In The News

“Mountain biking enthusiasts looking for a ride on the wild side can now book three-days of riding through big-five territory at Shamwari Private Game Reserve.

The Biking in the Bush getaway includes three-to-four hours of guided cycling each morning, afternoon game drives, guided walks and luxury accommodation to rest weary legs.”

With international travel still slowly clawing its way back, there has never been a more affordable time to treat the family to a big-five safari in SA. Whether you’re road-tripping to the coast, or want to celebrate the end of another difficult year, these four lodges won’t disappoint when it comes to family-friendly big-five adventures.

Ornithologists and enthusiasts alike can be confident of recording a good score when visiting Shamwari Private Game Reserve this Birding Big Day, on November 27.

Birders visiting Shamwari Private Game Reserve this Birding Big Day (Saturday 27 November) will have a substantial advantage. Jéan Taute, senior ranger at Shamwari Private Game Reserve and experienced birder will host the weekend.

Covid-19 en die warmer weer hoef Suid-Afrikaners net ‘n halwe kans te gee en die reistasse en trouskoene word nader gesleep.

The pandemic hasn’t been easy on the tourism industry, with many lodges having to close down due to lack of travel demand. Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape was among those affected.

“Shamwari Private Game Reserve has announced the opening of two more of its lodges this Tourism Month in anticipation of pent-up domestic demand and a small, but welcome, increase in international interest.

CEO, Joe Cloete, says that successive waves of the pandemic have made initial pessimistic forecasts about how long the recovery would take now appear bullish.”

Rehabilitating land that was once extensively farmed, and helping to restore the ecology to what it was, is – contrary to what many critics choose to believe – not just for the enjoyment of a handful of wealthy overseas tourists.

Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the global travel industry, and although there now are signs of activity resuming in some markets the sector is still a long way from recovery. New research from ForwardKeys, the travel data provider, shows that international flights to European destinations have reached 39,9% of pre-pandemic levels.

Family travel is one of the best ways for parents and children to bond. Here are five family-friendly destinations where you can do just that, while also engaging in some of South Africa’s best wildlife experiences.

“Some 2 500 years ago Sun Tzu, the Chinese military strategist and philosopher wrote: “In the midst of chaos there is also opportunity.”

Of course, he wasn’t talking about taking a holiday a year after the outbreak of a global pandemic, but the quote informs the unprecedented opportunity South African travellers now have to enjoy some of the country’s premium private game reserves at a fraction of the pre-COVID-19 prices.”

The theme for this year’s World Environment Day was ‘ecosystem restoration’ and, to celebrate, Shamwari TV released a short film about the impact of unsustainable human activity on fragile ecosystems and how these can be restored.

Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape has made the best of lockdown, with a refurbishment as part of a $25-million investment, taking the guest experience into an ultra-luxury segment.

This World Environment Day two unlikely protagonists, the Addo flightless dung beetle and the oxpecker, feature in a short film about the impact of unsustainable human activity on fragile ecosystems and how these can be restored.

“Hard on the heels of the launch of Watershed’s seventh studio album, Elephant in the Room, frontman Craig Hinds will be hosting an exclusive unplugged session at Shamwari Private Game Reserve.

The Safari Unplugged weekend is a rare post-lockdown opportunity to attend a live performance by the acclaimed singer/ songwriter for one of South Africa’s most enduring and beloved bands.”

Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape offers daily guided walking safaris. Their top rangers provide insight on the reserve and other tidbits on the fauna and flora indigenous to the region.

New owners and a $25m investment into Shamwari Game Reserve have put this iconic Eastern Cape reserve back on top of the five-star safari bucket list

In the late 1990s and early 2000s Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape was the byword for luxury SA safaris. The brainchild of local entrepreneur and conservationist Adrian Gardiner, Shamwari welcomed its first guests in October 1992. Back then it offered just a single lodge with game drives traversing 3,500ha of restored farmland.

Over the next decade the reserve’s footprint —and global reputation —grew, as the brand became synonymous with big five safari, drawing royalty and celebrities alongside well-heeled global travellers. More farmland was bought up and restored, stretching the reserve to its current 25,000ha, and historic homesteads were converted to the needs of the luxury hospitality business.

South African lodges are constantly reinventing its safari offerings, especially with the high demand from the international market. With the demand for glamping, many game reserves are creating out of this world accommodation that celebrates wildlife and its surrounding areas. Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape recently launched Sindile, its new flagship tented camp.

Following a scenic hour’s drive to Eagles Crag at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, I’m met by the ultimate of wildlife at the gate entrance. A herd of elephants cross the path before me as I pull in to the majestic property, and already I can tell I’m in for quite a safari. Situated along the Eastern Cape, Shamwari may be less known to safari goers than say, Kruger National Park, but there’s a certain appeal in that. Seven uniquely luxurious five-star graded lodges and one explorer camp occupy the massive private reserve across 27 square miles of natural glory home to the coveted Big 5. The region holds a vastly different terrain than other parts of South Africa, with its evergreen vegetation, rocky cliffs, and awe-inspiring coastline. I’d come prepared and vaccinated, but Shamwari holds a major advantage over the northern country in that there is no malaria present. This is especially appealing to those looking to get pregnant anytime soon, or anyone who would rather forgo the anti-malarial pills and its pesky side effects.