Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Classic
Romantic
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Free breakfast
Airport transportation
Spa
Non-smoking hotel
Laundry service
Wifi
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Room features
Blackout curtains
Room service
Safe
Minibar
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Location
Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Shamwari Game Reserve 6130 South Africa
Long Lee manor at Shamwari, our destination. We were greeted by friendly staff and home made gingerbear then taken on a tour to our beautiful room awaiting us. The room even had a (covid seal) that we had to break,before entering our room. Attention to detail and original art work,luxury all round was a feast for the eyes and soul; a bed fit for a queen. Our ranger Jean was fantastic, he made sure this was a safari (being my first) that I wouldn't forget. We felt so spoilt, the bush knowledge shared,sundowners & snacks made the whole experience exciting. Jean went out of his way to show me all the animals so that I could tick all the boxes.. I still need to tick one box,so good excuse to go back. Day 2 Shamwari was now feeling like a home I didn't want to leave,the staff, great cuisine and all the surprises,the pool and too much to mention was just magical.
Thank you Theo, Jean and friendly professional staff for making us feel so special. You are an awesome team. All the best Ursula Seaview Eastern Cape
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Date of stay: November 2020Trip 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.
We were lucky enough to spend 3 nights at Shamwari Long Lee Manor as the first stop on our honeymoon in February 2024. Our whole experience was absolutely incredible!
Room We stayed in a Garden Room and were blown away with how spacious it was, as well as the beautiful views looking across the reserve from the terrace. The housekeeping staff are a credit to the Shamwari team, the room was kept absolutely spotless and it was welcome to return from game drives to a freshened up room. The mini bar was well stocked and everything was complimentary which was a wonderful surprise. As it was our honeymoon we had a special turndown on our first night where the room had been decorated with rose petals, a candlelit bath drawn, and a chilled bottle of bubbly waiting on ice! Just perfect.
Food The quality of the food at LLM is just top class - really surpassed our expectations as we came for the overall safari experience rather than the food, however the meals we ate here were some of the best of our entire South Africa trip. Everything was prepared with such care and attention to detail was superb - the chefs are really so talented. The front of house team were also excellent and were all very friendly lovely people. We felt very well looked after. The only problem was there was simply too many delicious dishes on offer and we felt we had to try them all, we left very full and happy :) it also gave us very high expectations for the rest of our trip! The Boma dinner was also a brilliant experience.
Game Drives We took part in all of the game drives during our stay, morning and evening, and got to see a huge variety of animals including lions (and cubs) elephants, giraffes, hippos, rhino, buffalos and cheetahs. Our guide Karien was absolutely excellent - it was clear to see her genuine passion and love of nature and her knowledge was vast. She was able to show and teach us so much about wildlife and conservation and we are really grateful to have met her.
Overall Lodge Experience Although a stay at Shamwari is on the pricey side we felt it was excellent value for money due to everything mentioned above, as well as the little touches and attention to detail that make all the difference, such as the hot/cold towels and hot chocolate/ice tea to welcome you back from the game drives, the sundowners on afternoon game drives, the beautiful pool with amazing views of the plains, and even a complimentary laundry service. All of the staff are genuinely lovely and a credit to the Shamwari team. We were sad to say goodbye on our last day! We feel very lucky to have had this experience and will definitely be planning a trip back in the future.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip 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.
I have started to write this review, deleted and started again a few times. That is because there are NO WORDS to describe what to expect when you arrive at Shamwari, that is how magnificent it is. The service was faultless, the room like something out of the movies. I don’t think there is any destination in the world that can top this and I will certainly think of the experiences I had there for the rest of my life. Put this on your bucket list, and if it’s already on your bucket list, GO NOW! You won’t be disappointed. It is expensive, but worth every cent and more.
Our ranger, Raymond, was the absolute best - funny, informative and great with children. He really took the game drive at our pace, and although he is the expert he let us decide how far/fast we wanted to go, what we’d like to see, and was even comfortable to just go quietly along without the need to constantly talk to us, which allowed us to appreciate the vastness of the reserve and the beauty of the stillness of nature. Raymond stopped and even reversed when we saw something interesting, and we never felt rushed to move on or “check off a list” of animals seen. He is an excellent driver, too, navigating some tough terrain. We felt totally safe with him.
