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
1,453 reviews
Excellent
92%
Very Good
6%
Average
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
“WOW - 10 stars!”
Dec 17, 2025oliviamrussell23
We have just returned from Shamwari, staying at Eagles Crag, and honestly, words barely do it justice — but I’ll try! From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed by the most incredible team who immediately took care of our luggage and made us feel completely at home while showing us around this breathtaking lodge.
Our butler, Kingston, is an absolute asset to Shamwari. His knowledge, warmth, and genuine kindness are second to none — the kind of person who would do absolutely anything to make your stay perfect. Nothing was ever too much trouble.
I am coeliac and follow a strict gluten-free diet, and the level of care taken with food was outstanding. At every single meal, I was provided with my own tailored menu offering gluten-free alternatives. There wasn’t one dish my husband had that I couldn’t — they simply made thoughtful adaptations without compromising on quality. The food throughout our stay was Michelin-level at every meal — truly exceptional.
Our ranger, Keenan, was an absolute highlight of the trip. He went above and beyond on every game drive and made sure we didn’t leave without seeing everything we hoped for. While others may have given up, Keenan persevered — and it paid off every time. We will 100% be requesting him on our next visit to Shamwari.
The drinks deserve a special mention — they were flowing constantly and always topped up, with your own fully stocked mini bar in the room, all of excellent quality. It added that extra touch of luxury that made the experience feel effortless and indulgent.
Every single member of staff went out of their way to ensure our stay was nothing short of perfect. We have travelled extensively and been fortunate enough to visit many amazing 5 star places, but nothing has come close to our time at Shamwari — and I honestly don’t think anything ever will.
If you’re even considering it… book it. We will most definitely be back within the next few years.
“Wow!”
Dec 10, 2025TheWalkingTraveler
Lodging and food was absolutely perfect, but what makes this place stand out is the hospitality and perfectly balanced service.
The wonderful Mr. Buja was always one step ahead of us as to what we could wish for. A man that made our stay extra memorable. Please forward this to him.
Our Ranger had all the qualities one could wish for - knowledgeable about wild life, driving skills that put Verstapen to shame, funny and eager to make the game drives absolutely brilliant.
And..
The entire staff, kitchen, housekeeping, front desk, and all the hard working people in the background made this into a dream visit.
Susanne & Jonas
“An Unforgettable Experience which will stay with us forever ....”
Dec 08, 2025WildRover007
We’ve just returned from an amazing trip to Shamwari’s Private Game Reserve, staying at Eagles Crag Lodge for six nights. To say the experience surpassed our expectations would be an understatement.
Shamwari owns around 74000 acres of land covering five of South Africa’s nine biomes. Conservation is a key focus and the ‘safari’ experience there is intimate and personalised. The luxury provided by the lodge was at a level we’ve never experienced before, anywhere in the world. Enormous suite room with private pool and large deck, lots of treats in the room and a well stocked mini-bar. Michelin quality food was served at all meals (far too much for us but ...hey... others will love the volume!) and our dietary needs were very well catered for with personalised menus at every meal. Bman was our butler; a fun chap with exceptional guest care skills, bundles of energy and a passion to please. The trip was to celebrate our retirement and forthcoming 30th wedding anniversary. One evening we returned to our suite to find a beautiful display in our room with heart shape leaves and rose petals, a bottle of pink champagne and gorgeous fruit and chocolate treats. What a wonderful gesture!
We had the privilege of visiting the Born Free Foundation located on the reserve and the rehabilitation centre for orphaned or injured animals mostly brought into Shamwari from other locations.
Being able to see the critically endangered black rhino whilst knowing that Shamwari’s anti-poaching system protects them as far as possible was brilliant. Observing big cats and their cubs in the wild was magnificent and being surrounded in the vehicle by a herd of 50 wild elephants is something we will never forget. ❤️❤️
Our personal ranger, Dom, was such a very knowledgeable man, great fun, very relatable, super passionate in his job, and going above and beyond to give us the best chance to see specific animals. We felt very safe and exceptionally well looked after in the vehicle. The game drives were thrilling and the bush walks particularly exciting, observing elephants, zebra and lions in close proximity, protected by at least two rangers at any one time. The whole trip was a great learning experience and that's a big thumbs up from us. Bravo Dom! You’re a credit to @shamwariprivategamereserve and you will go far in your career.
We are already planning our next visit. Thanks again Shamwari and the Eagles Crag team. You are truly the best.
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