Safari experts & storytellers. Since 1991
Trust us to find you the rarest animals, the most spectacular wildlife events, the remotest landscapes and deeply meaningful cultural encounters!
Come cheetah tracking and learn about successful rewilding projects while you enjoy a Big 5 safari in South Africa’s malaria-free Eastern Cape and Great Karoo bushveld.
Stay in luxurious, authentic farmhouse-style lodges and spend your days exploring, learning and marvelling at how quickly nature rebounds when given time and space. Enjoy plenty of child-friendly activities (or not) that foster a sense of connection to nature and a sense of travelling with purpose and leaving a legacy.
All about cheetahs (and more) in rewilded landscapes
Highlights
Cheetah country: Track wild cheetahs on foot or by vehicle and learn about the species’ successful reintroduction and protection in these private reserves.
Family-friendly safari: Enjoy flexible safari schedules, child-friendly guides, and fun, educational activities designed for young explorers.
Travel with purpose: Witness the results of long-term rewilding and community partnerships that have restored thriving ecosystems across the Eastern Cape.
Malaria-free safari: Travel with peace of mind in pristine, malaria-free reserves — ideal for families and multi-generational travel.
Understated luxury accommodation offering delicious food and discreet service.
Locations
Both locations offer a malaria-free Big 5 safari
Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: A private reserve with a proud record of rehabilitation from farmland to restored wildlands, Kwandwe straddles the Great Fish River and covers 300km² (30,000 hectares). This region of the Eastern Cape is topographically dramatic and picturesque and boasts high levels of biodiversity. Kwandwe hosts the Big Five (black & white rhino, elephant, lion, buffalo and leopard), cheetah, brown hyena, hippopotamus, kudu, springbok, eland, red hartebeest, giraffe, black wildebeest and gemsbok. Nocturnal species such as aardwolf, aardvark, caracal, bat-eared fox and porcupine are regularly seen.
Samara Karoo Reserve: a private reserve on 27,000 hectares of born-again wilderness in the heart-stoppingly beautiful Great Karoo region. Samara has pioneered the rewilding of this semi-arid yet uniquely biodiverse landscape featuring five of South Africa's nine major vegetation types (biomes) - namely savanna, Nama Karoo, Albany thicket, forest and grasslands. The reserve is home to over 60 mammal species, including the Big Five, cheetah, aardvark, black-footed cat, giraffe and herds of desert-adapted antelope such as springbok and oryx.
Lodges
3 nights at Ecca Lodge (Kwandwe Private Game Reserve). Vibrant, contemporary and family-friendly, Ecca Lodge blends stone, glass and bold design with panoramic views over the stunning Great Fish River Valley. Each luxury suite features an expansive deck and private plunge pool, creating a relaxed and welcoming base for family safaris and fireside evenings.
3 nights at Karoo Lodge (Samara Karoo Reserve). A gracious homestead-style retreat surrounded by the vast Karoo landscape, offering spacious suites, a pool, and tailored experiences that engage children and inspire conservation-minded travel.
Timing
The best time to experience this epic conservation safari is during South Africa’s warmer, drier months, from September to April, when the Eastern Cape’s landscapes are lush, wildlife is active, and conditions are comfortable for family safaris.
Spring and autumn offer particularly pleasant temperatures and clear skies, making them ideal for both game drives and relaxation. These months also avoid the mid-winter chill, ensuring an enjoyable and immersive safari experience in the region’s malaria-free reserves.
Price per person sharing
6 nights (7 days) | ||
Low season | May to Sep 2026 | from ZAR 135,000 |
High season | Oct to 19 Dec 2026 | from ZAR 150,000 |
Includes: Return flights Johannesburg–Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), all inter-lodge road transfers, all accommodation including all meals, local drinks, and safari activities, conservation and community levies, 24/7 office support.
Excludes: International flights and airport taxes, visas, mandatory travel and medical insurance, premium beverages, optional activities, personal expenses and gratuities.
Thank you!
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
“A Karoo MUST!”
Christian Boix, AG luxury safari expert: “From my first visit in 2016, I sensed that Samara was a beautiful partnership between the land, its wildlife, the owners and the local community. I was right. The land healed, wildlife thrives, and pride runs deep.”
“Amazing biodiversity”
Our destination expert, Nadia Lautenbach, says, “Having always guided in northern South Africa, I was amazed by Kwandwe’s biodiversity, not only the Big Five but also frequent sightings of rarer, smaller species that make this one of the most well-rounded safaris.”
“Masters of camouflage”
Stefan Winterboer, AG luxury safari expert: “Cheetahs lie flat and hidden in shade, easy to miss. Early starts help, tracking where they were last seen and reading the landscape patiently leads to the deeply rewarding moment of finally spotting one.”
Safari planning
—
Cheetah conservation safari
Tell us about your dream trip - our travel experts will craft a no-obligation itinerary just for you. We have crafted over 5,000 safaris since 1991. Your personal details are protected; we only use this information to contact you.
Why choose us to craft your safari?
Handcrafted experiential safaris since 1991.
Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
Trust & Safety
Guest payments go into a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT - protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part. Also, we are members of SATSA who attest to our integrity, legal compliance and financial stability.
Make a difference
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
YOUR safari choice does make a difference - thank you!