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
1,464 reviews
Excellent
92%
Very Good
6%
Average
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
“Wowza Wowza Wowza”
Feb 11, 2026Ronnieboy1
Just left Shamwari after 3 Nights on Safari. We choose to Stay in Eagles Crag, we certainly picked the right lodges, the lodges we’re enormous, the private pool and decking were a beautiful experience and each of the lodges were 100% private in the jungle. You couldn’t see or hear anybody.. Just the Monkeys in the trees and the odd visit from a baby Deer.. We were looked after fantastically by Nonkosi our Butler for the Stay.. Now on to out Ranger Keenan, now this guy was a Top Ranger, 9 Years experience in Shamwari, he knew every piece of the 30,000 Hectares. We just seemed to end up in the exact place at the exact time to make another memory. We had some magical finds, a Herd of 40 Elephants walked straight passed our Truck, also the whole Lion Family, Mum, Dad and 4 Cubs walked straight passed us, plus we saw the Cheetah and her 5 Cubs, just 3 of the Amazing memories to remember forever, So if you are lucky enough to visit Eagles Crag look out for Kennan. He’s a Gem. The Food and the Service here is at an unbelievable quality. Some fine dining in the Jungle.. Most people were doing a 3 night stay. This worked for us as we skipped the 4pm Game Drive when we arrived and the had the next 2 days morning 6am and afternoon 4pm, then skipped the one on the departure day.. It’s pretty tough going. So if you looking for a Private Game reserve look no further than Shamwari, would we return. In a Heartbeat. Thanks to all Staff.
Paul & Julie Lodge 5.
“In SIHLE we trust!!!!”
Feb 10, 2026sophie p
This was our first safari, it was absolutely amazing!! A trip of a lifetime
I would recommend Shamwari to anybody (I have already told all my friends and colleagues)
The game drives were amazing it was completely magical.
We stayed in baythe lodges and they were outstanding. The food was delicious All of the staff were amazing but a special thank you and shout out to Our game driver Sihle was AMAZING, he was so knowledgeable! I can not wait to go back and request Sihle be our guide again!
“Simply out of this world - I would implore anyone considering to just BOOK!!!”
Feb 08, 2026Mynameisjadem
A simply out of this world experience - we stayed 3 nights at Eagles Crag and quite simply, cannot recommend any more highly. From the moment you arrive to the second you leave, you will experience best-in-class hospitality, food, accommodation - and of course nature and animals!
Huge thankyou and shoutout to our butler Kingston and our ranger Dom - both exceptional in their respective fields of expertise in every way. We travel extensively in 5 star locations across the globe but Shamwari has to sit at the top of our rankings. It is an absolute MUST to experience at least once, though quite frankly…now we’ve been we will absolutely be returning!!!! Highly highly highly recommend.
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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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