Samara Karoo Reserve

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Samara Karoo Reserve A leader in luxury conservation-driven tourism in the heart of South Africa’s breathtaking Great Karoo region.

Three authentic lodges welcome guests for considered, meaningful and exceptional safari encounters. Award-winning Samara Karoo Reserve is one of South Africa’s most diverse safari destinations, comprising five vegetation biomes across strikingly varied topography, home to over 60 mammal species including the Big Five and cheetah, as well as 225 bird species.

What’s that over the horizon? It’s our 30th birthday!In 2027, Samara turns 30. Three decades since this land began its r...
09/10/2026

What’s that over the horizon? It’s our 30th birthday!

In 2027, Samara turns 30. Three decades since this land began its restoration journey, hectare by hectare, species by species.

After this long, we’ve learned that there is always something, big or small, worth celebrating. Enter our special offer to you, valid throughout 2027 – for every 3-night booking celebrating a special event at Samara, one guest per booking receives 50% off their stay.

Whether it’s your birthday, anniversary, honeymoon, graduation, promotion, retirement or even your first safari – we invite you to mark the occasion in style with us.

Come for the celebration. Stay for the Karoo hospitality, unforgettable wildlife experiences and quality time together. Leave with memories you’ll be telling stories about for years to come.

To book your celebratory getaway, contact [email protected] or your preferred travel planner.



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Samara is on a journey to regenerate South Africa's semi-arid Great Karoo region through rewilding and responsible tourism. As a member of The Long Run, Samara strives to achieve a holistic balance of the “4Cs”: Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. Staying at one of Samara's lodges acts as a direct contribution to this vision | www.samara.co.za |

The mammals of the Karoo are some of the most specialised animals found in this landscape.These are just 9 of the 60+ ma...
04/10/2026

The mammals of the Karoo are some of the most specialised animals found in this landscape.

These are just 9 of the 60+ mammal species recorded at Samara, each with fascinating adaptations to help them thrive in the semi-arid Karoo, from conserving water and managing extreme weather conditions to finding food in a seasonal landscape.

Our latest blog goes beyond mammals to explore the diverse birdlife found at Samara, the best seasons to visit and more about the wildlife and landscapes that make the Great Karoo such a unique safari destination.

Read the complete guide to wildlife in the Great Karoo here: https://www.samara.co.za/blog/karoo-animals-guide-to-wildlife-of-the-great-karoo/



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Samara is on a journey to regenerate South Africa's semi-arid Great Karoo region through rewilding and responsible tourism. As a member of The Long Run, Samara strives to achieve a holistic balance of the “4Cs”: Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. Staying at one of Samara's lodges acts as a direct contribution to this vision | www.samara.co.za |

“Three of us came to South Africa. For quite a stretch of it, I thought I was going to be the only one who’d return.” On...
02/10/2026

“Three of us came to South Africa. For quite a stretch of it, I thought I was going to be the only one who’d return.” On assignment for The Times and The Sunday Times LUXX magazine, Stuart Heritage almost lost his son (and his toy Horsey) to the wonders of Mzansi.

Their first ever safari was a whirlwind of wildlife sightings, al fresco picnics and unforgettable hospitality – with a fascinating glimpse into what this landscape looked like 250-odd million years ago at Karoo Origins - The Fossil Centre in Graaff-Reinet.

And what happened to Horsey? You’ll have to read the full article to find out: https://bit.ly/4dB5WLJ



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Samara is on a journey to regenerate South Africa's semi-arid Great Karoo region through rewilding and responsible tourism. As a member of The Long Run, Samara strives to achieve a holistic balance of the “4Cs”: Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. Staying at one of Samara's lodges acts as a direct contribution to this vision | www.samara.co.za |

Bulbines in bloom. 💛The south of the reserve is bursting into colour as the bushy bulbines come into flower. Look a litt...
30/09/2026

Bulbines in bloom. 💛

The south of the reserve is bursting into colour as the bushy bulbines come into flower. Look a little closer and there’s far more happening than you might think. Hundreds of striped hawkmoth caterpillars are tucking into the flowers, while an array of butterflies flutter from one plant to the next.