The food at the Manor House is terrific, and they even have a kid’s menu! I thought the prices on the wine list (and even the spa although I didn’t visit the spa) were reasonable and on par with most restaurants in the city (they don’t try and catch you out with exorbitant prices on the things that are not included in the price of your stay).
Thank you Shamwari for the special rate for South Africans. I hope this is something you will continue with, as it allows us the chance to also see and appreciate all that our beautiful country has to offer.
The staff made sure we weren’t rushed, and made us feel like we were really wanted there, not just for our scheduled book in and book out times. We were even allowed to use the pool for a bit after we checked out (provided our room was cleared of our things). Thank you for this. A two night stay was out of our price range, but your flexibility meant there was enough time to enjoy the Manor House despite the planned schedule.
I have been to other game farms and this one is hands down the best. I will do whatever I can to go back as soon as possible! Don’t hesitate, just go. You will not regret it.
Thank you Shamwari!
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
We have been to Long Lee Manor several times and so were interested to see it following its complete refurbishment. The first surprise came with leaving our hire car at a new entrance compound and continuing into the reserve in a minibus. The lodge itself has been almost completely rebuilt and is very comfortable now. We had the usual excellent game drives and our ranger, Odwa, was adept at finding the animals for us despite appalling (but to the locals very welcome) rain storms throughout our three day visit. The staff were all very friendly and helpful.
The food was a bit of a disappointment though. While perfectly nice, the focus on everything being “deconstructed” and tapas-based was way overdone. Even the cooked African breakfast had everything in separate little pots, which took the kitchen a long time to make and meant the food was cold by the time it was served. So in summary a fantastic place as always, but I suggest that the chef needs to go on a couple of courses before the next high season starts.
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Date of stay: February 2020
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.
Response from Claire Radloff, Marketing at Shamwari Long Lee Manor
Responded 27 Oct 2020
Dear Davidahendon, Thank you for your review. We’re thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic stay at Long Lee Manor and that you had such a memorable experience from the management team to the game viewing. Thank you for your valuable feedback, we have taken your comments into consideration. We sincerely hope to see you return to Shamwari Private Game Reserve in future. Best Regards, The Shamwari Team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We aren’t usually people that think to write a review of somewhere but after our experience at Shamwari (Long Lee) we felt it would be a disservice not too. We originally planned to stay for two nights at Long Lee Manor however after our first game drive, we were already considering extending our stay an extra night (which we ended up doing). We can’t express enough how incredible Shamwari is, every aspect of our stay exceeded all expectations. Every single member of staff acknowledged us and were incredibly friendly, making us feel incredibly welcome. It was clear that the staff enjoyed their jobs and were passionate about giving their customers a memorable experience. The food was delicious and we ate like kings. Our ranger, Mino, went above and beyond for us. Not only did he show us animals sights that we will never forget, he made every single drive memorable with his stories, information and passion for what he does. We can’t thank him enough and can’t recommend him enough. We would also like to thank Pumla, one of the waitressing staff for the exceptional service & friendliness. Lastly, thank you to Tatum who went out of her way to prepare us a picnic lunch that was delicious. Thank you to everyone for making our stay so special, we can’t wait to come back! Thanks, Ross & S-J
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip 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.
We stayed at Long Lee Manor for 3 nights in August as part of our honeymoon and it was the most incredible experience we have ever had.
Firstly the Manor. It is absolutely stunning and had amazing views of the reserve. You are immediately immersed in the safari experience. We were fortunate to see a herd of over 35 elephants from our room shortly after checking in which was unbelievable. The rooms are spacious and absolutely spotless.
The staff went above and beyond for you. From the moment we arrived until we left, we felt like royalty at this hotel. Every single staff member was welcoming, friendly and helpful. They provided a very personal service, where the staff very quickly learnt who you were and even remembered that I followed a gluten free diet and provided me with separate menus at breakfast and dinner. They even made me a special carrot cake at the afternoon tea without being asked!
