Home of two Born Free big cat sanctuaries, the Shamwari Private Game Reserve is a malaria-free private game reserve near Port Elizabeth, boasting just under 30,000 hectares of land, bursting with free roaming wild animals, birdlife and indigenous Flora and Fauna. Game drives depart twice a day and are included within your stay, travelling in open 4x4 vehicles with your experienced ranger, with sightings of the ‘Big Five’ plentiful. Guided walks are also a fantastic way to get to grips with your stunning surrounds and make sure you visit the brand new Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. Accommodation is of the highest standard throughout the seven lodges with Eagles Crag lodge recommended for those who adore privacy and serenity. Families are also more than welcome at Riverdene Family Lodge, offering a range of child-friendly activities to take advantage of (kids aged 4 and over are welcome on family game-drives too). As well as the wildlife, there’s a swimming pool with shallow area just for them, a kids club and outdoor adventure centre. Long Lee Manor offers the feel of a bygone era and Bayethe tented lodge offers a wonderful ‘back to the bush’ experience never to be forgotten. Sarili Lodge offers an intimate experience with only five rooms, perfect for families, groups and friends with a large deck overlooking the Bushman’s River. Meals can be enjoyed in your lodge, the dining room or in the boma, feasting on traditional African dishes from the barbecue.
Amenities
Wheelchair access
Safari
Bar
Restaurant
Spa
Where is it
On 30,000 hectares of bushveld in the Eastern Cape. Driving time from Port Elizabeth Airport: 1 hour.
Hotel information
There are 7 different lodges in total: Riverdene - is perfect for families, with a very exciting and complimentary children's programme. This is a wonderful lodge with relaxed loungers, offering the perfect stay for families, with interconnecting rooms, childcare facilities and an exciting new outdoor kids activity centre, child-friendly game-drives for children from the age of 4 years, a child friendly dining room, pool and a place to relax and enjoy the bush. There are only 9 rooms, all with private facilities, air conditioning and TV, sleeping maximum 2 adults and 1 child.
All Inclusive of: meals and selected local beverages. All game-drives and visits to Education Centres, Animal Rehabilitation centre, Vulpro @ Shamwari and The Born Free Foundation.
Long Lee Manor - this colonial building offers a traditional stay in either a room or suite and has amazing views over the open plains with game wandering across throughout the day and night. With a rim-flow pool, a garden lounge and spa* you are sure to feel at home in this gracious manor house. Offering accommodation in 17 beautifully decorated rooms and one 2-bedroom villa with a private pool. All with air-conditioning, TV, heating and en-suite facilities. Children from the age of 8 years old are welcome at Long Lee.
Sarili - suitable for older families, couples or small parties. This luxury lodge consists of 5 Luxury Rooms sleeping a maximum of 10 people. Enjoy Bushman's River and plains view on the deck of this African thatch design villa. There are bar/lounge and dining areas and a child friendly swimming pool. Choose from a Luxury Courtyard Room (rooms are interconnecting via a passage so are suitable for a family) or a Luxury River Room, each sleeping maximum 2 adults.
Bayethe - located in the northern part of the reserve, here you can enjoy drinks with the wildlife after dark, and relax in one of the 12 luxury tents. All with en-suite facilities, private outdoor shower, plunge pool and viewing deck.
Eagles Crag - this premium lodge, which has been newly refurbished, is for the traveller who wants to enjoy contemporary and modern African design alongside the traditional chic of the African bush. The upper level offers a great dining area and lounge with individual 'dining pods' that look over cliffs. There is also a spa* for extra relaxation - and with only 9 rooms, you are sure to be spoilt. Secluded by natural vegetation your suite offers privacy and tranquillity, with your own private deck and heated plunge pool, indoor and outdoor shower and luxury en-suite facilities. Sleeping maximum 2 adults.
Sindile - set deep in the African veld, with 9 free standing luxury tents. Premier Luxury Tents are elevated high above the bush and feature a private deck with heated plunge pool and lounging area under a pergola. Sleeping maximum 2 adults.
Explorer's Camp - from October to May, Shamwari Private Game Reserve expands its offering even further by opening the Explorer Camp. The camp is located on a plateau set among the only basalt and granite extrusions on Shamwari, a truly magical setting. This once-in-a-lifetime experience takes guests on a guided walking safari of the surrounding land, allowing you to get up close and personal with nature. These tents feature two single beds, and en suite bathroom with shower, sleeping maximum 2 adults.
Traditional African bomas. African barbecues. Game-drives take place in the early morning and late afternoon. Guided walks and night drives. Kids on Safari programme. Eagles Crag, Sindile, Bayethe and Long Lee Manor all have a spa* but spa treatments are available at all lodges. Gym at Long Lee Manor. Complimentary WiFi. 2 night Explorer Camp experience*, in dome tented lodges, is also available. Guided walking safari (available Oct-Apr). Born Free and Animal Rehabilitation Centre. Welcome Lounge (for guests staying at Long Lee Manor, Riverdene, Sarili, Sindile and Explorer camp), all guests staying at Eagles Crag and Bayethe will check in at the new Northern Welcome Lounge and be transferred to their lodge, this transfer would be approximately 30 minutes’ drive time.
Wheelchair adapted rooms with partially accessible amenities or facilities available on request (Riverdene and Long Lee Manor). Please note that these rooms are subject to availability and may be restricted to specific room categories and bedding arrangements. Rooms and facilities vary between hotels so please check at the time of booking. For more information and contact details please check out our Special Assistance page
2 nights between 1 May-20 Apr.
* Denotes local charge.
