very uncomfortable camp chair in full sun on the little outside area outside the tent. (It was 37deg C ). We had enamel basins for washing & brushing our teeth in, supplied with water from jugs. All very trendily rustic, but if the staff can have piped water (they do - we had a look), why can't the guests? The loos were piped in, so why not the basins? It seemed a silly affectation, as did the bucket arrangement in the outdoor shower, filled by staff on request. And when they did, the water, heated over a campfire, was literally scalding hot. Staff in general were conspicuous by their absence - we had to go to the kitchen and call them if we wanted anything as demanding as a drink. Once or twice we actually stood in the little main tent and shouted, to get someone's attention. And the food - not to put too fine a point on it - was horrible. No water was provided (pretty standard) on the game drives. There was a general lack of supervision and lack of interest in the guests' welfare. As a previous reviewer remarked, this lack of interest seemed to extend to the guides - they were doing their job, and very well, but the rest was expected to be done by the camp staff. We saw LITERALLY NO ONE for one entire day between game drives, and as we were at the time the only guests in the camp, it was a very uncomfortable experience. At the prices we paid, we did not feel this in any way represented value for money. We had booked a three-night stay, with the third night free, but left after two. A pretty shoddy showing, Samara.…
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Spending 3 nights at Plains Camp at Samara was simply NOT enough. The place is spectacular. Luxurious, but not pretentious, and that in itself is a feat. Staff were absolutely amazing and the fact that we spent so much time in the bush was awesome. Loved the tented accommodation and the bucket showers. Pleasantly surprised that the toilets were the flushing type and not also buckets! :-)
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Date of stay: August 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
After 3 year’s absence it was great to return to Samara. It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces and also new ones. We stayed at the Manor and the service was superb. Also visited Plains Camp. Absolutely love the concept and the experience. The bush walk was amazing. It’s a must do for an authentic bush experience. Also some tremendous safari viewing including a cheetah kill on our first drive. Can’t do a review without mentioning Eagles Rock looking out over the Karoo. Got to be my favourite viewpoint anywhere. Just so great to be back
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
We visited in October so apologies for the delay writing this review. We stayed for 4 days and we’re just blown away with the scenery landscape and animals. We saw everything we wanted to and more. Just stunning. The reserved is dedicated to conservation and protection of animals and vegetation and are working so so hard to support this reserve for many years to come by introducing the animals and plant life into the area. The lodges were all stunning and amazing. The staff were just wonderful knowledgeable professional helpful and friendly. Special thanks to Biance for such care and service. The food was 5 star and some of the best we have ever had. Just an amazing place and beautiful Thank you all to the hotel staff chefs and guides we had an amazing stay. We will hopefully be back but it’s a long way from the UK. Keep protecting the animals…
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
What a joy to have found Samara not far away... very comfortable lodgings, excellent food, wonderful staff and a superb game guide. We learnt so much in 4 days. Only one thing slightly amiss - the quality of the 'wine by the glass' needs to be improved. Otherwise, everything was perfect and we look forward to visiting this lovely place again soon.
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Date of stay: August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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PRICE RANGE
US$1,235 - US$1,737 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
samara private game reserve hotel samara private game reserve
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Samara Karoo Reserve
LOCATION
South AfricaEastern CapeGraaff-Reinet
NUMBER OF ROOMS
13
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Claim Your ListingSAMARA KAROO RESERVE - Hotel Reviews & Price Comparison (Graaff-Reinet, South Africa) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Samara Karoo Reserve
What are some of the property amenities at Samara Karoo Reserve?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and a pool.
Which room amenities are available at Samara Karoo Reserve?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a refrigerator, and a mosquito net.
What food & drink options are available at Samara Karoo Reserve?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Samara Karoo Reserve?
Yes, free parking and secured parking are available to guests.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Samara Karoo Reserve?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Samara Karoo Reserve have airport transportation?
Yes, Samara Karoo Reserve offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Samara Karoo Reserve?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Afrikaans, and Xhosa.
Does Samara Karoo Reserve have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the mountain view available here.
Is Samara Karoo Reserve accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.