The food was outstanding. Every meal was unique and some days had a choice and others were a tasting menu. The only problem was that there was too much food! The gluten free food was the best I have ever had. The chefs made sure they could make a gluten free version of everything they were offering which should be admired. I had gluten free pancakes for breakfast one morning and they were absolutely outstanding.
Every single game drive was incredible. It is obvious that Shamwari are focused on conservation and a visit to their born free foundation and wildlife rehabilitation centre emphasises this. Our ranger was Jaques and he was phenomenal. His passion for his job shines through and his enthusiasm makes the whole experience more thrilling for the guests. He makes every animal encounter feel exciting and special and he is extremely knowledgable. He has endless amounts of interesting stories and created a lovely atmosphere within the group. We became one team rather than just 3 separate couples and even had breakfast together with Jaques which was lovely. We also did a bush walk with Jaques and Klaus and it was amazing. We can't thank Jaques enough for making our experience so memorable!
The extra little touches make this place so special. From the hot drinks after the game drives, to the personalised water bottles.
Thank you Shamwari!
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip 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.
We stayed at Long Lee Manor for 3 nights, as a family of 6 Our guide Abel was amazing and never failed to answer any of our many questions. He was like a walking encyclopaedia and knew so much about animals , birds , vegetation, tracks - the list goes on and on. He was a really lovely man and we felt we’d lost a friend when we left. We had blankets and hot water bottles for the cold mornings and we were greeted after each safari with a hot drink. The accommodation was pure luxury, they had thought of everything! Food was varied and plentiful -snacks/safari/breakfast/lunch/afternoon tea/safari/dinner. The service was flawless and all staff friendly and accommodating. We will most definitely go back when Abel is on shift! Absolutely amazing holiday and I wish I could give more than 5 stars for guide/ service/ food and accommodation but especially guide Abel as he made the whole experience unforgettable. The Flynns
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
What a treat it was and every single member of staff at Long Lee Manor was wonderful and welcoming and so friendly. The accessible room was superb and the accessibility of the whole place was outstanding (I'm quadriplegic).
Long Lee Manor is beautiful and the height of luxury. The rim pool overlooking the waterhole and the plains beyond is just gorgeous, the rooms are huge, with everything your heart desires and more. The food was superb.
Most importantly, Mino, our guide was amazing and the array of game we saw was just flabbergasting, a true five star safari experience.
Superb.
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Date of stay: February 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Room 3 is universally accessible, as is the whole property.
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.
We stayed here at the recommendation of friends who visited many years prior. And we came here and stayed for three nights before going to Chobe in Botswana. And Shamwari spoiled us!!!
What I will say is that the game experience at Shamwari compared to a national park is entirely different and I absolutely recommend everyone have the experience of both. One cannot replace the other. They are very complementary and different.
At Shamwari, we were up close and personal with most of the animals, even though it was their natural habitat. I read some reviews, comparing it to a large zoo and this is absolutely the farthest thing from the truth. I love that the rangers know the area well and they collaborate well on sightings. We saw many raw animal behaviors that you only see in the wild, lions eating the kill, two male lions fighting, giraffes in a herd crossing a ridge at sunset, buffalos in large herd, free roaming rhinos. It is big five, but we only saw big four but never for a moment felt disappointed because we saw other things we were never able to see in a national park.
Shamwari’s land is enormous. We barely scraped the surface over the course of three days. It just is enormous and the Rangers work very hard to find the animals just like they do at the national parks.
What we loved about this place and we felt made it so different to the national park experience is that it was absolutely phenomenal service, beautiful setting, and all around luxurious. The food was fantastic and we met several people who had made return trips and said it was the best large food they’ve ever had. We completely agree compared to what we experienced in Botswana, even though where we stayed in Botswana was also luxury.
There is absolutely nothing that will be disappointing about coming here. But I do recommend coupling it with a national park visit. They are entirely different. When we were in the national parks, the close encounters were few and far between. And truly, no lodge compared to Shamwari.,
As for Rangers, I’m not sure if you can request one, but if you do, Abel was spectacular. And all of the other rangers were radioing him asking for help and information so I got the impression he was one of the leads. He said he had worked there for more than 25 years at his experience pays off. He was such a kind, knowledgeable gentleman and he went above and beyond every single day to make our experience the best.
