Shamwari Private Game Reserve | Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape | Virgin Atlantic Holidays
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Shamwari Private Game Reserve
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
5 stars
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
Explore the local area
On 30,000 hectares of bushveld in the Eastern Cape. Driving time from Port Elizabeth Airport: 1 hour.
Hotel Information
Room Information
Room Upgrade 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 4 rooms, consisting of 1x 3 bedroom Family Room and 3x 2 bedroom Family 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.
Hotel details
Facilities
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.
Accessibility
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
Minimum Stay
2 nights between 1 May-20 Apr.
Additional Information
* Denotes local charge.
Trip advisor rating
4.9/5
1,469 reviews
Excellent
92%
Very Good
6%
Average
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
“Outstanding.”
May 27, 2026waynecom7
I spent a few days here as part of a business event. I really struggle to find words to express how amazing it is. We were picked up Quintin who drove us to the reserve. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the area and its history. We were greeted on arrival with the perfect cup of coffee and the taken to the Long Lee Manor for breakfast. The view was spectacular - Zebras came the watering hole in front of the Manor for a drink. Breakfast was amazing - like fine dining and set the tone for the rest of our meals there. Each day we went out on drives. The rangers are incredible. I loved Karien - incredibly knowledgeable. More that, it was her love for the animals, the land and Shamwari that was inspiring - and at times very moving.
The accommodation was outstanding; truly beautiful. And food - the food! Beautiful. They accommodated various dietary requirements effortlessly. Nothing was too much trouble. And they replicated dishes for vegetarians and vegans so that everything was just as beautifully presented and as full of flavour.
Service throughout was outstanding. Many of us had arrived sick with a bacterial infection. Medical staff provided antibiotics and care and the chefs prepared simple food for those that couldn't eat much. The staff members were unbelievably good throughout our staff. I cannot praise Shamwari and the incredible people who work there enough.
“What an amazing experience!”
May 25, 2026Justo789
From drop off to collection everything was well thought out and executed. The ranger was fabulous, so knowledgeable, with the eyes of a hawk. All the rangers keep in touch and share their finds and drives are thoughtfully spaced so the animals are never stressed. The lodge accommodation and food were top notch and we were really well lookesd after. Can't recommend Shamwari enough.
“Putting the luxury in luxury safari!”
Apr 03, 2026Robbosexplore
There aren’t enough words in the dictionary to explain how incredible Shamwari was.
It exceeded our expectations on every front. We stayed at Riverdene and everything from the greeting, to the staff, the room, the amenities, the food and the general ambience was more than we could have hoped.
It took our expectations of a “luxury safari” to new heights and made us want to come back again and again.
The people are magic. The place is magic. The expertise is second-to-none.
We can’t recommend this place more and we WILL be back!
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Some of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. However, ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed on this website. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: https://www.atol.org/about-atol/atol-certificates.
This product offers you combinations of a hotel and flights at an inclusive price. This product enjoys the protection of the Package Travel, Package Travel and Linked Arrangements Regulations 2018.
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