A simple example of the many little connections that bring an entire ecosystem to life.



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Samara is on a journey to regenerate South Africa's semi-arid Great Karoo region through rewilding and responsible tourism. As a member of The Long Run, Samara strives to achieve a holistic balance of the “4Cs”: Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. Staying at one of Samara's lodges acts as a direct contribution to this vision | www.samara.co.za |

27/09/2026

Water is life. For every animal whose thirst it quenches, every plant it nourishes, and every ecosystem it connects, water is the thread that holds life together.

Today, we pause for 10 seconds of calm – to appreciate the rivers that sustain our landscapes, and the pathways they create for life to flourish around them.



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Samara is on a journey to regenerate South Africa's semi-arid Great Karoo region through rewilding and responsible tourism. As a member of The Long Run, Samara strives to achieve a holistic balance of the “4Cs”: Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. Staying at one of Samara's lodges acts as a direct contribution to this vision | www.samara.co.za |

Heritage is more than where we come from. It is also what we choose to carry forward. For Samara, the Heritage Cup is a ...
24/09/2026

Heritage is more than where we come from. It is also what we choose to carry forward. For Samara, the Heritage Cup is a celebration of community, connection and the youth of our local area.

What began in 2018 with around 370 young participants has since more than doubled in size. In 2026, 765 children took part, with 405 netball players and 360 soccer players filling the fields at the Botanics Stadium in Graaff-Reinet.

On the surface, a sports tournament might just seem like a ball, a field and a set of rules. Looking beyond the obvious, sport teaches young people lessons that extend beyond the game itself.

Winning is, of course, part of any tournament. But the Heritage Cup is not ultimately measured by who lifts a trophy. Its greater purpose is to show young people that setbacks do not have to be endings.

This Heritage Day, we celebrate the people that make this country special, and the young people who will shape its future.

Read more: https://www.samara.co.za/blog/heritage-day-cup-2026/



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Samara is on a journey to regenerate South Africa's semi-arid Great Karoo region through rewilding and responsible tourism. As a member of The Long Run, Samara strives to achieve a holistic balance of the “4Cs”: Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. Staying at one of Samara's lodges acts as a direct contribution to this vision | www.samara.co.za |

17/09/2026

“The paradox is that rewilding is all about people.”

People daring to have hope for a wilder planet, people building this hopeful future and people benefiting from its successes.

We recently sat down with Alister Scott, Executive Director of the Global Rewilding Alliance, during his visit to Samara. The Alliance serves to bring together like-minded individuals and organisations working to restore ecosystems, recover wildlife and create the conditions for Nature to heal itself.

There are now 313 members of this global network, and every single member has a story like ours – one of determination, hope and no doubt a small dose of audacity.

Welcoming Alister to visit our project was an opportunity to share our learnings and hear from inspiring projects on every continent.



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Samara is on a journey to regenerate South Africa's semi-arid Great Karoo region through rewilding and responsible tourism. As a member of The Long Run, Samara strives to achieve a holistic balance of the “4Cs”: Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. Staying at one of Samara's lodges acts as a direct contribution to this vision | www.samara.co.za |

The flutter of tiny wings makes for an opportune moment: red hartebeest and African monarch butterfly in perfect synchro...
15/09/2026

The flutter of tiny wings makes for an opportune moment: red hartebeest and African monarch butterfly in perfect synchrony.

📷: Roelof Wiesner Photography



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Samara is on a journey to regenerate South Africa's semi-arid Great Karoo region through rewilding and responsible tourism. As a member of The Long Run, Samara strives to achieve a holistic balance of the “4Cs”: Conservation, Community, Culture and Commerce. Staying at one of Samara's lodges acts as a direct contribution to this vision | www.samara.co.za |

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Petersburg Road Off The R63 To Pearston
Graaff-Reinet
6280

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+27499401111

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