Regarding food, as I mentioned, it was fantastic. They will absolutely cater to preferences and allergies. As soon as I let them know what I wanted, they went so far above and beyond to accommodate me and all of my special requests. I’ve never seen any service quite like it.
Rooms were lovely.
In summary, just go, you will not be disappointed. There’s a reason Tiger Woods was engaged here and John Travolta is rumored to be a regular visitor.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
A Long Lee Manor stay is one of the most relaxing, mind blowing experiences we have ever had in South Africa. Our 5th visit was exceptional and if possible felt even more perfect than the last. You will get a warm welcome, and a friendly greeting from absolutely everyone. Accommodation is first class, as their website suggests this is truly gracious living inspired by nature. We booked a Plains Room which provided us with an amazing view over the reserve and we could see wildlife every time we open the door. Food on offer was outstanding from breakfast right through to dinner. On game drives we were so luck to have coffee in the morning and drinks in afternoon while watching the sun set. Game drives with our Ranger Dominic and 4 other fantastic guests, really made our trip. Dominic's knowledge of nature was unbelievable and with a vast area to cover, he always found something different for us to witness.
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Date of stay: January 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:If anyone has small children and planning a trip to Shamwari, then Riverdene Lodge is built with...
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.
Dear Caroline,
Thank you for your enquiry and interest shown in Shamwari Private Game Reserve.
Long Lee Manor officially re-opens on the 16th of December 2019. We are hoping to take some new photographs soonest so make sure to keep a look out on our website and social media platforms.
I trust the above finds you well and we look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
Best Regards,
The Shamwari Team
Dear Paul,
Thank you for your enquiry and interest shown in Shamwari Game Reserve.
We are delighted that you have chosen Shamwari Game Reserve as your safari destination!
South Africa enjoys a warm climate year-round. In June, expect to experience temperatures that range between 7 and 22°C. Therefore, we would recommend that you bring warm clothing of neutral tones. It can get particularly cold in the mornings on safari and in the late afternoon so be sure to bring a few jackets and jerseys for the wind chill factor.
As Shamwari is a malaria free area, there is no need for you to pack any preventative tablets or syrup, other than your prescription medication. However, we do highly recommend that you bring:
Cameras, lenses and binoculars
Bathing suits for the pool areas
Walking shoes
Sunscreen and hats
Directions to the reserve can be found on our website along with other FAQ's should you require additional information.
I trust the above finds you well and we look forward to welcoming you to Shamwari Game Reserve in the near future.
Best Regards,
Claire Radloff
Social Media Coordinator
Dear Nick,
Thank you for your enquiry and interest shown in Shamwari Game Reserve.
We are delighted that you have chosen Shamwari Game Reserve as your safari destination!
In December, temperatures can reach between 16 and 36°C. Therefore, we would recommend that you bring light and cool clothing of neutral tones. We would recommend shorts, t-shirts/ tops, long pants and at least one jersey.
It can be quite cold on the game drives in the very early mornings and late afternoon so bring a warm jacket for the wind chill factor.
As Shamwari is a malaria free area, there is no need for you to pack any preventative tablets or syrup, other than your prescription medication. Insect repellent is provided.
I trust the above finds you well and we look forward to welcoming you to Shamwari Game Reserve in the near future.
Best Regards,
Claire Radloff
Social Media Coordinator
Hi Julie,
Thank you for your inquiry and i am thrilled that you chose Shamwari as your safari destination!
It is best to bring closed shoes for your game drives and casual shoes for in-between at the lodge.
You are welcome to remain in your safari attire for dinner as there is no requirement for dress however, many guests do dress up a little.
We have an extensive menu and do cater well for vegetarian folk with a number of promising options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We appreciate all your questions and look forward to welcoming you later this month!
Best Regards,
Claire Radloff
Social Media Coordinator
There are more places to choose from in the Shamwari Game Reserve area.
PRICE RANGE
R 28,583 - R 34,173 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
South AfricaEastern CapeShamwari Game Reserve
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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