Based on 1425 reviews
Rating summary
Location
Sleep Quality
Rooms
Service
Value
Cleanliness
Traveller rating
Excellent (1306)
Very good (81)
Average (24)
Poor (10)
Terrible (4)
Magical
Nov 18, 2024Mary MRichmond, Virginia
We cannot say enough about our magical stay at Shamwari! Everyone we met at Bayethe was genuinely warm and welcoming - they made us feel like family. The food was amazing and no request was too difficult. One of our daughters is vegetation and has a severe dairy allergy - not a problem for our talented chef! They even packed us box lunches for our…
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We cannot say enough about our magical stay at Shamwari! Everyone we met at Bayethe was genuinely warm and welcoming - they made us feel like family. The food was amazing and no request was too difficult. One of our daughters is vegetation and has a severe dairy allergy - not a problem for our talented chef! They even packed us box lunches for our trip to the airport.
The tents were luxurious and thoughtfully appointed. We never wanted for any creature comfort.
The best part of our trip was our guide, Patrick. We got up close to so many animals - lions, rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, buffalo, antelope, warthogs- and we learned so much about the animals from Patrick. We had 6 game drives and each one was amazing- especially being in a field while a herd of elephants went around our jeep. He made our trip even more amazing than we had thought possible. Thank you Patrick and everyone at Bayethe!
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Warm feelings of home
Nov 5, 2024PragmaticFoodieMorges, Switzerland
What is there to say? We stayed in Riverdene in three adjoining rooms as we were there with additional family. From the moment we arrived and were greeted with a warm tisane to the moment we left, we all were made to feel like we were part of a different world. A world of nature and purity and calm. My children fell in love with the staff,…
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What is there to say? We stayed in Riverdene in three adjoining rooms as we were there with additional family. From the moment we arrived and were greeted with a warm tisane to the moment we left, we all were made to feel like we were part of a different world. A world of nature and purity and calm. My children fell in love with the staff, including our exceptional host and ranger, Abel, and the head of the children's facility, Leanco. My parents who, while spry still have age-related challenges, were handled with care. My husband and I enjoyed the on site spa (as did the kids with kiddie massages). We don't usually go to an all-inclusive 5* property like this, so we were not prepared for what to expect. Amenities is a given from the star-rating. But we did not expect to learn so much and to feel such warmth from the staff.
On a side note, my father and I did damage in the boutique which has appropriately-priced outerwear for chilly morning and evening game rides.
I was so busy enjoying myself that I forgot to take photos of the property itself. The website has ample as do other travelers here.
Tips:
-RESPECT YOUR RANGER; he/she is the leader of your pack so treat them as such; listen to them for your own personal safety and also for the safety and sustainability of Shamwari; if accidents happen on their watch, it puts the livelihoods of all the people at the property at risk
-listen to your ranger and don't rush to tick off boxes for species of animals; if they are stopping to check something out, it probably means it's something unique and worth waiting for; don't rush!
-dress in layers; mornings and evenings in 2h October are COLD! Windbreakers, layers, and a light hat are essential.
-bring binoculars - two pair if you can, esp if you have more than 2-3 people in the vehicle
-keep your body parts and blankets inside the vehicle; letting things hang out invites animals to attack/defend themselves (part of respecting your ranger)
-make time for stargazing, esp if you're from the northern hemisphere; your ranger will know the southern skies, I wish we had made more time for this
-be curious/ask lots of questions all the time; in our experience, anyone we asked about nature or civics or society in South Africa, including the uncomfortable topics of class, poverty, segregation, were met with openness and a willingness to give frank opinions
-with children, Riverdene is a dream; make time for them to enjoy the great play structure and facilities
-both the boutique and spa are reasonably priced in my opinion, esp given the nature of the property;
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Top package with great nature experience and top hotel
Nov 4, 2024Adrian DKirchberg CH
1. Hotel: absolutely phantastic. Very spacious and comfortable rooms. Although the style of the premises is not African, you feel relaxed and easy. The hotel is accessible with any kind of car.
2. Food: top cuisine. Healthy and all fresh. Light lunch. Dinner à la carte. All inclusive.
3. Game drives: our guide (Nikkita) was very good. She showed…
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1. Hotel: absolutely phantastic. Very spacious and comfortable rooms. Although the style of the premises is not African, you feel relaxed and easy. The hotel is accessible with any kind of car.
2. Food: top cuisine. Healthy and all fresh. Light lunch. Dinner à la carte. All inclusive.
3. Game drives: our guide (Nikkita) was very good. She showed us not only animals but explained a lot of things about plants and nature as well. If you stay long enough, we recommend to do a full day trip instead of two drives (morning and evening) because the area is so big.
4. Staff: all extremely friendly and helpful and you feel that their only goal is to make you happy.
5. Specials: I went to a back and neck massage which was very good. You will also find a sports pavillon.
Not cheap but top quality in any sense.
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Experience the trip of a lifetime!
Oct 19, 2024Linda H
A truly amazing experience!.. We stayed in the wonderful Bayethe Lodges and we were treated like royalty by all the staff… The food and the surroundings were out of this world … But our ranger (Sihle) was something special.. We saw the Big 5 and they saw us!… Sihle made that happen and we have so many wonderful memories (and photos!) of our time…
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A truly amazing experience!.. We stayed in the wonderful Bayethe Lodges and we were treated like royalty by all the staff… The food and the surroundings were out of this world … But our ranger (Sihle) was something special.. We saw the Big 5 and they saw us!… Sihle made that happen and we have so many wonderful memories (and photos!) of our time there… We can’t wait to go back.
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Loved every minute
Oct 19, 2024Averil G
We stayed in the Bayethe Lodge , it was as luxurious as they promised
The safari was amazing, our ranger was Sihle he was fabulous, made our experience so wonderful , saw the big 5 plus many more
The staff were great , we loved every minute , service , food , choice all excellent
Will definitely go back
Magical