With itchy feet and adventurous hearts, my folks and I set off on our weekend getaway to the award winning Shamwari Game Reserve. Passionate about our African wildlife, we loved the thought of being surrounded by wild sights, sounds and smells again . Of course the added incentive of the luxurious 5 star accommodations we were about to experience within Shamwari had us grinning from ear to ear!
After a pleasant 4-hour drive from George we arrived at the big and bold entrance gate to Shamwari Game Reserve. The friendly gate guard welcomed us in and directed us to our lodge where we would stay for the next 2 nights. We pulled up at the front door of Long Lee Manor, friendly faces, hot damp hand towels and refreshing welcome drinks greeted us. Efficient and professional staff assisted us with our luggage and informed us of the daily programme.
Long Lee Manor, the largest of 7 lodges at Shamwari, with 18 suites, offers guests a distinctive colonial experience with it’s restored Edwardian Manor House dating back to 1910. Gracious and stylish, it offers refined comfort, congenial service and enticing cuisine. It is situated on a hill overlooking wide-open plains where wildlife grazes unhurriedly under the African sun.
So what happens at a game lodge? Well, they’re mostly booked on an all-inclusive basis and will run a daily programme, which will include 2 open 4×4 vehicle game drives per day each of approximately 3 hours long and accompanied by a professional experienced game ranger. Game is most active at dawn and dusk which make this the best times of the day to enjoy game drives . The game ranger is trained to interpret the African bush to you, discussing everything from trees and plants, to bird life, the Big 5 game species to the smallest of creatures, star gazing and rock and soil types. Much time is spent each day with your game ranger, sometimes 7 or 8 hours . It is therefore imperative that game lodges choose their rangers carefully, rangers that are qualified and experienced as well as knowing how to communicate their passion – the African bush. Shamwari certainly understands the importance and their rangers are excellent. This of course offers the guests much more depth to their game lodge experience .
For many consecutive years, Shamwari Game Reserve has won numerous awards including the World’s Leading Conservation Company and Game Reserve. One of the big conservation projects was opening the two Born Free Animal Rescue and Environmental Education Centres. Here you will find African big cats being re-introduced into a natural environment. All of the animals were rescued from horrific conditions all over the world and are now living in large bush enclosures in their African sanctuary.
Shamwari truly offers a well-rounded experience, each of its luxurious lodges presenting a different character, world class spa facilities are available at some of the lodges, and there are even lodges specifically catering for families with young children.
Our 2 nights in lavish luxury passed too quickly and we were back on the road to our next destination – Samara Private Game Reserve. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would comfortably recommend Shamwari Game Reserve for your African wildlife experience.
Africa Tamed, a well established tour operator based in Cape Town, South Africa, offers a range of fun Escorted Tours, Self Drive Packages and Fly-in Safaris throughout southern Africa. With a focus on friendly personal attention and with an extensive travel knowledge based on over 16 years of travel experience, they can assure you of a wonderful, memorable African holiday.
